After surveying experts and testing red light therapy tools, I consider the CurrentBody Skin helmet to be the most impressive device on this list. It deserves the top spot because both Finney and myself are fans of this tool. It’s simple and gets the job done quickly compared to other similar helmets that can easily take 25 minutes per treatment session. (hi iRestore Essential.) CurrentBody Skin has a 10-minute treatment time that makes using this tool a low maintenance lift in our busy lives. Plus, it’s winner of a 2024 Women’s Health beauty award so you know it’s on point.
I’m a huge fan of CurrentBody Skin’s LED face mask and was naturally excited to test the brand’s helmet for hair growth. After measuring my head, I selected the correct size—there are Small and Medium options—and waited for the device to arrive. Upon unboxing I was excited to charge up the device with the USB-C plug and pop this helmet on. (It flashes after reaching a full charge.) I like the structure of the helmet and was pleased that it is not super heavy. Plus, CurrentBody sits nicely on my head offering full coverage over my entire scalp for the most effective at-home treatment.
I use this red light therapy device five times weekly, but the brand says I won’t experience visible results until 12 weeks in. Since my testing window is shorter, I can’t speak on tangible results directly caused by the CurrentBody Skin device. However, given my positive experience with CurrentBody Skin’s red LED face mask, plus an endorsement from Dr. Finney, I’m excited about this device helping my hair growth and thicken.
I find the CurrentBody Skin helmet is easy to use and comfortable to wear. The device is relatively lightweight and the headphone style cushioning makes each 10-minute treatment sesh enticing enough for me to actually use the device as advised. Another detail that confirmed this was my best overall suggestion is that the helmet provides full scalp coverage and I don’t need to hold anything like a brush handle or move a headband around different parts of my head.
“It has the right wavelengths, a good amount of power, and has little cups that actually part the hair to get more light to the scalp. An added bonus is the Bluetooth, so I will usually do my treatment as I workout on the Peloton,” says Dr. Finney.
| Treatment time | 10 minutes |
| Wavelengths | 620-660 nm |
| Type | Helmet |
Weighing just 7 ounces, the Laduora is shaped like a compact brush that uniquely combines red light therapy and microcurrent with a scalp massage and therapeutic warmth for the ultimate at-home self-care treat. It is fantastic for someone with a low bandwidth for self-care, as each treatment sesh is only five minutes—and even a busy MD like Dr. Finney highlights it as one of his picks because Laduora combines several modalities.
Dr. Finney says that good scalp care reduces oxidative stress and subsequent hair fall—and using this tool can help promote a healthier scalp. He calls Laduora a unique red light therapy device because it directly reduces inflammation by combining red light therapy with the scalp massage, warmth, and microcurrent functions.
Using the DUO is surprisingly straightforward. Each kit has two pink and two blue circular pods filled with nourishing ingredients. The pods simply snap into the center of the device. After I hear a clicking sound indicating the pod is locked into place, I remove the six protective caps on the bristles to ensure the serum at the pod’s base can be released. Lastly, to turn on the device, I’ll push the front button, and it powers on.
I appreciate the flexibility of using the device on dry or damp hair, though I prefer to brush onto my dry strands since I find my dehydrated hair soaks up the included serums better. Each device comes with two types of pods called Scalp and Hair Elixirs: Balance, a pink liquid that contains rose, argan, raspberry seed, and castor oil, and Boost, a blue-green liquid that is a blend of vitamin B-3 (sometimes called niacinamide), caffeine, peptides, blue tansy, and green tea leaf extract. (You can purchase replacement pods separately.)
I was also worried the device heating up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit would be overwhelming, but found the warmth was rather relaxing. I also enjoyed the scalp massage functionality because I can feel my light tension headaches start to melt away, so I’ll reach for this device when I’m tired or leading up to my menstrual cycle. If my headaches are rather intense, this tool won’t do much, but for lighter tension headaches it has helped me feel more relaxed.
| Treatment time | 5 minutes |
| Type | Hair brush |
| Wavelengths | 600 nm |
Pros
- Features an adjustable strap to accommodate most head sizes and thick and textured hair
- It’s cordless
- Includes country-specific adaptors for travel
Cons
- Only available in one color
Spann likes the Capillus laser cap, but even the brand’s entry-level model costs upward of $700, so I wanted to explore other alternatives. Enter: the HigherDOSE Red Light Therapy Hat, which is $151 cheaper than Capillus.
