According to a paper in the National Library of Medicine, up to 50 per cent of males and females experience androgenetic alopecia aka pattern baldness after puberty.
The genetic condition may manifest in different ways; men typically show hair loss by receding or balding at the frontotemporal part (at the top of the forehead), while women see thinning at the top and crown of the head, but it affects such a huge proportion of the population and yet the solves are either incredibly ineffective or hugely expensive – there seems no in-between.
Not immune to the tech revolution, our beauty routines are getting all the more infused with gadgets and the same runs true for our anti-hair shedding practices. While it’s now possible to invest in LED masks for anti-ageing and IPL for hair removal with technology that rivals their in-clinic counterparts, the same is true for strand retention.
Lasers have entered the hair loss space and are being met with impressive results. The key to success with all hair loss treatments is a proactive approach – and this is no different. As soon as you start to notice it happening is the time to act to strengthen your remaining tresses and slow down the process of future shedding.
The lasers used have a low-level light in order to more thoroughly stimulate the follicles. These are placed in helmet-like contraptions, dotted in carefully thought-out spots in order to encourage even coverage across the surface area of your head. This technology encourages your hair’s own natural growth patterns by promoting blood circulation and the production of collagen for a thicker, more densely populated mane.
The best laser hair growth gadgets will have different settings, modes and intensities in order to provide you with a personalised treatment plan – and of course, the utmost attention is paid to their safety. Look out for that FDA approval.
Don’t expect overnight results. That’s not what these devices are designed for. They are made to be used regularly with sessions varying from 90 seconds to 25 minutes a day for a period of a few months, and the more consistent you are, the better your results. These laser hair growth gadgets are built with practicality in mind and so the majority have portability so you can go about your everyday tasks at the same time – there are even a couple of models that resemble a cap so wouldn’t get you strange looks if you’re popping to the shops or taking out the bins.
We’ve consulted the experts to decode laser hair growth technology.
Do lasers work for hair growth?
“Laser devices are clinically proven hair loss treatments that stimulate cell activity within the hair follicle, decrease hair shedding and promote growth where possible”, explains Samantha Stewart, MIT, The Spencer Clinic of Trichology. “They help to stimulate the follicle and increase blood flow, which helps to keep the hair in the anagen phase (growing phase). The laser beams direct light into the skin and promote the production of the molecule ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) which is the energy source for all living cells. Laser hair loss devices are normally combined with trichological treatment”.
Mandy Graham, Paul Mitchell Trichologist, is in agreement, “Numerous studies and controlled clinical trials have indeed shown that LLLT (low-level laser (light) therapy) can stimulate hair growth in humans through a variety of pathways. Most of these are on AGA (Androgenetic Alopecia), AA (Alopecia Areata), CIA (Chemotherapy Induced Alopecia) and TE (Telogen Effluvium), and it seems to give better results in women than men. It seems to be a safe, effective and non-invasive way to combat hair loss as long as there are still some stem cells present to stimulate”.
How long does it take?
Hannah Gaboardi, trichologist and Viviscal brand ambassador breaks it down.“It can be very time-consuming and to see noticeable results, many people require several sessions a week for a number of months”.
Stewart adds that when it comes to using the devices, “The time and frequency vary depending on brand and how many lasers the chosen device has. It can be from as little as 90 seconds 3 times a week to 30 mins 3 times a week, always follow your device’s recommended treatment time”.
What are the pros?
“There are many different benefits to laser therapy for hair growth,” says Gaboardi. “To start with, it’s much less invasive than hair transplant surgery, which comes with an array of risks, like any invasive treatment. The procedure is also widely accepted as safe and tolerable. It’s painless, there are no disruptive side effects, and it also increases hair strength”.
Graham highlights the following too:
- Both men and women can use LLLT devices.
- Clean and non-invasive/pain-free.
- Pacemaker-friendly.
- So far, no negative side effects have been observed.
- Not as expensive as hair transplants.
