Quick answer
Choose volume lashes when you want to shape each fan manually and control the spread, base, and number of fibers. Choose Fast Fanning when you want to create volume fans with a faster and more predictable workflow. Choose single lashes for classic 1:1 application. Soft Flat is a single fiber with a flatter profile that provides a wider, more defined look than a traditional round single lash.
The choice is not just about how full the final result should be. The construction of the lashes affects how you pick them up, how much you shape them yourself during the treatment, and what kind of look you can create. Here, we compare the categories based on professional workflow – so you can choose according to technique, the client's natural lashes, and the desired result.
| Lash Type | Application | Stylist control | Typical look | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume lashes | Several thin fibers are shaped manually into a fan and applied to a natural lash. | Very high control over the fan's width, base, and density. | From soft, airy volume to denser results. | You have mastered fanning and want to customize each fan. |
| Fast Fanning | The fibers are lightly pre-fanned and held together at the base, which helps the fan open up when picked up. | Consistent and efficient, but less free-shaping than with fully manual fans. | Full and fluffy volume result. | You want to streamline volume treatments and get consistent fans. |
| Single / Soft Flat | An extension is applied to a natural lash, i.e., classic 1:1 technique. | Control through length, curl, direction, and fiber profile – not through the number of fibers in a fan. | Clean, defined, and separated. Soft Flat provides a wider visual line. | The client wants classic definition rather than volume fans. |
Manual precision
Volume lashes
Traditional volume lashes are thin fibers that the stylist shapes into fans themselves. This provides the most freedom to adapt the fan's width and density to the natural lash and the design. At the same time, the technique places higher demands on tweezer control, symmetry, and a clean, cohesive base.
Bellestore's Volume Lashes 0.07 come in several curls and lengths. The number of fibers in a fan should always be adapted to the fiber's diameter and the individual natural lash's carrying capacity.
Efficient volume
Fast Fanning lashes
Fast Fanning is still a volume technique, but the construction of the lashes helps the fibers spread when they are picked up. Bellestore's model has a thin bond at the base and lightly pre-fanned fibers. This can make fan formation faster and more consistent than when every fan is built entirely from scratch.
This does not mean that weight assessment, isolation, or placement are less important. You still need to choose a dimension that the natural lash can handle and check that the base has a clean attachment.
Classic 1:1
Single lashes and Soft Flat
Single describes the application technique: one extension on one natural lash. Soft Flat describes the fiber profile instead. Unlike a round single lash, the flat fiber has a flatter and visually wider profile. Therefore, it can provide clearer blackness and definition without you needing to build a volume fan.
Bellestore's Soft Flat Lashes 0.15 come in C and D curls as well as several lengths. You should still choose length and thickness according to the condition of the natural lash – the wider profile is a design choice, not a reason to overload the lash.
How to choose in practice
- Start with the client's goal. If the client wants clearly separated strands and classic definition, start with single or Soft Flat. If soft or dense fullness is desired, compare volume with Fast Fanning.
- Assess the natural lashes. Always customize length, diameter, and total weight individually. The product name does not determine what each natural lash can carry.
- Choose work method. Manual volume provides maximum freedom of shape. Fast Fanning prioritizes an efficient and consistent flow. Single/Soft Flat prioritizes 1:1 precision.
- Match the look. A round single lash provides a nice classic line, Soft Flat provides more marked definition, while fans build softness and density across the lash line.
Three common misconceptions
“Fast Fanning are single lashes”
No. Fast Fanning is used for volume fans. The difference from traditional volume lies primarily in how the fibers are prepared and behave when picked up.
“Soft Flat is a volume lash”
No. Soft Flat is typically a single lash with a flatter profile and is applied 1:1. It may look fuller, but it is not a multi-fiber fan.
“One method suits all clients”
No. The strength of the natural lashes, the client's wishes, and the stylist's secure technique should guide the choice at every treatment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest difference between Volume Lashes and Fast Fanning?
With traditional volume lashes, the stylist shapes the fan manually from loose fibers. Fast Fanning fibers are designed to spread more easily when picked up and can therefore provide a faster, more uniform workflow.
Is Soft Flat the same thing as single lashes?
Soft Flat is a type of single lash. Single describes the 1:1 technique, while Soft Flat describes the lash's flatter profile.
Which type looks the fullest?
Volume and Fast Fanning build fullness with several thin fibers per fan. Soft Flat can provide a darker and wider visual line than a round single lash, but the result is still classic rather than a volume set.
Which lash type is the fastest to work with?
Fast Fanning is developed to make fan formation more efficient. However, the actual treatment time depends on the stylist's experience, isolation, design, and the client's natural lashes.
Can you mix techniques?
Yes. Hybrid sets often combine classic single lashes with volume fans. The blend should be planned so that direction, weight, and transitions are even.
Delve deeper into Bellestore Academy
Read the complete guide on volume lashes, learn to choose curl, thickness, and length or see Bellestore's top list of lashes for eyelash extensions.
