Best Silk Fan Veils for Belly Dance

There are so many choices of fan veils these days. Gone are the days of having to wait to buy from a vendor at a local belly dance festival.  Ordering fan veils online is fast, easy, and offers a large selection. However, we still recommend that you buy your fan veils at a local belly dance festival, if that option is available to you.  This way you can see the exact color and size of the fan veils and feel how they open and close. Amazon has a lot of choices of inexpensive silk and artificial silk fan veils made in China.  While the Amazon options might not be as good of quality as the hand-made fan veils you buy at a belly dance festival or from artisans on Etsy, they are much less expensive.

Buying Tip:  Make sure when buying on Amazon that your fan veils will ship quickly from a warehouse in your country or be prepared for possibly a long wait for shipping from China.

The inexpensive fan veil staves may be rough and not open easily, so they can feel cheap, but your audience can’t tell this from a distance.  Make sure you look for bamboo splinters before using new fan veils.

Buying Tip:  Look for staves that have an adjustable screw, so you can loosen or tighten the screw to make opening the fan  harder or easier.

Fan veils come in different silk weights. Look at listings to see if the “weight” of the silk is given. Silk fan veils can come in 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8 8mm wights.  5mm and 6mm silk is thin & sheer, which makes them very flowy. However, the lightweight makes them easier to damage. 7mm and 8mm silk is opaquer and durable, but takes more energy to make them stay lofted in the air. We recommend the lighter silk weights for fan veils. Below is a wrap-up of the favorite fan veils our staff dancers have used.

Best Silk Fan Veils for Belly Dance

10/05/2024 10:21 am GMT

Best Overall

This is our pick for the best overall choice for a versatile and colorful pair of fan veils.  This pair of medium-length fan veils is your best choice if you can only have one pair or if you are buying your first set of fan veils.  This length is the most versatile length. We love how soft the silk feels.  The colors are vibrant.  The veils flow nicely. We bought the sea foam blue pair.  The colors are stunning, but seemed slightly greener than the photo, but still very blue. These fans are 59″ long by 35″ wide.  The stave is bamboo with 12” ribs. The fan opens to about 12” wide.  The silk extends 47” from stave edge. The long veil edge is unhemmed, which is good for the visual appeal and fabric movement. The unhemmed edge may occasionally give up a few threads.  However, it is the shorter edges of the silk that fray, not the long edges.  The short edges are hemmed.  However, you can cut off any threads.  Our bamboo staves were smooth with no splinters. Because the fans are tightly packaged for shipping, we gently steamed the wrinkles out of the silk being careful not to make the silk damp at all as the silk is not washable. The fan veils look much better and flow better with the wrinkles removed. We noticed that the stave screw loosened with time. So, before practicing, always make sure to inspect the stave screw to see that is tensioned to your desired amount.  If the screw loosens too much it could fall off. Pros

• Adjustable stave screw to be able to set how easy or hard it is to open and close the staves
• Silk comes in 25 vibrant colorways
• Fabric flows beautifully
• Sturdy, lightweight, curved bamboo staves feel comfortable in your hands
• Satisfying snap when opening and closing
• Fairly priced
• Comes with a color coordinating carry bag.

Cons

• Stave screw loosens over time
• Colors seemed slightly different than colors pictured
• Loose threads that need be trimmed before using
• Lots of wrinkles that needed steaming

Best Flutter / Short Fan Veils

This pair of shorter-length fan veils is great if you are a shorter dancer or only want to use your fan veils for a shorter choreography as you can’t do as many veil movements with shorter fan veils. We bought a pair of these flutter fan veils in the yellow and white color to mimic the colors of the sun.  We like to use them to learn new fan veil movements and patterns as we don’t have to worry about keeping the fabric aloft. Once we have learned the veil movement, we move onto longer length veils. Pros

• Comes in 5 gradient colorways
• Fan staves are plastic, so they are smooth with no chance of getting splinters
• Silk
• Have a nice snapping sound when opening them quickly

Cons

• Can’t get fabric wet
• Feel a bit flimsy

Best Long Fan Veils

This pair of longer-length fan veils is for the belly dancer who loves the dramatic impact that longer veils have.  Beware though that longer veils are harder to control and may even be a trip hazard on stage. Even though long fan veils are only 10” longer than a medium or standard fan veil, the almost 6’ in length is a lot of veil to control, especially if you are a shorter dancer. These fan veils come in the most color combinations (39) than any fan veils, except for custom order fan veils. We bought the black and white tie-dyed pair to go with a darker, moody performance. The fan veils flow nicely and are well-made. Pros

