Lash Extension Trays Explained: Curl, Thickness, Length and Premade Fans
By Edmond Lin, M1 Nail & Beauty Supply, Markham, Ontario. Last updated 13 October 2026. Tray details are taken from the labels on the TM (Tian Mei) trays we stock and from the maker's own product listings.
A lash extension tray label tells you three things: the curl, the thickness and the length. A tray marked C 0.15 12mm holds C-curl lashes, 0.15 mm thick and 12 mm long. Everything else on the label is the style: a plain single lash, a YY lash, or a premade fan such as a clover lash. This guide goes through each part, using the TM (Tian Mei) trays as the example. These are extension trays for trained lash artists, not strip lashes.
In this guide
Curl: J, B, C, D and LC
| Curl | Shape | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| J | The flattest curl. TM trays label it 婴儿弯, "baby curl". | A very natural set, or clients whose own lashes grow straight out |
| B | A soft, natural curl | A natural set with a little lift |
| C | The everyday medium curl | The curl most sets are built with |
| D | A stronger curl than C | An open, lifted look |
| LC | A straight base that turns up into a C-type curl | Wispy and manga sets, and eyes where a regular curl sits against the lid |
The curl letters are trade usage, not a measured standard, so one maker's C can sit slightly flatter or tighter than another's. Keep to one brand within a set when the curl has to match.
Thickness: 0.05 to 0.20 mm
| Thickness | How it is used | TM trays |
|---|---|---|
| 0.15 and 0.20 mm | Classic: one extension on one natural lash | Classic C 0.15 in single lengths, Classic C 0.20 mixed |
| 0.10 mm | Between the two: a light classic set, or small fans | Classic C 0.10 mixed |
| 0.05 and 0.07 mm | Volume: too fine to wear singly, so several are fanned together, or they come as a premade fan | Volume and 天鹅绒 (velvet) trays, YY, clover fans |
The thinner the lash, the lighter it is, which is why volume fans are built from 0.05 and 0.07 mm lashes. Choose the thickness the client's natural lashes can carry.
Length: single-length or mixed trays
Length is printed in millimetres. The maker lists TM lashes from 8 to 15 mm. A mixed tray has one row per length: the TM mixed trays in our photos have 12 rows marked 8 to 12 mm, and the tray says to use from the bottom line. One mixed tray covers a whole set, with short lashes for the inner corner and longer ones through the middle and outer eye. A single-length tray is for restocking the lengths that run out first.
Styles: single lashes, YY, clover fans and manga
| Style | What it is | Hand fanning? |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | One round lash per strip position, 0.10 to 0.20 mm | No. One extension per natural lash |
| Volume and 天鹅绒 (velvet) | Fine single lashes, 0.05 and 0.07 mm, on a strip | Yes. The lash artist picks up several and fans them |
| YY | Each extension splits into two tips in a Y shape | No |
| 三叶草 clover (3D) | A premade fan: three fine tips on one base | No |
| 四叶草 clover (4D) | A premade fan with four tips | No |
| 八叶草 clover (8D) | A premade fan with eight tips, the densest of the clover family | No |
| 漫画塔尖 manga spike | Premade pointed spikes | No |
| 漫画 and 野生多层 (manga camellia) | LC-curl lashes for wispy manga sets; the 野生多层 style has the lashes set in layers | No |
The maker names its clover lashes by the number of tips: 三叶草 is three (3D), 四叶草 four (4D), 五叶草 five (5D), up to 八叶草 with eight (8D). More tips means more fullness from each piece. A premade fan is picked up and placed like a single lash, which is why salons use them to shorten a volume appointment. The maker lists these lashes as PBT fibre; a tray name such as "水貂毛" (mink) is a product name, not the material.
How to choose a tray in four steps
- Decide the set. Classic, hand-made volume, or premade fans. That fixes the style and the thickness range.
- Pick the curl. C is the usual starting point. Go to B or J for a flatter, more natural line, D for more lift, LC for wispy and manga work.
- Pick the thickness. 0.15 or 0.20 mm for classic, 0.05 or 0.07 mm for volume and premade fans.
- Pick mixed or single length. Start with a mixed tray, then restock the lengths you use most as single-length trays.
What you need with the trays
Lash glue to bond the extensions, plus tweezers, eye pads and primer from lash essentials. If you are choosing a glue, the lash glue comparison guide compares set times.
Questions lash artists ask
What do the numbers on a lash tray mean?
A letter for the curl, a decimal for the thickness in millimetres and a whole number for the length in millimetres. C 0.15 12mm is C curl, 0.15 mm thick, 12 mm long.
What is the difference between YY and clover lashes?
A YY lash splits into two tips. A clover lash is a premade fan of three or more tips on one base. Both go on without hand fanning.
What does 3D, 4D or 8D mean on a clover tray?
The number of tips in each premade fan: three, four or eight.
Are these the same as strip lashes or DIY cluster lashes?
No. They are professional extensions applied one at a time to a client's natural lashes with lash glue by a trained lash artist.
Where can I buy lash extension trays in Canada?
M1 Nail & Beauty Supply stocks TM lash extension trays in Markham, Ontario at wholesale prices, with in-store pickup and shipping across Canada. All lash products are in eyelashes.
TM lash extension trays: classic, volume, YY, clover fans and manga styles.
Shop TM lashesCurl, thickness and length are read from the tray labels. Fibre, length range and the clover naming are the maker's own description, read in October 2026. The curl and thickness notes are general lash-trade usage.