Beyond the sweet price tag, the biggest win with sporting this red light therapy cap is that no one will know you’re actually treating your hair loss while using the device! It looks like a regular black baseball cap, but it has a removable thin lining covered in red light emitting diodes. (I can wear this cap without using the LED lights, but TBH, I’d rather just buy a regular baseball cap instead so I won’t have to worry about excessive wear and tear on my HigherDOSE.) And when powered on, the red lights aren’t obvious to those around me and the cap doesn’t get hot when powered on.
I was initially confused with how to turn on the device because it’s cordless. However, I soon realized the included black pod magnetically attaches to the back of the cap and powers on for a quick 10-minute session. The button beeps when the treatment sesh is over so I can get back to the rest of my day.
Honestly, the only downside with this cap is that it’s only available in one color, so the neutral black tone won’t complement my colorful spring and summer wardrobe. That said, I prefer sporting the cap from home, so it’s not a real dealbreaker for me, but worth noting if you want to regularly wear your hat in public.
| Treatment time | 10 minutes |
| Type | Cap |
| Wavelengths | 650 nm |
Pros
- Can be used cord-free
- Flexible design
- Vibrates when it’s time to move the device to a new area
Cons
- Doesn’t cover the nape of your head
Another device that Dr. Finney likes is the Hairmax Laserband 82 Comfort Flex. It’s FDA-cleared and has seven clinical studies related to its efficacy. But what he loves the most about this hair growth tool is that it has little teeth to help get the light to the scalp where it can provide some major results.
This oversized headband covers a rather sizable amount of hair at a time. Start at the front along the hairline and wait 30 seconds for the device to vibrate letting you know it’s time to move to the middle of the head. After another 30 seconds, you can push the headband back for the third and final treatment. While it may seem a little annoying to push the headband around a few times, the overall time commitment is only 90 seconds so it’s more of a champagne problem than a functionality issue. Since it’s hands-on, Finney calls it a little cumbersome, but he still considers it an overall great device.
Need further proof that Hairmax is a solid option? Carol Winig, a 70-year-old retired nurse dealing with COVID-related hair loss, recently gushed over a lower-tier Hairmax headband model. “The device is relatively lightweight and comfortable on my head, plus it’s really not all that large. I’ve traveled with it numerous times, without any issue. It also holds a charge for a surprisingly long time—I can usually go about three months without having to give it extra juice,” she said of the Laserband 41 model.
While I haven’t gotten a chance to test any Hairmax products, the combination of Finney’s positive experience using the higher-tier Laserband 82 model, plus Wining’s glowing feedback on a similar device was enough for me to feel confident about including the Hairmax 82 headband in this story.
| Treatment time | 90 seconds |
| Type | Headband |
| Wavelengths | 655 nm |
Amazon Bestseller
iRestore iRestore Essential Laser Hair Growth System – FDA Cleared Hair Loss Treatments for Men & Women & Hair Growth Products for Men with Thinning Hair, Hair Regrowth Treatments Laser Cap, Red Light Therapy
Pros
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Weighs only 1 pound
Cons
- Longest time commitment
This Amazon best seller earned an impressive 4-star average from nearly 4,000 reviews. iRestore has three grades of LED helmets, but I’m spotlighting the entry-level Essential model because it’s more cost effective but doesn’t compromise on quality. 120 diodes cover the top of your scalp, hairline, and crown, so if your center part is naturally widening then this is the red light therapy for growth device for you.
iRestore is the only featured recommendation that combines red LEDs with red laser diodes, which penetrate deeper to promote faster hair growth, hair restoration physician Dr. Alan Bauman, MD, told our friends at Men’s Health. This exact device also earned snaps from dermatologist Dr. Muneeb Shah, MD, who vouched for the efficacy of iRestore devices to MH.
The brand advises using this device every other day for 25 minutes, which is the longest among my suggestions. However, it is a helmet so you can just kick back and watch TV, text friends, scroll through TikTok, or even read a book. You also have six months to return this device if you’re unsure of your testing window.