• Bamboo staves with adjustable screw for adjusting ease of opening and closing the fans
• Comes in 39 different colorways from solid to ombre
• Fabric flows amazingly well for such long veils
• Sturdy, lightweight, curved bamboo staves feel comfortable in your hands
• Satisfying snap when opening and closing
• Comes with a color coordinating carry bag

Cons

• Shipping took 3 weeks
• Between colors is more like a sharp transition than subtle fade
• Loose threads that need be trimmed before using
• Lots of wrinkles that needed steaming

Best Fan Veils for Kids

If you have some kids who want to try belly dance or just play while the adults are practicing belly dance, smaller fan veils are a good choice. Of course, kid length fan veils can also be used by adults. The kid-length veils are about 34”, which is shorter than the standard 60” fan veils, but much longer than a flutter fan veil. We bought the pair in pink, purple, and white with the ombre running the length instead of the width of the fabric.  The width of the open fan is about 3” less than a standard fan veil. Pros

• Bamboo staves with adjustable screw for adjusting ease of opening and closing the fans
• Comes in 18 different colorways from solid to ombre
• Fabric flows amazingly well for such long veils
• Sturdy, lightweight, curved bamboo staves feel comfortable in your hands
• Satisfying snap when opening and closing
• Comes with a color coordinating carry bag

Cons

• Shipping took 3 weeks
• Between colors is more like a sharp transition than subtle fade
• Loose threads that need be trimmed before using
• Lots of wrinkles that needed steaming

Best Specialty Fan Veils for Belly Dance

Besides silk fan veil pairs, there are specialty fan veils, including artificial silk, single, and LED. Below are your best options for specialty fan veils. 10/05/2024 12:13 pm GMT

Best Artificial Silk Fan Veils

Silk fan veils can be harder to clean and more delicate than artificial silk fan veils.  Artificial silk fan veils can be a good choice for your first pair or for practice sessions where you are learning new moves.  You can save your more expensive silk fan veils for performances or practicing choreography for a show. Artificial silk, also known as synthetic silk or faux silk, is a man-made fabric that imitates the look and feel of real silk. Real silk, on the other hand, is made from natural fibers produced by silkworms. Advantages of artificial silk fan veils:

• Affordability: Artificial silk fan veils are generally less expensive than real silk ones. If you only need fan veils for a specific performance, then there is less need to buy more expensive silk fan veils.
• Durability: Artificial silk fans are more durable than real silk ones. Artificial silk fans are they can be hand-washed and dried.

Disadvantages of artificial silk fan veils:

• Texture: Artificial silk fan veils may not have the same texture and sheen as real silk ones, which can be a disadvantage if you want an authentic silk look and feel.
• Flow and wight: Artificial silk fan veils are usually heavier than real silk ones. The heavier fabric can be more tiring to work with during a longer performance. Also, silk fan veils low better with less effort than artificial silk fan veils.
• Sustainability: Artificial silk is often made from synthetic fibers, which can have a negative impact on the environment. Real silk, on the other hand, is a natural, renewable resource.
• Health concerns: Some artificial silks may be treated with chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and to your health.

This is our pick for the best artificial silk fan veil. Pros

• Inexpensive compared to real silk
• Withstands rough handling and lots of use
• Comes in lots of colorways
• Easy care artificial silk fabric
• Stave made from bamboo.

Cons

• May fray and require the edges to be hemmed
• Fabric is heavier than silk, which makes fans harder to move fluidly

Best Single Fan Veil

A single fan veil can also be a dramatic addition to your dance. You don’t need to use two fan veils. Most double fan veil movements can also be done with a single veil.  A single veil can be easier to learn movements with for a beginner dancer. This is a right-handed fan for a right-handed dancer who wants to use only one fan veil during a performance. It is hard to find a single, left-handed fan veil to buy. A left-handed dancer will probably have to buy a pair to get a left-handed fan veil. Pros

• Very inexpensive, especially if you need fan veils for a large dance group
• Withstands rough handling and lots of use
• Comes in stunning solid and variegated colors
• Easy care artificial silk fabric
• Stave made from bamboo.

