These days it feels like red-light therapy is the Swiss Army knife of skin care: It can help reduce fine lines, quell inflammation and redness, and even minimize acne. Another potential perk? The best red-light therapy devices for hair growth can also help stimulate the follicles to improve overall density and thickness.
Vogue’s Favorite Red-Light Therapy Devices for Hair Growth:
Featured in this article
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Ali Shahbaz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, says research suggests that using red light on your scalp may indeed improve natural regrowth with consistent home use. For the best effects, opt for a cap, comb, or helmet from a reputable manufacturer. To help us determine the best red-light therapy for hair growth, we asked a number of dermatologists to weigh in on all there is to know and consider.
In This Story:
- Does red-light therapy actually help with hair loss?
- What wavelength of red light is best for hair growth?
- How to use red-light therapy for hair loss
- Is red-light therapy for hair loss safe?
- How long does it take to see hair growth with red light therapy?
- What topical treatments work best with red light therapy for hair growth?
- Can you overdo red light therapy for hair growth?
- Meet The Experts
Best Overall: CurrentBody LED Hair Growth Helmet
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Full scalp coverage (the futuristic look is truly an added bonus) | High price point |
| Strong clinical testing |
Why We Love It: The unique shape of this red-light helmet gives you complete and optimal scalp coverage. Based on the results of clinical testing, CurrentBody claims that using this red-light hat for 10 minutes daily can increase the hair growth rate by 128% in 12 weeks. Nicole Ruth, DO, a board-certified New York dermatologist, previously told Vogue: “As a dermatologist, I love the CurrentBody LED Hair Growth Helmet for its evidence-based use of red-light therapy to stimulate hair follicles and prolong the anagen, or growth, phase of the hair cycle.” She added that with consistent use, the device can improve hair density and thickness in patients with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse thinning. “It offers a safe, noninvasive adjunct to topical and systemic treatments.” Read one Vogue contributor’s full review here, as well.
Editor’s Experience
“Within 6 weeks, I noticed less shedding. By week 8, the overall health of my hair improved: It looked shinier, stronger, and just felt better. By week 20, I noticed new growth. I believe I would have seen it sooner if I’d used the device daily.” —Danielle James, contributor
| Red-Light Wavelength | 620–660nm |
| Device Type | Helmet |
| Target Treatment Area | Head |
| Treatment Time | 10 minutes |
| Specs | Various helmet sizes available, LED light diodes, FSA/HSA eligible |
| FDA-Cleared | Yes |
Best Helmet: iRestore Essential Laser Red Light Therapy Cap for Hair Growth
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Combo of diode lasers and LED | Clunky design, less portable than some styles |
Why We Love It: This red-light cap is a favorite among a few of the dermatologists we spoke to. Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified New York dermatologist, says that she appreciates that it uses a combination of both diode red light lasers and LED, and she’s seen improvements with her own patients after they’ve used the iRestore Cap. The brand completed a double-blind study, run by a board-certified dermatologist, in which 40 subjects were self-treated at home every other day for 16 weeks. Based on the results, iRestore says that 100% of participants saw improvements with the red light treatment, with an average of 43.2% increase in hair growth in 16 weeks.
| Red-Light Wavelength | 655nm |
| Device Type | Cap |
| Target Treatment Area | Head |
| Treatment Time | 25 minutes |
| Specs | 600mW, 120 light diodes (51 lasers and 69 LEDs), two-year manufacturer’s warranty, FSA/HSA eligible |
| FDA-Cleared | Yes |
Best Hat: HigherDOSE Red Light Therapy Hat for Hair Growth
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Streamlined design, easy to wear | No major cons to note |
Why We Love It: From a company well-known for its high-quality light-therapy products, this 650nm red light hat is designed to promote scalp and hair health by increasing blood circulation to the scalp. The brand also notes that the device is designed to optimize hair follicle function, strengthen hair at the root, and even prevent shedding. What’s more, unlike some clunky styles, the baseball cap-like design of this hat makes it easy to wear while multitasking — and even features an adjustable strap to get a perfect fit.
Editor’s Experience
As a fan of HigherDose’s infrared sauna blanket, I was excited to try out the brand’s red light hat. While I haven’t tested out this hat long enough to confirm if it changed the strength or length of my hair, I was impressed by how comfortable it was to wear for the full 10 minutes of treatment time. I could easily go about my day, opting to read, meditate, or even work while wearing the hat — which is certainly not the case for all at-home beauty treatments. —Emily Orofino, contributor
| Red-Light Wavelength | 650nm |
| Device Type | Hat |
| Target Treatment Area | Head/scalp |
| Treatment Time | 10 minutes |
| Specs | FDA cleared, one-year warranty, 120 medical-grade LED bulbs |
| FDA-Cleared | Yes |
Best for Medical-Grade Lasers: Capillus Ultra Mobile Laser Cap for Hair Regrowth
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Hands-free, 272 medical-grade lasers, great coverage | High pricepoint |
| Powered by medical-grade laser diodes (vs typical LEDs) |
Why We Love It: Dr. Shahbaz highly recommends this easy-to-use cap as it features low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to stimulate hair follicles and encourage natural regrowth. He loves that it’s hands-free, features 272 medical-grade laser diodes (not LEDs), has a discreet design, includes multiple power levels, and offers excellent scalp coverage. What’s more, it’s a pretty low time commitment—the treatment only takes 6 minutes a day—making it easier to stick with consistently (which is when the results really start to show). In fact, based on a clinical study completed by the brand, participants experienced a 51% average increase in hair count after 17 weeks of daily use, without any noted side effects.
