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Yes, You Can Combat Genetic Hair Loss With Red Light Therapy
The results speak for themselves.
In this life, there are very few guarantees, but by 2025, we can almost bet our bottom dollar that nearly everyone is using red light therapy. How could you not? Those with acne can testify to the benefits of breakout-fighting light therapy masks, and many even use the treatment to promote hair growth. The latter has gained popularity in beauty, with some form of hair growth-inducing device popping up like clockwork.
Just as it emits light to treat acne, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and improve tone and texture, red light therapy devices for hair do the same by stimulating the scalp to improve its resilience and encourage growth. However, red light therapy for hair can’t yield results on its own.
“The best approach to treating hair loss is a multimodal approach. I recommend certain supplements, medications, and light therapy devices,” says Dr. Karan Lal, a double board-certified dermatologist. If you want extra reinforcement, you could add things like scalp serums, hair growth oils, and thickening shampoos to your routine, all while treating your scalp to its weekly dose of red light.
Because hair loss can happen due to a variety of reasons, it can be difficult to pinpoint the culprit. Regardless, hair growth devices can help. However, it’s not for the commitment-averse; results take time and consistency, just like your average skin care product. Still, some people do start seeing results in as little as a few weeks, as the red light stimulates follicles and promotes circulation for thicker, healthier hair.
Of course, it also involves a hefty investment, and not all hair growth devices are created equal. To help you separate the wheat from the chaff, we consulted trusted dermatologists and sifted through innumerable reviews. Below, you can find not only the nine best hair growth devices on the market but also expert insights on hair loss and what to do about it.
Pros
- Boosts density
Cons
- Battery life could be better
If you’re new to scalp-stimulating tools, Solaris Laboratories NY’s iteration is a beginner’s fast track to denser hair. Red and blue lights power the scalp to boost density and encourage strength, so wash days don’t end in clumps of hair falling down the drain. The soft vibrations create a gentle scalp massage to aid in growth.
Red light wavelength: Red light (630nm + 660nm), blue light (420 nm)
Best used: Daily
Revolve rating: 4.7/5 stars
A Revolve reviewer says: “My derm suggested this brush as an added layer to my thinning regimen and I love it. Hair has stopped breaking and shedding significantly since I started using months ago. I also feel I can grab more in a ponytail than before.”
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
- Results take time
You’ll get the most cost-per-use out of this small but mighty scalp massager. The compact device uses 20 red LED lights to emit therapy to the scalp, which, over time, fortifies hair follicles to decrease hair shedding. “I prefer this device over the bulkier ones on the market because it’s handheld, so I can target specific areas effectively. Plus, it features T-sonic massage, which helps stimulate the scalp more,” says Nerisha Penrose, beauty commerce editor.
Red light wavelength: 650nm
Best used: Daily
Nordstrom rating: 5/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I chose an LED device to strengthen my hair. I used it daily for about 3 months. I noticed a strengthening of my hair follicles. It met my expectations.”
Pros
- Comes in two sizes to fit comfortably
Cons
- Can feel bulky
According to ELLE deputy visual editor Scott Lacey, this device is “very easy to use and comfortable.” The helmet uses red light therapy to target shrinking follicles, stop hair shedding, and allow it to grow back. “The CurrentBody device is powerful, hands-free, and has Bluetooth speakers, which is a really nice touch,” says Dr. Finney, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and hair loss expert based in New York City. For just ten minutes a day, this device’s clinical trials have shown a reversal of hair loss in just four months.
Red light wavelength: 640nm
Best used: Daily
CurrentBody rating: 4.6/5 stars
A CurrentBody reviewer says: “Easy to use and size fits perfectly. It’s so nice that the timer and Bluetooth connected automatically. It’s comfortable to wear and its weight is not heavy. The light feels warm and the material feels so durable!”
Pros
- Doesn't require daily treatments
Cons
- Can overstimulate follicles if used too often
While this device doesn’t claim to help regrow hair overnight, it does promise results quicker than others on the market. Using laser technology, this helmet improves hair density and volume and stimulates hair growth in as little as one month. Plus, while most devices recommend daily treatments, Theradome recommends 20-minute sessions twice weekly. “I also like the Theradome PRO LH80. It is easy to use and makes for a painless at-home treatment,” says Dr. Lal.