Cons

• Has sequins on the fan, which can snag on your costume, and may not match the fan veil color
• No single left-hand fan available
• May fray and require the edges to be hemmed

Best for Fire Effect

A favorite fan veil color combination is one that looks like dancing fire when the veils are flowing.  This is our pick for the best fire effect veil. This veil is silk and lightweight.

Best LED Silk Fan Veils

For performing on a dark stage or at summer festival nights, LED fan veils are really beautiful. Most of the LED fan veils are made in China and their quality can be hit or miss. LED fan veils are delicate and even with gentle use can be easily damaged. Because of this, we don’t recommend that you learn how to use fan veils with the LED version.  Instead, practice with less expensive fan veils until you have excellent technique.

Advantages of LED Fan Veils

LED fan veils offer several advantages over traditional fan veils, including:

• Visual appeal: LED fan veils are visually stunning and can create a mesmerizing effect on audiences. The LED lights can add an extra dimension to your performance, making it more engaging and memorable.
• Versatility: LED fan veils come in a variety of colors, allowing you to choose the color or color combination that best suits your performance. This versatility can also be useful in creating different moods or atmospheres for different parts of a performance.
• Creativity: The LED lights in fan veils allow you to experiment with different lighting effects, such as strobing, fading, and color changing, to create unique and innovative performances.
• Impactful: LED fan veils can be a great way to make a statement and leave a lasting impression on the audience. They can be especially effective in larger venues, where the lights can be seen from a distance.

Disadvantages of LED Fan Veils

While LED fan veils can be visually stunning and add a unique element to performances, they do come with some challenges and potential problems. Here are a few:

• Battery life: LED fan veils require batteries to power the lights, which can be a challenge for longer performances. The battery life of the fan veils can vary depending on the quality and type of batteries used, as well as the intensity and duration of the LED lights.
• Durability: LED fan veils can be more fragile than traditional fan veils because of the electronics and wiring inside. They need to be handled with care and may require special storage and transportation to prevent damage.
• Cost: LED fan veils can be more expensive than traditional fan veils because of the added electronics and technology. The cost can be a barrier if you don’t have the budget for these specialized belly dance props.
• Maintenance: LED fan veils require maintenance to keep the lights working properly. This may include replacing batteries, checking wiring, and repairing any damage to the electronics.
• Limited color options: While LED fan veils can offer a wide range of colors, the color options may be more limited than traditional fan veils. This can limit your creativity if you want to incorporate specific colors or color combinations into their routines.

LED fan veils are an opportunity for you to create visually stunning and memorable performances that are sure to leave a lasting impact on your audiences. However, they do require extra care and attention. You should consider the potential challenges and costs when deciding whether or not to use LED fan veils in your belly dance routines. This is our pick for the best LED silk fan veil pair.  We’ve been using ours for home practice out on our back patio during summer nights. Our LEDs are still going after two summers. However, we don’t pack up and transport these veils anywhere. Pros

• Bright LEDs with 3 different modes: Always on, slow flashing, and faster flashing.
• Uses a rechargeable, lithium 14500 battery, which means brighter LEDs and longer periods between battery charges.
• Can charge the battery without removing the battery.
• Takes 15-20 minutes to charge.
• Comes with a right-hand and left-hand veil pair.
• Silk
• Bamboo staves

Cons

• As with all LED fan veils, delicate and may be easily damaged causing the LEDs to go out.
• Lithium 14500 battery not included.
• Not washable

Best Fan Veils for an Unlimited Budget

If you want a splurge worthy fan veil that nobody else has, the Pracownia Dor Etsy shop has some stunning, but very expensive fan veils.  The fan veils have unique designs that look like bird wings or flames. The even have ultraviolet fan veils that will glow in the dark.  We haven’t tried any of these fan veils as they are out of our budget.  But we ❤️ them!

Best Fan Veils Made in the USA

Yes, there are fan veils made in the USA. While many fan veils are still imported from countries like China and India, there are also American companies that produce fan veils locally. These companies may use imported silk or fabric, but the fan veils themselves are made in the USA. The best place to find fan veils made in the USA is on Etsy. The Evlin Silks USA Etsy shop makes fan veils. Fairy Cove has hand-dyed, made in America fan veils available of its website. You can get custom dyed fan veils made by Fairy Cove. We don’t know if Fairy Cove will ship custom fan veils internationally.

Want to Learn How to Dance with Fan Veils?

The read our review of the best fan veil instructional videos.