Beginner’s Guide to Premade Volume Lash Trays: How to Choose Your First Eyelash Extension Kit
- Alex Yu
- Dec 16, 2025
- 6 min read
If you’re starting your journey with premade volume fans, this beginner eyelash extension guide will help you pick beginner-safe trays, assemble an eyelash extension kit that actually works, and map fans to natural, hybrid, and fuller volume looks—without risking client lash health. You’ll also find a quick brief for brand owners and wholesalers on OEM/ODM and QC so you can scale with confidence.
Premade vs. handmade fans—what’s the real difference?
Premade (or “promade”) volume fans are factory-made clusters—think 3D to 16D—ready to apply. Handmade fans are created in real time by the artist. For beginners, premades reduce the technical barrier of live fanning, speed up sets, and deliver consistent shapes. Educator and supplier pages describe these benefits clearly and note trade-offs: premades favor speed and uniformity, while handmade fans allow finer customization and potentially lighter, better-wrapped bases for retention when mastered. See balanced comparisons from London Lash Pro’s educator blog (2023–2024) in their explainer on handmade vs. premade fans and retention nuances, and a similar overview from LashAffair’s pro blog (2023–2024) on speed versus customization: both emphasize matching fan weight to natural lash strength and clean isolation for safety and longevity.
According to a 2023–2024 educator perspective, premade fans help beginners achieve symmetry and appointment-time consistency, while handmade techniques demand a longer learning curve for fan creation and base control. Sources: the educator comparisons from London Lash Pro and LashAffair.
How to choose eyelash trays (premade volume Lashes)
When you’re deciding how to choose eyelash trays, focus on four specs: diameter, curl, length, and fan density (D). A good starting range for volume premades is 0.03–0.07 mm in C or D curls with mixed lengths (commonly 8–15 mm). Lighter densities (3D–5D) are beginner-friendly; 6D–8D require stronger natural lashes and steadier adhesive control. Supplier spec pages from 2023–2025 commonly list these ranges for beginners and pros alike.
Two quick rules of thumb:
The thinner the diameter and the lower the D-count, the gentler the set on natural lashes.
Curls change the visual intensity: C is softer and natural; D is bolder and opens the eye more.
Below is a compact mapping to help you move from natural eyelash extensions to hybrid lash extensions and into fuller volume lash extensions safely.
Desired look | Beginner-safe specs to try | Notes |
Natural eyelash extensions | 2D–3D fans, 0.05–0.07 mm, C curl, mixed 9–12 mm | Keep densities light; prioritize clean isolation for a soft enhancement. |
Hybrid lash extensions | 50/50 classics (0.15 mm) + 3D–5D premades (0.03–0.05 mm), C/D, 10–14 mm | Alternate classics with light fans; consider a subtle spike map if you want a wispy lift. |
Volume lash extensions | 3D–5D premades (0.05–0.07 mm) to start; advance to 6D–8D (0.03–0.05 mm), C/D, 8–15 mm mixed | Increase density gradually and match fan weight to natural lash strength. |
For a real-world view of curl, diameter, and length ranges (C/CC/D/DD/M/L and more), see a spec-rich product page such as LASHMAITRE’s Easy Fans listing, which shows the variety of curls and diameters artists work with in training and production: curl and thickness options explained on the Easy Fans page.
Adhesive and environment basics (beginner-friendly)
Your glue and room conditions can make or break retention. Beginners tend to do well with a cyanoacrylate-based adhesive with a 1–2 second dry time in rooms around 64–72 °F (18–22 °C) and 45–65% humidity. If humidity is too high, glue cures too fast; too low, it cures too slowly—both increase stickies and poor bonds. London Lash Pro’s 2023–2024 glue environment guidance summarizes these relationships clearly for training environments. For dipping, aim to coat only the base of the fan. A commonly taught range is roughly 0.5–1 mm (some educators allow a little deeper depending on glue viscosity); keep the fan open and avoid flooding the tips. Supplier blogs and educator pages from 2023–2024, including Sense Lashes’ beginner sizing and adhesive basics, reinforce these beginner parameters.
Safety and lash health—non‑negotiables
Match weight to strength: start with 3D–5D in 0.05–0.07 mm; reserve 10D+ or ultra-wide fans for robust natural lashes and advanced control.
Placement distance: stay about 0.5–1 mm from the eyelid; never touch skin with adhesive.
Isolation first: complete separation prevents stickies, irritation, and premature shedding.
Prep and aftercare: cleanse thoroughly, avoid oils on the lash line, and provide simple care instructions to support retention.
Your first eyelash extension kit (starter checklist)
Use this as a practical shopping list for a premade-focused eyelash extension kit. Adjust brands and quantities to your training environment.
Tools: isolation tweezer (straight), volume tweezer (curved/L), micro-scissors, lash tile/palette, glue rings/holders, nano mister.
Eye prep and safety: under-eye pads, sensitive tape, primer (as trained), lint-free applicators, spoolies, oil-free lash cleanser/shampoo.
Lashes: premade volume fans in 3D–5D to start (0.03–0.07 mm; C/D curls; mixed 8–15 mm lengths); optional classics for hybrids.
