Beyond skin rejuvenation, clinical studies suggest red-light therapy can help energize hair follicles, increase blood circulation in the scalp, reduce inflammation, and lower dihydrotestosterone levels—a hormone that causes hair loss and thinning. Red-light therapy also supports adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, which helps provide oxygen and blood flow to the scalp and triggers follicles to remain in the hair-growth phase.
To determine the best red-light therapy for hair growth, I tapped five WIRED tech reviewers who've dealt with hair loss themselves. We assessed red-light therapy caps, hands-free helmets with full scalp coverage, and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation devices for 16 weeks. Along the way, I reviewed the research, spoke with dermatologists, and tracked ease of use. These are the favorites that produced meaningful results and earned our trust.
Be sure to check out our other wellness and skin care guides, including the Best LED Face Masks, Best Hair Dryers, and How to Spot Counterfeit Beauty Products on Amazon.
Updated June 2026: I've added the GroWell Laser Hair Growth Cap, Laduora Duo 4-in-1 Pod-Based Scalp and Hair Care Device, and the Hairmax LaserBand 82 ComfortFlex. I've added an FAQ section. I also updated product information, links, and prices.
Best Red-Light Therapy Overall
CurrentBody's LED Hair Growth Helmet is a wearable, cord-free, Bluetooth-enabled device designed to improve hair density, thickness, and overall condition. After 12 weeks, I didn’t notice a difference in hair length—I did get a haircut halfway through testing—but I did spot new follicles sprouting along my scalp and sideburn area. My hairstylist mentioned that my hair felt thicker, and I noticed less breakage and hair caught in bristles when brushing. My balding roommate also tested the CurrentBody helmet, and he noted that his hair also felt thicker and that there was new growth around the scalp.
The circular earmuffs protect sensitive ears with a cushy, removable faux leather cloth, and they can be adjusted several inches up or down to ensure a comfortable fit. You can also connect the device to Bluetooth and play any type of audio during sessions, because God forbid I be left alone with my thoughts for 10 minutes a day. My only complaint is that the ear covers aren’t the easiest to adjust and would oftentimes pull out my hair when I removed the helmet. Nevertheless, this is the best red-light therapy for fuller hair. See my full review here. —Molly Higgins
Specs
Treatment Time
10 minutes per day, daily for 16 weeks
Light Source
120 LEDs total
Wavelengths (nm)
620 and 660
Battery
Takes about 3 hours to fully charge; lasts up to 7 days
FDA-Cleared
Yes
Warranty
2 years
Most Discreet Red-Light Therapy Device
Unlike other devices on this list, GroWell is designed to be used every other day rather than every day to give your scalp a rest day to process the cellular stimulation (photobiomodulation). Also, unlike others, its wattage is limited to avoid oversaturating follicles past what studies show is the optimal 3 to 4 Joules. What GroWell does do is treat your scalp with a proprietary combination of lasers and LEDs to create a blanket of energy you can feel lightly warming your scalp. (GrowWell's therapy-grade laser and LED diodes are proprietary to Apira, the company behind iGrow and GroWell, and are not the same as the generic diodes common in lower-end caps sold online.) The other big difference—which I would call a massive advantage—is separating those lasers from a bulky device. Instead, the GroWell is a flat pad that fits inside a baseball hat. There are hats included in the packaging, and I use them when I'm home. But this product is hassle-free to travel with (it takes up as much room as a pair of socks), and you can tuck it into any normal ball cap on a trip where you're flying carry-on only.