Red light wavelength: 680nm
Best used: Two times a week
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “This product saved my long, pretty hair. I’d lost so much hair from the stress of learning I had a brain tumor and then from general anesthesia from the necessary cranial surgery. Ultimately, I had bald patches on the sides of my hair and thinning around the incision and top of my head. For over a year nothing helped and my hair loss worsened. BUT! Within 3 months of using Theradome, I saw baby hairs return. After a year of use my hair is back to 80 percent with new hair coming in daily. I will never be without my Theradome!”
Pros
- Adjustable strap
- Comfortable to use
Cons
- Takes months to see results
Here’s another option for an unassuming yet efficacious red light hat. This one requires only 10 minutes a day to address hair loss in both men and women, and it promises to deliver new growth by months five or six. You may see a little more hair loss than usual when you start using the cap, but don’t worry—the brand says that’s perfectly normal, and it just means that weaker strands are stepping aside so stronger ones can move in.
Red light wavelength: 650nm
Best used: Once a day
HigherDose rating: 4.9/5 stars
A HigherDose reviewer says: “Before using, I would have handfuls of hair come out in the shower, but I see so much less shedding. I see less white scalp than before, and I see new growth!”
HairMax Hair Growth Laser Band 82 ComfortFlex
Pros
- Combs help part hair
Cons
- Doesn't cover entire head
Think of this device as an oversized headband that works overtime to reduce and reverse hair loss. Whether you prefer to use it preventively or to target specific areas, this uses red light therapy to assist in your hair growth goals. “The Hairmax device is great for people with really early stages of hair loss that may have very thick hair; the device has teeth that part the hair to allow the light to get to the scalp,” says Dr. Finney.
Red light wavelength: 655nm
Best used: Three times a week
Amazon rating: 3.9/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “Very good device! It works fast! You can see the results in a very short time. My hair started growing back and thickening very quickly! It’s even helping me with the grey hairs–they are turning back to my original color! I love this product! Its 100% worth the purchase!”
Pros
- Sits comfortable on head
Cons
- Takes time to see results
If you’re unsure about investing in a device to reduce hair loss, this tool makes it easy to have no regrets. Not only are the clinical results astonishing–100 percent of men studied saw significant results–but if you don’t love it, you can return it even six months later. Plus, with comfortable padding and hands-free technology, you can go about your day mid-treatment without worry. “I like the iRestore Essential Device. My mom uses it. It is very comfortable and easy to use. It has laser and light-emitting diodes. It is affordable, and the company is very responsive,” says Dr. Lal.
Red light wavelength: 655nm
Best used: Three times a week
Amazon rating: 4/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I’ve been using the iRestore for almost two months. I also use Rogaine for women once a day (the directions are to use it twice), and I take the Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin, and Nails gummy vitamins that have biotin. I’ve been using different hair-loss shampoos as well—Bosley Defense and Pronexa alternately. I thought the shotgun approach would be the best way to address the problem. I’m happy to say that my hair is regrowing beautifully. I’m no longer self conscious about my hairstyle. I have lots of new baby hair coming in, and it’s my natural dark color, not white like a lot of my hair is. I give most of the credit to the iRestore helmet; I’ve tried Rogaine for women in the past with little result, but this time around my hair is really responding.”
Pros
- Cordless
- Portable
Cons
- Not hands-free
This HairMax comb isn’t like other combs—it comes with twelve medical-grade lasers that fire directly at follicles, encouraging density and fortifying weaker hairs. Unlike the other devices on our shortlist, you do have to use your hands, but it also comes in handy for any areas that your cap may not cover.
Red light wavelength: 655nm
Best used: Three times a week for eight minutes each
Amazon rating: 3.9/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “To my surprise, the product actually delivered results—my hair went from thin and brittle to noticeably thicker, and I even started seeing a lot of baby hairs grow in. For that, I truly appreciate what the device has done for me.”
Pros
- Cordless
- Battery holds 10 days of use
- Waterproof
Cons
- Takes two hours to fully charge
Massaging your scalp daily to stimulate blood flow is essential for boosting hair growth. Oiling your scalp can help too, and this device combines both, allowing you to apply your favorite hair growth oil while encouraging circulation. But what makes it a triple threat is that it also offers red light therapy for the ultimate hair growth-encouraging experience.