- Treatment times are short, although frequent - 2 to 4 times a week for about 5 - 30 minutes.
- Devices are convenient and portable for the most part.
- Some users report improvement after 12 to 26 weeks of use, as well as reduced hair loss and noticeable hair growth.
- Can be used independently or in conjunction with other hair loss therapies such as minoxidil or anti-androgen drugs.
What are the cons?
Stewart explains:
- People can be very bad at using devices at home. Continuity is key to the effectiveness of the laser.
- They can be expensive, and it’s not always easy to decide which model to choose.
- The results vary, which means patients may be disappointed and stop using the device before it has had time to be effective.
Can at-home be as effective as in the clinic?
“It is important to use the right device, whether in a clinic or at home”, stresses Gaboardi. “Not all light treatment devices are the same. It’s important to use a quality, high-light energy output LED light therapy device. Going to a clinic can be more costly in the long term, and you can get the same results in the convenience of your own home if you use a powerful LED light therapy device, whether that comes in the form of a red-light therapy treatment panel or cap”.
How we tested
So that I could confidently report on the pros and cons of these laser hair growth devices, I leaned on my brother for his help. When he was 18, he started to lose his hair, and I was curious if these gadgets could do anything to combat his balding. I also used them myself, as I have very fine hair. Could these red light-infused tools give me the thick locks of my dreams? I headed directly to the leaders on the market, like CurrentBody and Foreo to find out. They were tested over a minimum of three months - the duration of a hair cycle. Did they make any difference? Read on to find out.
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CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Regrowth Device
The most helmet-looking hair growth device on the market, this CurrentBody creation looks straight out of Star Wars with its Stormtrooper-esque design. It also shoots lasers, but these specialised wavelengths work on a cellular level and are designed to encourage regrowth of the hair follicles and counteract pattern balding, thinning and receding in men and women alike.
Before you get started, take a ‘before’ photo. This set expectations high as we looked forward to viewing the ‘after’ four months down the line. You are advised to use the device every single day across a 16-week period, which may not sound like the easiest to do, but seeing as you only need to wear it for 10 minutes, it was remarkably more seamless to slip into a routine (provided you have no extended holidays on the cards). What’s more, there are headphones inside the helmet that can connect to your phone via Bluetooth so you can pop on a playlist or a podcast while mid-treatment.
Applied to a clean, dry head, it boasts support and rejuvenation for the scalp too. There are 120 red LED bulbs to provide full coverage, and it can be used on all hair types. To breathe new life into your locks, it works through three varying wavelengths (630nm, 650nm, 655nm) that are medical-grade and activate the follicles.
The helmet is surprisingly lightweight, with well-placed suctions to secure it to the head. The brand suggests application on a clean scalp, and so to ensure direct contact, I invested in a scalp scrub to use alongside the treatment to remove dead skin and product build-up that could interfere with the treatment. In the four-month window, I noticed the strengthening of my strands - simply based on the lessening of fallout in my hairbrush. The before and after pictures demonstrated just how thicker my mane looked, and the increase in baby hairs proves that growth had been stimulated.
The reviewers back up my experience. One said, “So while stopping hair loss is not something I can fully vouch for, I will say that the regrowth using this has been speedy and really impressive”. Another agreed, “It’s been 2 months since myself and my husband have been using the helmet and I can definitely see a noticeable difference on my husband’s bald patch as it’s easier to see the difference. My hair is longer so not as easy to notice, but can see the side areas have some extra baby hairs growing”.
Some of my gripes, and agreed by other users, include: I wish there was a battery life indicator, the duration of the treatment remaining was displayed, and the earpieces should be removable.
Buy now £649.99, Amazon
RegrowMD Laser Cap 272
At first glance, you may think this is an ordinary cap (if the logo detail doesn’t give it away), but switch it on and you’re illuminated by the lasers ready and rearing to regrow thinning hair. HairMax is the brand behind this innovation and uses a patented process of photobiostimulation that sees the laser light energy at the scalp directly. This creates the optimal environment for retention by reducing inflammation and energising the follicles at a cellular level.
