# The History of Capsule Hair Extensions | From 1991 to Today

The history of capsule hair extensions: invented in 1991 by Italian stylist David Gold (Great Lengths), the keratin bond method changed the industry. How it works and why it lasts.

# The History of Capsule Hair Extensions

By Maria, top-master with 20 years of experience · Updated 28 August 2026

Quick answer: Capsule hair extensions began in 1991, when Italian stylist David Gold introduced the Great Lengths keratin bond method. Instead of glue and metal clips, he bonded each donor strand to natural hair with a tiny point of keratin. That single idea still sits at the base of every modern capsule technique, including the micro and nano bonds used today. Book on WhatsApp .

Hair extension correction is the routine maintenance of capsule extensions every 3 to 4 months, where the master removes grown-down bonds, refreshes the strands and re-bonds them near the root.

## Who invented capsule extensions?

The capsule method was introduced in 1991 by Italian hairdresser and stylist David Gold, the name behind Great Lengths. His idea was simple and radical for its time: bond a donor strand to natural hair with a small point of keratin instead of glue or metal clips. Keratin is the protein hair is made of, so the bond behaves like hair rather than a foreign object.

## Why did keratin change everything?

Before keratin bonds, extensions relied on adhesives and clamps that stressed the hair. A keratin capsule melts around the strand and sets soft, so it moves naturally and releases cleanly at removal. This is why the method spread from Italy across the world and became the premium standard.

## How did the method evolve?

The original bonds were larger than what we use now. Over time masters developed micro and nano capsules, shrinking the bond to a fraction of a gram so it disappears even in fine hair. The keratin itself was refined into low, medium and high-melt grades, which lets a master pick a bond that survives heat and humidity. In Dubai we use high-melt keratin for exactly that reason.

## What does it mean for you today?

When you book capsule extensions now, you are getting a method with more than thirty years behind it, refined into the invisible micro and nano bonds we place today. The principle David Gold set in 1991 has not changed: bond with keratin, protect the natural hair, keep it looking real.

>
Removal matters as much as fitting. Keratin is made to be dissolved, not ripped, so capsules must never be pulled out at home.

Maria, hair extension top-master in Dubai, 20 years of experience

### What does real hair extension work in Dubai look like?

Real clients in my studio, not stock photos. Swipe through results on Premium Slavic hair with invisible bonds.

### How do the bonds look and move up close?

Short vertical clips of the process and real results, so you can see how the bonds look and move before you book.

## Frequently asked questions

When were capsule hair extensions invented?
In 1991, by Italian stylist David Gold, the founder behind the Great Lengths keratin bond method.

Are modern capsules the same as in 1991?
The principle is the same, but bonds are now much smaller. Micro and nano capsules make the connection invisible even in fine hair.

Why is keratin used?
Keratin is the natural protein in hair, so a keratin bond behaves like hair, feels soft, and releases cleanly at removal.

Want capsule extensions done right in Dubai?

Book on WhatsApp

Related: Micro capsules · Our technology · Capsule extensions