| Red-Light Wavelength | 650nm |
| Device Type | Hat |
| Target Treatment Area | Head |
| Treatment Time | 6 minutes (auto-programmed) |
| Specs | 5mW laser, continuous output, head circumference of up to 23 inches, one-year limited warranty, FSA/HSA eligible |
| FDA-Cleared | Yes |
Best for Androgenetic Alopecia: Theradome PRO Laser Hair Growth Helmet LH80
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| High laser count, cooling capabilities | Longer treatment time, higher price point |
Why We Love It: This fully cordless hair-growth helmet features a laser-only design for deeper follicular stimulation, says Dr. Shahbaz. He loves that this device has a high laser count, ease of use, and, in his experience, good patient adherence. Other noteworthy features include cooling capabilities to keep you comfortable, and built-in speakers that guide you through the 20-minute treatment. Plus, based on clinical research, the brand claims this device is effective at stopping hair loss and promoting regrowth for 98% of men and women with androgenetic alopecia.
| Red-Light Wavelength | 680nm |
| Device Type | Helmet |
| Target Treatment Area | Head |
| Treatment Time | 20 minutes |
| Specs | FDA-cleared, six-month money-back guarantee, 80 lasers, FSA/HSA eligible |
| FDA-Cleared | Yes |
Best Multipurpose Treatment: Laduora Duo 4-in-1 Scalp Hair Care Device
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Portable, 4-in-1 device, topical treatment add-on | Requires manual application |
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Why We Love It: For anyone seeking a more portable hair growth treatment than helmets and hats, we’d suggest checking out the Laduora Duo. This comb-like device treatment features red light therapy, microcurrent, scalp massage, and therapeutic warmth—all in one compact tool. As for the red light component, it uses 30 medical-grade, 660nm wavelength red LED bulbs, meant to revitalize follicles and promote healthy hair growth. The other features may help support your hair growth goals, as well: microcurrent could improve blood circulation and stimulate dormant follicles; the warmth can increase blood flow; and the massage can help promote calm (especially helpful if your hair loss is exacerbated by stress). The icing on the cake: This device comes with small treatment pods that contain hair-supporting ingredients like copper peptide, caffeine, green tea extract, and niacinamide—making it a breeze to combine topical treatment with red light therapy.
| Red-Light Wavelength | 660nm |
| Device Type | Pod/comb |
| Target Treatment Area | Head/scalp |
| Treatment Time | 5 minutes |
| Specs | Up to 12 treatment battery life, 7 oz, includes set of 2 Boost Duo Pods |
| FDA-Cleared | N/A |
Best Brush: Solaris Intensive LED Therapy Brush
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| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Portable, more accessible price point | Longer treatment time, manual application |
| Brush offers a satisfying massage | Clinical studies not yet complete |
Why We Love It: This LED therapy brush from Solaris is another great on-the-go treatment option. It features medical-grade dual red-light to support thicker strands and reduce shedding, along with blue light therapy to help calm and balance the scalp. The compact, easy-to-use device also offers a massage mode, for a relaxing at-home scalp treatment session. While the brand hasn’t conducted any clinical studies yet, based on self-reported data from 14 participants who used it 5 days a week, 93% saw visible hair growth within 9 weeks.
| Light Wavelength | Dual red (630nm and 660nm) and blue (420nm) |
| Device Type | Brush |
| Target Treatment Area | Head/scalp |
| Treatment Time | 20 minutes |
| Specs | 420 nm blue light, 1-year warranty, sonic vibration |
| FDA-Cleared | Yes |
Everything You Need to Know
Does red-light therapy actually help with hair loss?
In short, yes, it does. Research suggests “it can help increase hair count, thickness, and density,” says board-certified, fellowship-trained dermatologist Lauren Moy, MD, especially for androgenetic alopecia (male/female pattern hair loss). “However, it also depends on how severe the hair loss is,” she notes. “If it is very severe or scarring, it may not be as effective.”
Dr. Castilla adds that there is less evidence for its benefits in other types of hair loss, like alopecia areata or scarring alopecias. Plus, efficacy really depends on the device and how consistently it is used.
What wavelength of red light is best for hair growth?
“The wavelength and power output of the device are critical factors in determining whether it will be effective,” says Dr. Castilla. “If insufficient energy reaches the scalp, the device is unlikely to produce results.”
With that in mind, she suggests seeking red-light hats with specific wavelengths of 630 to 670nm—noting that some studies cite 650nm as the best wavelength.
“This range of wavelengths stimulates hair follicles by increasing circulation to the scalp and stimulating cells responsible for cell turnover and hair growth,” says Dr. Moy. “It also helps reduce inflammation and increase the healing process.”
