You can install Alma EverWeft two ways: the Veiled bead method or the Classic bead method. Both work. Both are fast. The choice is not about preference — it's about your client's natural density.
This is the breakdown. Read it before your next consultation so you stop deciding in the middle of an install.
The Short Answer.
- Veiled bead: denser per row, fewer rows total. Best for medium-to-thick natural hair seeking volume + length. Two rows is a full transformation install.
- Classic bead: lighter per row, more rows total. Best for fine natural hair where weight needs to distribute. Three to four rows for a full install.
Veiled saves time. Classic protects fine hair. Pick by what's growing out of her scalp, not what's faster for you.
What Veiled Bead Actually Means.
Veiled is the method we developed at Alma to take advantage of Genius Weft construction. The weft sits flat against the scalp because there's no return-hair line. That means we can pack more density into a single row without the bulk that traditional hand-tied wefts produce when stacked.
How it differs at the install:
- Bead row spacing: ~1.5" vertical between rows
- Bead density: standard 1/2" between beads on the row
- Weft used: EverWeft Double (115g–130g per pack, depending on length)
- Total install time: ~90 minutes once you've done five
- Client comfort: lays so flat she'll forget she's wearing it by week two
If your client has medium-to-thick hair and wants a transformation — fuller, longer, more dramatic — this is the install.
What Classic Bead Actually Means.
Classic is the older, lighter method. Used widely in the industry. We support it on EverWeft Single because some clients shouldn't have heavy density at any single point on the scalp. Fine hair clients especially.
How it differs at the install:
- Bead row spacing: ~1.25" vertical between rows (closer together)
- Bead density: same 1/2" between beads on the row
- Weft used: EverWeft Single (50g–70g per pack, depending on length)
- Total install time: ~120 minutes
- Client comfort: distributes weight across more rows so fine hair doesn't strain at any single bead point
If your client has fine natural hair, history of breakage, or wants a subtle volume rather than a transformation — this is the install.
The Decision Tree. (Pin This.)
Run through this in 90 seconds at consultation:
1. How fine is her natural hair at the parietal ridge?
- Fine (you can see scalp easily) → Classic, EverWeft Single
- Medium-to-thick → either; default to Veiled for time savings
2. What's her goal?
- Subtle fill, length only → Classic
- Volume + length, dramatic transformation → Veiled with EverWeft Double
- Extra density on already-thick hair → Veiled with 2.5–3.5 packs of Double
3. Has she had wefts before? Any breakage history?
- Past breakage → Classic, no exception
- Strong natural hair, no breakage → either
4. What's her commitment level?
- First-time extensions client → Classic for the first install. She'll come back for Veiled at month 6 once she trusts the process.
- Repeat extension client → Veiled for the time savings on both sides.
Pack Math By Method.
Veiled bead with EverWeft Double:
- Volume only: 1 pack
- Volume + length: 2 packs
- Extra density: 2.5–3.5 packs
Classic bead with EverWeft Single:
- Volume only: 1–2 packs
- Volume + length: 4–6 packs
- Extra volume: 6.5–8.5 packs
Use the Package Calculator if you want the exact count without doing the math in your head.
Pricing Each Method.
Veiled installs are faster, so most stylists charge a flat rate ($800–$1,200 depending on market). Classic installs run longer and use more packs, so the install fee should reflect both — typical range $1,000–$1,600.
Don't undercharge on Classic just because the per-pack weight is lighter. Your time on the bench is the same or more, and the pack count is higher. Read the Pricing Guide if you're rebuilding your menu.
The Industry Confusion You Should Know About.
"Hand-tied" gets used as a catch-all for any sewn-in install. It's not. Hand-tied refers specifically to wefts where the strands are tied by hand to a foundation thread that creates a return-hair line. Genius Weft has no return-hair line. Classic and Veiled bead installs both use Genius Weft — neither is a "hand-tied" install in the technical sense.
If a client asks for "hand-tied," ask what she actually wants: the look (sewn-in extensions that lay flat) or the construction (return-hair wefts). The first is what we install with Veiled or Classic. The second is a different category of product Alma doesn't sell.
Where to Order Each.
Both methods use products available only to licensed cosmetologists. Apply for ALMAPRO access with your cosmetology license. Approval typically one business day.
Not sure which method to commit your client to? Book a 15-minute concierge call — we'll talk through her natural density, your install style, and the right call.
Will Wyatt is a licensed cosmetologist and the founder of Alma Hair Extensions. He developed the Veiled bead extension method in 2019.
Read These Next.
More install protocols, sourcing intel, and pricing math at the Stylist Resource Hub.