Mega Volume Lashes: How to Create Them and What You Need to Do It

More is better, but most is best. At least when it comes to head-turning lashes. When a client really wants to turn a look and turn up the drama, mega volume lashes are the way to go.

As a lash artist, this can be a challenging request, especially if you’re still working on improving your skills. Considerably voluminous than their predecessors, these lashes are super soft and fluffy, but also light enough to wear for a long time.

As you can see in the image below, each mega volume lash strand is made up to 20 individual lashes. That’s 4 times more than a standard 5D volume lash! It takes lots of practice to get good at applying them, but when you do, you’ll be the hottest lash artist in town: everyone will be flocking to you!

To help you get started in, this article we will go through:

• What’s considered a mega volume lash (and what’s not)
• Mega volume lash pros & cons
• Frequently Asked Questions about Mega Volume Lashes by Lash Clients
• Step by step: how to make a mega volume lash fan
• Dos & donts
• A must-have supplies for mega volume lashing

First, what are mega volume lashes?

The difference between mega volume and traditional volume is the number of false lashes used to create a fan and the diameter of these false lashes.

Although there is no clear cutoff number to distinguish mega volume lashes from standard volume lashes, generally speaking, each mega volume fan uses 6 to 20 false lashes with diameters between 0.03 to 0.05 mm, while a volume fan will use 2 to 5 false lashes with diameters between 0.05 to 0.07 mm.

Mega volume creates a much denser and darker look since it uses these lightweight fans with numerous extensions.

Mega volume lash pros

• A much fuller, darker lash line and a more dramatic look
• Mega volume fan wraps around each natural lash, which creates longer retention
• You can charge $250+ per set, great for extra profit

Mega volume lash cons

• Takes a lot more time to apply (2.5-4 hours)
• It takes a lot of time (and patience) to perfect the skill
• Can be hard to achieve symmetry and balance (but can be achieved with practice)

Frequently asked questions about mega volume lashes by lash clients

How long does it take to do mega volume lashes?

Typically, a full set of volume lashes takes approximately three hours to apply. But note that this very much depends on the number of natural lashes a client has as well as the skillset and lashing speed of the lash artist.

How long does a mega volume lash set last?

If applied correctly, mega volume lashes can actually last even longer than a classic lash set. Volume or mega volume lashes have more surface space to lash glue as they wrap around the natural lash instead of sitting on top of it. This, in turn, creates longer retention of up to 7-8 weeks.

Are mega volume lashes safe?

Just like any other lash set, mega volume lashes are safe to have and apply as long as they are applied correctly. When the right lash extensions (the right type, thickness, and length) and type/amount of glue are used, with proper placement and isolation, mega volume lashes are safe as any other lash extensions.

Why is a mega volume lash set so expensive?

It’s safe to assume that for most salons a mega volume lash set is the most expensive one on the menu. It is mainly because applying a mega volume lash set requires lengthy training, a lot of practice, and a high level of expertise. Mega volume lash sets are often only applied by a highly experienced lash tech. Not only that, but a set of mega volume lashes that takes twice as long to apply as a classic lash set.

Can anyone get mega volume lashes?

Without a doubt, mega volume lash extensions are for clients who are willing to go above and beyond and rock a super dramatic full lash look. This is not for the faint of heart! We often hear stories of clients asking to have their mega volume set removed a day after the treatment because they feel they are too dramatic.

Mega volume lashes are very much in, so there will be a lot of people asking for it. But as a professional lash artist, you need to examine if mega volume is a good choice for the specific client.

If a client is asking for a natural mega volume lash, they’re probably just looking for Russian volume or hybrid volume.

We find that a mega volume lash set generally looks a little too dramatic when it’s applied on clients with light-colored hair or elderly clients as the dark lash line creates too much contrast. You might consider using brown lashes for these clients for a more harmonious look.

Step-by-step: How to make mega volume lash set

How to calculate the safe diameter & weight for a mega volume set

Mega volume lashing doesn’t mean you can just attach 20 lashes on a natural lash. Even when you’re using 0.03 thickness! When choosing the right thickness of lash extensions for your client, you always need to consider their natural lashes and their thickness and length.

For thin and brittle natural lashes, it is recommended to use lash extensions of diameter 0.10mm (for Classic). When you translate that into a safe weight for mega volume lash fans, this is the recommended mega volume fan:

How to choose the right length for a mega volume set

When it comes to the lash length for a mega volume set, the general mapping technique works about the same, but avoid using lashes that are too long as this will create a way too heavy look on top of the dramatic mega volume. It can end up looking really too exaggerated, droopy or even sad as a result.

 How to:

Step 1. Prepare a strip of 0.03 or 0.05 lash extensions.

Step 2. Brush the lashes.

Step 3. Pick up the lashes from the pointed line (it is marked on the photo). Grabbing lashes too far from the lash roots can cause separation of the individual lashes.

Step 4. Place the lashes back on the tape.

Step 5. Wiggle the root around carefully to create a perfectly symmetrical fan.

Step 6. Pick up the fan and dip in a glue dot.

Step 7. Apply

How much glue to use for mega volume lash

One of the most common mistakes lash artists make is using too much glue. This mistake comes with an extra cost when you have spent a precious 5 minutes to fan out the most perfect bouquet of mega volume lashes.

The important tip is to dip only 1mm of the lash fan into the glue dot (compared to 2-3mm for the classic lash). The reason behind this is that if you were to over-dip your fan into the glue, the glue will close up the fan you created, which will ruin the fluffy mega volume effect.

How to choose lash extension glue for mega volume lash

When it comes to mega volume lashing glue, thin and fast drying are key. Here is why:

Why thin viscosity?

When using 10 to 20 strands of lash extensions, the root of the mega volume lash fan will inevitably be quite chunky already. If you use thicker lash glue, the stem of the lash fan will get even bigger and that’s NOT going to create a seamless lash life free of lash stickies! So choose very thin (almost watery) lash glue for mega volume lashing.

Why fast drying?

Mega volume lash fans are extremely fragile. We actually need to hold our breath until they are safely attached to the natural lash. Even just a bit of too much pressure on the tweezer can twist and ruin the perfect symmetry of the mega volume fan.

For that reason, we need a lash glue that can lock the shape of the perfect fan as quickly as it can. A slow drying glue has a much higher risk of losing the fan shape, so opt for a lash extension glue that dries within 0.5-2 seconds.

This is why our thin consistency Mach Glue with a drying time of one second is a popular choice for the mega volume lashing technique.