What’s more, Dr. Castilla adds, “devices that use low-level laser diodes tend to be more effective than those using LED lights. Diode lasers can penetrate deeper into the skin, better targeting the hair follicle level than LED lights.”
How to use red-light therapy for hair loss
“Consistency and persistence are the keys to success,” says Dr. Castilla. To really see the impact, she suggests using red-light therapy at least two to three times per week for at least six months before evaluating any improvement. “It’s important to understand that any improvements you see with red light must be maintained through continued use,” she says. “If treatment is discontinued, hair loss will likely resume as it would have without intervention. It shouldn’t be worse, but it would slowly regress to where it would have gone naturally.”
Dr. Castilla and Dr. Moy both note that hair-loss treatments work best in combination with topical treatments or oral medications such as the best vitamins for hair growth. What’s more, “starting treatment early is also important, as most therapies are more effective at strengthening and preserving existing hair rather than growing new hair,” says Dr. Castilla.
Is red-light therapy for hair loss safe?
“Yes, it’s generally considered very safe, noninvasive, and well tolerated when used properly,” says Dr. Shahbaz. While rare, potential side effects may include temporary scalp warmth or tingling and mild scalp redness or irritation, especially in sensitive individuals.
However, some autoimmune conditions, such as lupus or medications that cause sensitivity to light, can worsen with red light, notes Dr. Moy, so be sure to consult a dermatologist first.
How long does it take to see hair growth with red light therapy?
“It is variable person to person,” says Dr. Castilla. However, at minimum, you need to use light therapy consistently before seeing any kind of results. That means two to three times per week, for at least three to six months.
What topical treatments work best with red light therapy for hair growth?
To really cover all your bases, there are some topical hair growth serums that you can try in conjunction with red light therapy to help support density, according to the experts. These include:
- Minoxidil 5%: This treatment comes in both liquid and foam formations, and “has the most evidence as a topical over-the-counter therapy that supports hair growth,” says Dr. Castilla. A number of studies suggest that using topical minoxidil in combination with red light therapy can lead to improved hair count and faster regrowth than using either treatment by itself.
- Rosemary Oil: Rosemary oil is another topical intervention that has been shown to have some hair growth benefits, especially in combination with red light, says Dr. Castilla. In fact, some research has shown it to be an effective natural intervention, with comparable results to 2% minoxidil.
Can you overdo red light therapy for hair growth?
“Red light therapy is generally considered safe, and if you stick to the guidelines provided by your device it is very unlikely that you will overdo it,” says Dr. Castilla. “However, there is a threshold where you will stop seeing benefits and can actually cause problems.” Namely, overuse can lead to issues like skin irritation. That said, if you stick with the recommendations laid out by your device of choice, this is unlikely to happen.
What else can you do for hair loss?
Turns out, there are many things you can do to spur hair loss than just red light therapy treatments. “When treating hair loss, it is important to understand the root cause of hair loss when choosing a product or treatment,” board-certified dermatologist Candace Spann, MD previously said. “Oftentimes, a multifaceted approach is required in order to optimize outcomes.” Promoting thicker, fuller hair is about consistency, listening to practitioner guidance, and embracing healthy lifestyle habits. A few thought-starters to consider below.
- Ingredients: “If it is hair loss that is tied to environmental factors, like stress or poor diet, I would suggest products that include ingredients like peptides, caffeine, rosemary, ginger root, red leaf clover, and basil leaf,” trichologist Helen Reavey explained; whereas, those experiencing menopause and female or male pattern baldness should turn to minoxidil. As for those experiencing nutritional gaps, she recommends biotin, zinc, selenium, and iron.
- Diet: For optimal hair health, ensure your diet is packed with fruits and vegetables. Per our guide on what to eat for healthy hair: “Micronutrients are major elements in the normal hair follicle cycle, playing a role in cellular turnover, a frequent occurrence in the matrix cells in the follicle bulb that are rapidly dividing,” states a recent scientific review on the role vitamins and minerals play in hair loss. “Vitamins and minerals are important for normal cell growth and function and may contribute to hair loss when they are deficient.”
- Scalp Massage: According to trichologist Bridgette Hill, a scalp massage stimulates blood circulation to “nurture and deliver the necessary nutrients to the hair follicle for optimal hair growth.”
- Supplements: According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Gordon, “[the best vitamins for hair growth] are definitely helpful, and if you are deficient in any of the amino acids, omega acids, or other vitamins, then they are necessary to provide you with the building blocks to grow hair.” Always consult with your doctor before using (to avoid complications with any health conditions), but ingredients like biotin, peptides, collagen, and vitamins B, 6, and B12 are a good starting point.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to red light therapy for hair growth, we selected the best based on the following characteristics after at least 30 days of testing: light wavelengths, treatment types, comfort, helmet vs hat vs brush, and additional benefits offered. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet The Experts
- Ali Shahbaz, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin.
- Lauren Moy, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained dermatologist in Beverly Hills.
- Carmen Castilla, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
