I’ve been making wigs for nearly 15 years. I started making them for myself, and over time I started making them for my beautiful clients.

Years ago, a lot of wig makers switched from making dome cap wigs by hand to using a sewing machine. And I get it. Using a sewing machine saves a lot of time. You can make a wig in as little as 30 minutes, compared to hours by hand. That doesn’t even include the time it takes to cut and style it. So when you have a lot of wig orders, using a sewing machine makes sense. The stitching is perfect. It’s a win for the wig maker.

But let’s talk about the wearer, the client.

When it comes to mesh dome caps, one of the best things about them is the built-in elastic band. That band gives the wig a snug but comfortable fit, especially for those who don’t want to use combs. The wig isn’t loose or sliding around. That band is a big deal.

But when you use a sewing machine to make a dome cap wig, the wefts are usually doubled, cut, and sewn through the elastic band. And when you sew through that band, it’s no longer an elastic band. It loses its stretch. Now you’ve got to go back and sew on a new elastic band just to replace the one the cap came with. That’s wild to me.

If you're going to use a sewing machine, I say use a wig cap that has adjustable straps instead. I’m not a fan of the bands you have to sew on. If you sew down your wig and wear it for weeks or months at a time, I truly believe it can eventually thin out your edges.

The beauty of the dome cap is that you don’t need all that. It already has what you need.

If you’re going to use a dome cap, here’s what I recommend:

Sew the wefts along the edge of the band, without going through it. You only want your needle going through the material that’s covering the elastic, not the band itself. This way, the elastic stays intact and the wig still fits snug like it should.

You also get full coverage—you’re not cutting the wefts or spacing them out, so you don’t have to worry about the wind blowing and exposing anything. You can pull your hair up or back with confidence.

Let me be clear: you do not need a sewing machine to make a quality wig. In fact, when it comes to dome caps, the construction is so much better when it's made by hand. You protect the cap, you protect the band, and most importantly, you protect your client’s comfort and fit.

Just my opinion—but it’s coming from someone who’s been doing this for a long time.