It comes doctor-recommended and has been subjected to as many as seven clinical studies to ensure its efficacy, which have revealed the rate of new strands shown as 129 per sq.in. There are no side effects here, and you only really need to use it for 90 seconds to three minutes at least three times a week, so it is much less of a commitment than other models on the market. The results are an extension of the hair growth cycle, a denser and fuller mane.
One reviewer said, “I am shocked at how many hairs have sprung up out of my scalp over the last few months. They start where no or very fine clear hair is, then it gets longer and yellow, then it turns brown, as the hair follicle get healthier”, while another revealed, “It’s much easier to use than laser combs and you can walk around with the battery in your pocket. I usually just sit and watch a 1/2 hr sitcom and let it run. I wish the sound wasn’t so loud when it beeps every ten minutes to give you a sense of how far you’ve left, but you get used to the sound”.
Buy now £1016.00, Amazon
HairMax LASERBAND 82 ComfortFlex
Awaken the follicles and kick start hair growth with the LaserBand, another gadget from hi-tech hair growth specialists HairMax. Much like the model above, it invigorates the natural growth cycle in a speedy treatment time of 90 seconds to a few minutes.
But where this breaks away from the RegrowMD is immediately obvious. It takes the form of a band rather than a cap which makes it more portable and easier to slip into your suitcase. The construction is more flexible but still offers coverage across the scalp. It is fairly comfortable to wear, even taking into consideration the hard plastic interior and hair-parting teeth (which are important to encourage a direct path of laser to follicle).
The band is fitted with 82 medical-grade lasers that have been FDA-cleared. The device has gone through seven clinical studies in its attempts to turn hereditary hair loss on its head. In fact, one such study saw a 90 per cent success rate in six months of use with new hair arriving at the rate of 129 per in.sq. when used on maximum power.
“Very good device! It works fast!”, “It’s even helping me with the grey hairs, they are turning back to my original colour!” and “Love this product! It’s 100 per cent worth the purchase!” are just a few of the many glowing reviews.
Buy now £986.00, Amazon
FOREO LUNA 4 hair
There are 395 silicone bristles that line the surface of FOREO’s Luna 4 hair device. Through the brand’s trademarked T-Sonic pulsations, these bristles remove follicle-clogging buildup so that the red LED light set in a circular fashion can have a direct path to the scalp.
The massaging effect of the near 400 bristles encourages microcirculation and stimulates the scalp, while the LED encourages the growth and strength of the individual strands. Red light therapy is said to mimic the impact of natural sunlight to energise the cells; improving physical function, speeding up the healing process and calming inflammation.
It is designed to be used on wet hair before shampooing, after applying conditioner and before rinsing it off to distribute the nourishing formula or at the end of the wash day process before blow drying. What stood out to me, over the other options in this list, is the sheer portability of this device. Consistency is key, and so the ease in which you can slot into your washbag means that even when travelling, you don’t have to miss a treatment. What’s more, you can use in and out of the shower - and leaving it in my shower caddy actually reminded me to use it.
Buy now £132.30, John Lewis
Higherdose Red Light Hat
You may be familiar with HigherDOSE for its infrared sauna blanket, in which the brand is a leader in the space. But turning its attention to a different wavelength, the tech label has called on red light (650nm) to line its baseball hat with a twist. Not your typical logo canvas cap, while it sits upon your head, it uses ATP-stimulating illumination to encourage blood flow to the scalp and energise the cells. This process stimulates the hair follicles to invigorate growth, minimise shedding and promote healing.
Use for 10 minutes a day for at least a month, but HigherDOSE suggests as many as six for optimal results – and it’s easy to do so, considering it is more subtle than some of its helmet-like contemporaries.
The reviews are overwhelmingly positive. One said: “I was skeptical at first - it seemed too simple to be effective - but after consistent use for two months, I've noticed my scalp feels healthier and my hair has more volume”.
Buy now £444.99, Healf