Red light wavelength: 850nm
Best used: Daily
Amazon rating: 4.1/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “Love massaging my scalp. Feels amazing and oils your scalp at the same time as massaging it with red light therapy. 100 percent recommend this product.”
Meet the Experts
Dr. Robert Finney is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and hair loss expert based in New York City.
Dr. Karan Lal is double board-certified pediatric and cosmetic dermatologist based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
What are the leading causes of thinning hair and hair loss?
“By far and away, the leading cause of hair loss in both men and women is androgenetic alopecia. Almost all men and around 50 percent of women in their lifetime will suffer from genetic hair loss,” says Dr. Finney. While genetics are the main factors that lead to hair loss, stress can also be a factor, adds Dr. Lal. “Telogen effluvium is a post-stress form of hair loss,” says Dr. Lal.
Why are hair loss devices becoming so popular?
“The hair market has grown substantially in the past few years. For many people, their hair is an identifier. Hair loss is a very emotional condition in my clinic, with many of my patients having depression and anxiety related to their hair loss,” says Dr. Lal.
The pandemic also increased the need for more support for patients suffering from stress-induced hair loss. “There is a type of temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium. In this condition, a lot of the hairs all over the scalp go into the resting phase all at once–this is seen clinically as an abrupt, significant increase in shedding. COVID was a cause of this, so during the pandemic, many people were noticeably concerned when they saw a lot of hair fall. This has likely driven a lot of focus on the cause and treatments of hair loss,” adds Dr. Finney.
How does light therapy combat or reverse hair loss?
“Low-level laser light therapy in the red light range triggers a reaction in the cells that helps regenerate the hair to do several things: improve the blood supply of nutrients, improve the health of the cells that help regenerate the hair, and help reduce the local effects of hormones on the hair follicle. All of this helps to regrow new hairs and reverse the miniaturization of damaged hairs,” says Dr. Finney.
“There are many different types of light therapy for hair loss, especially red light and blue light. Red light reduces inflammation and increases energy in our skin and hair cells. Blue light, on the other hand, is said to induce low-level hair growth through a different mechanism. In a recent study, blue light increased hair density and shaft diameter by 90 percent after ten weeks of use. Similar findings have been reported with red light helmets as well,” says Dr. Lal.
Are hair loss devices safe?
If the thought of putting a high-tech helmet on top of your head makes you nervous, you don’t need to worry. “It doesn’t get any safer. For one thing, it is just light, which is natural. It doesn’t penetrate deep into the skin. We have plenty of studies to support the use of red light to help with inflammation and signs of aging, so there is that added benefit compared to some of our topical options that can create inflammation. I will often recommend these devices in conjunction with a topical routine. Not only do we have studies to support synergy between the two, but if you were to get any irritation from a topical, the red light could help ameliorate it!” says Dr. Finney.
However, it is important to know that there can be some mild side effects, depending on the tool you use. “Blue light devices can darken your hair or scalp because blue light does affect pigment-making cells, so just be mindful of that,” says Dr. Lal. Each device comes with a certain set of instructions, so it’s important to read the manual carefully and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
How should you use hair loss devices in your routine?
If you already use hair loss serums or supplements, there’s no need to put them aside once you begin using a hair growth device. “For genetic hair loss, the combination approach always yields the best results. We have plenty of clinical trials that show this. It is important for patients with genetic hair loss to realize that there is no cure; it is a progressive condition. So, pick a treatment routine that you are okay with the side effects and one that is sustainable in the long run for you and your lifestyle. So, I always lay out the different options, discuss their efficacies and drawbacks, and then come up with a plan specific to each patient. It is important to reinforce that with hair loss, results are slow. Take good photos before starting a treatment routine and set a reminder to check back in on it in four to six months. Results take time,” says Dr. Finney.
Why Trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com contributor Tatjana Freund consulted skin and hair experts to learn about the benefits of using red light therapy devices to treat genetic and stress-induced hair loss, and she and Nerisha Penrose combed through reviews for top-rated products, assessing each one based on their features and customer evaluations.
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