Adhesives and removers: beginner-friendly adhesive (1–2 s dry time); bonder (if trained); gel or cream remover; small adhesive wipes.
Sanitation: EPA-registered disinfectant appropriate for tools, sterilization pouches or containers as required by local regulation, hand sanitizer, disposable masks.
Client care: aftercare cards, appointment brush, small retail cleanser if you retail aftercare.
Common beginner mistakes (and quick fixes)
Over-dipping or flooding the base → Dip shallower (about the base only), refresh glue drops every 15–20 minutes, and keep fans open.
Inconsistent isolation and stickies → Slow down, isolate fully before placement, and do brush-through checks to catch bonds early.
Heavy fans on weak natural lashes → Drop to 3D–4D, use narrower fans and thinner diameters, and shorten lengths in weak zones.
Poor placement angle or distance → Place parallel to the natural lash with about 0.5–1 mm from the skin; avoid tilting bases.
Ignoring environment → Track humidity/temperature; adjust glue choice or add a humidifier/dehumidifier to hit the working range.
Practice plan and self‑assessment
Here’s the deal: speed comes after control. For the first two weeks, spend 20 minutes a day on isolation and pickup drills—work on precise base pickup and consistent fan orientation. On mannequins, time your isolation (target under 5 seconds per lash), practice mapping on paper before you start, and photograph your sets at day 0 and at 2 weeks to evaluate retention. Keep simple logs: date, adhesive batch, humidity/temperature, fan density, curl, and aftercare compliance. As your control improves, step up from natural to hybrid lash extensions (mix light fans with classics), then build into volume lash extensions with 6D–8D only when your isolation and dip depth are consistent.
Product example (allowed zone with disclosure)
Disclosure: LASHMAITRE is our product.
A neutral beginner workflow with premades might look like this: choose a mixed-length tray of 3D–5D premade fans in C curl, diameters around 0.05–0.07 mm, and lengths 9–13 mm for a soft, everyday enhancement. Map a conservative cat or doll style on a mannequin; keep your adhesive at a 1–2 s dry time and the room around 64–72 °F (18–22 °C) with 45–60% humidity. Dip only the base—roughly 0.5–1 mm—place 0.5–1 mm off the skin, and confirm isolation before releasing the tweezer. If you’re exploring how different curls and diameters change the look during training, review a spec-rich page that lays out options clearly—such as the LASHMAITRE Easy Fans specs (curls and thickness ranges)—to visualize how a switch from C to D or 0.07 mm to 0.05 mm affects the final set. Keep your first five practice sets light; focus on consistency before density.
OEM/ODM and QC quick-start for brand owners and wholesalers
If you’re evaluating trays and kits for private label or wholesale, use this punch list as your baseline. Typical OEM/ODM flows run inquiry → spec selection → sampling → branding/packaging → PO/production → QC → shipping.
Process and specs: confirm fan densities, diameters, curl options, lengths, and tray counts; request sample trays for hands-on testing.
Material and tolerances: ask for PBT grade statements, diameter tolerance reports, and curl-retention test results; verify base bonding consistency.
Strength and cleanliness: request tensile/flex tests, visual QC media, batch/lot numbers, and cleanliness/sterilization protocols.
Adhesive compatibility: check that bases pick up cleanly and play well with common 1–2 s dry-time adhesives in the target humidity/temperature range.
Packaging and labeling: ensure anti-humidity packaging, accurate spec labels, and traceability information for reorders and audits.
Source notes for further learning
For balanced, up-to-date fundamentals (2023–2025):
London Lash Pro’s educator articles explain handmade vs. premade trade-offs and glue environment considerations in detail; see their 2023–2024 guidance on fan choice and humidity/temperature effects.
LashAffair’s professional blog offers another 2023–2024 perspective on speed versus customization and how premades fit a service menu.
Supplier pages outline beginner-friendly spec norms for premade fans and kits (e.g., Lash Jungle and Sense Lashes collections and sizing guides published 2023–2025).
Cited examples in this guide include the following canonical pages: London Lash Pro’s explainer on glue environment and handmade vs. premade fans; LashAffair’s comparison of premade and handmade volume; Lash Jungle’s premade fans specification pages; and Sense Lashes’ sizing guide for beginners.
See the 2023–2024 educator overview at London Lash Pro: handmade vs. premade fans explained and glue environment guidance and their overview of how heat and humidity affect lash adhesive.
Cross-check the 2023–2024 educator comparison by LashAffair: handmade vs. premade volume fans—speed vs. customization.
Review 2023–2025 supplier spec norms at Lash Jungle: premade volume fans collections and typical densities/lengths and Sense Lashes: beginner sizing guide for diameters, curls, and lengths.
Next steps
Ready to test, customize, or private-label? You can request an OEM/ODM sample kit, ask for a wholesale price/MOQ sheet, contact us to define curl/length/diameter and packaging, or simply pick up a beginner-friendly starter kit. For specifications across categories and to start a conversation, visit our Wholesale page: OEM/ODM and wholesale support at LASHMAITRE.
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