And if you’ve got the funds and want to sport a helmet that packs 500 closely-spaced diodes that cover your hairline, top of scalp, temples, and full crown you can splurge on the $2,500 iRestore Elite. (I know, I know, that price is a major jumpscare, but if you can afford it why not treat yourself?)
| Treatment time | 25 minutes, every other day |
| # of diodes | 120 |
| Wavelengths | 655nm |
| Type | Helmet |
Pros
- Waterproof
- Cordless
Cons
- It’s palm-sized so you’ll have to work in smaller sections
You’re probably already familiar with Foreo’s signature Luna facial cleansing brushes, but the brand recently expanded into the red light therapy device game. Beyond offering face and neck masks, it recently released this 2-in-1 device. It’s equipped with 20 red LED lights to help stimulate hair growth. Plus, the FAQ 301 is covered in 637 silicone bristles that when combined with the brand’s signature T-Sonic massage helps loosen product buildup, like dry shampoo, and sweat from exercise. Scalp massages help blood flow to the scalp, which can promote hair growth.
The cordless device is equipped with Bluetooth tech and comes with a smartphone app for easy use. With a minimal four-minute daily commitment, it’s easy to incorporate this device into your at-home hair care routine. You can also pair this device with your go-to minoxidil hair growth serum for enhanced results. And since it’s waterproof, it’s super easy to clean up.
| Treatment time | 1 minute per treatment area, 4 minutes daily |
| # of diodes | 20 |
| Wavelengths | 650nm |
| Type | Brush |
Meet Our Experts
- Dr. Candace Spann, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of ReTress.
- Robert Finney, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Soho Skin and Hair Restoration.
- Dr. Hadley King, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified New York dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- And then there’s me, Nicole Saunders! I’ve been a beauty editor at Hearst for three years and previously launched the skincare and wellness coverage at NBC News Select. I also covered the intersection of all things beauty, fashion, and pop culture for the digital editions of Harper’s BAZAAR, Cosmopolitan, Billboard, and The Hollywood Reporter.
Will red light therapy work for me?
It actually depends on why you’re losing hair and when the hair loss started. As a quick reminder, someone dealing with androgenetic alopecia, hormones, stress, vitamin deficiencies, alopecia areata, or traction alopecia could benefit from using red light therapy, according to Dr. Spann.
“The ideal candidate is somebody who’s beginning to lose their hair or has hair thinning,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Karyn Grossman, MD, recently told us. So if you’ve got a bald, shiny scalp and your hair loss started 15 years ago, then red light therapy won’t do much for your hair growth journey.
Unfortunately, Dr. Spann adds those with scarring alopecia—when hair loss causes scarring of the follicles—will not respond to red light therapy, so it’s best to skip this treatment. (Psst: If this is you, no worries. We have plenty of other guidance on healthy hair you could explore, like foods for hair growth, how to prevent further hair loss, and supplements for hair growth.)
Is red light therapy for hair growth safe?
Great news: Spann says red light therapy earned FDA clearance due to its safety. She explains that when light therapy is used correctly it’s safe and without any side effects, but a quick word of caution. None of these featured red light therapy devices require protective goggles because they sit on top of our heads, but if you decide to try a different model for your hair or order any of our expert-tested LED face masks and they include goggles it’s best to use them.
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Women’s Health and has over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like red light therapy for hair growth and LED face masks, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, such as strengthening shampoos and body washes for dry skin on our site.
Previously, she was the beauty editor at Best Products where she tested quite literally thousands of launches for her quarterly column and the Best New Beauty Awards package. She also launched the beauty and wellness coverage at NBC News and contributed to CNN, Cosmopolitan, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Harper’s BAZAAR.
You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventures.
Brian Underwood is beauty director at Women’s Health, where he oversees content strategy for the brand across all platforms, including digital, print, and social. Underwood previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily and O, The Oprah Magazine. During his tenure leading beauty content for the Oprah brand at Hearst, stories Underwood commissioned were awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Media Award and a Fragrance Award for Editorial Excellence (his second). He was the launch Beauty Director of Dr. Oz THE GOOD LIFE, and has held additional editorial positions at Fitness, Organic Style, Good Housekeeping, Life & Style Weekly, and Woman’s Day and has written for Self, Shape, Seventeen, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and many more. Underwood previously served on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and as partnerships director of the Trans Beauty Clinic, a New York-based charitable organization that provided beauty services and workshops to the city’s trans community.
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