I've been using the device for two months and have grown my always-thin and fine hair out for the first time in 15 years. It's worked well enough that I'm not asked as many questions about it as you might expect—everyone assumes I just shaved my head purely by choice now that they see me with a pretty regular amount of hair for a middle-aged guy. See my full rave here. —Martin Cizmar
Specs
Treatment Time
25 minutes per use, every other day
Light Source
24 Micro-lens lasers and 39 LEDs
Wavelengths (nm)
655
Battery
Lasts up to 3 uses, about 7 days
FDA-Cleared
Yes
Warranty
2 years
Best Red-Light Hat
At first glance, the HigherDose Red-Light Hat looks like your everyday baseball cap, with a brand logo embroidered across the top—until you notice the little battery cap and controller on the back, or the 120 LED light bulbs lining the inside. While I don’t suffer from natural hair loss, I’ve struggled with trichotillomania since my teens. Part of what initiated the habit is that any time my sensitive scalp gets irritated, the itchiness drives me to pull at the hair around the spot. But in the months I’ve been using the HigherDose hat, I have felt like my scalp has been happier, with fewer irritated spots and overall itchiness, leaving me less likely to reach for my scalp. Last October, after my first month with this device, my hairstylist saw healthier regrowth instead of the breakage-style she usually sees. In January, she took another look and noted that my usual problem spot on the back of my head had grown in better than ever. She didn’t find any reaction on my scalp either from four months of using the device, and my roots look thicker all around my head.
Similar to with my infrared brushes, I find that my hair is a tad oilier after use; both types of devices employ infrared light that can lock in moisture. It’s not a problem on days when my hair is clean, but if my hair is already dirty, using this hat requires an immediate shower. Overall, though, using the HigherDose hat has had a serious payoff for me, my scalp, and my hair. See my full review here. —Nena Farrell
Specs
Treatment Time
10 minutes per day, daily for 16 weeks
Light Source
120 LEDs
Wavelengths (nm)
650
Battery
Up to 14 days
FDA-Cleared
Yes
Warranty
1 year
Best Red-Light Helmet
I seem to rival a golden retriever in terms of shedding, and my sensitive scalp makes things itchy and flaky. To nip it in the bud, I tested the iRestore Elite device, along with the Max Growth kit. It sits right on the crown of your head, and it does heat up quite a bit as the red light puts focused emphasis on your scalp. The red-light exposure has helped prevent flare-ups, as I have none to note from my time testing it. That’s a feat in itself.
However, I’m not the success story here. I recruited a balding tester (my husband, who also gets to give products a spin) who wanted to give it a go to see if it would help with his receding hairline. After three months of consistent use, his hair density has bounced back significantly. It’s a regular sight to see him drink his morning coffee while waiting for the Elite’s 12-minute run time to wrap up. The accompanying Max Growth hair products smell wonderful, and they also played a contributing role in his follicular blossoming. Now, if only he would stop taking them out of my shower. See my full review here. —Julia Forbes
Specs
Treatment Time
12 minutes per day, daily for 16 weeks
Light Source
500 diodes (300 Vixo lasers and 200 LEDs)
Wavelengths (nm)
625, 655, and 680
Battery
Up to 14 days
FDA-Cleared
Yes
Warranty
3 years
Best Multipurpose Device
The Laduora Duo combines red-light therapy, microcurrent stimulation, sonic vibrations, and thermotherapy into one hairbrushlike device. It has just one button, which you toggle through for the three modes: gentle, balance, and boost. I tested the device with the Boost Duo Pod ($30) serum, which is a water-based formula of vitamin B3, caffeine, copper peptide to block DHT (a cause of hair loss), blue tansy, and green tea leaf extract to boost cell renewal and reinvigorate the follicle. The device came with two pods, and each lasted for about nine sessions. You can only buy replacement pods through Laduora’s website. You can use the device without the pods, but the treatment will no longer have the serum benefits.
After four weeks, I could see an improvement in my scalp, and the serum made my hair shinier and smoother after just one use. After each session, my scalp felt invigorated, like I just had someone give me a massage with their fingers. The hard metal bristles helped reduce buildup and revitalize the follicles on my scalp that I don’t normally pay as much attention to. Within about six weeks, I saw baby hairs sprouting at the crown of my head and noticed more fullness near my temples when my hair was combed back. Since the included two-pack of pods only lasted for the first three weeks of testing, I used the device without it afterward and still felt the effects, though my hair wasn’t as shiny without the serum. If you’ve been curious about red-light therapy for hair restoration but want a targeted treatment plan with the pods, this brush is a more affordable option than other devices. —Molly Higgins
Specs
Treatment Time
5 minutes per day, daily for four weeks
Light Source
30 LEDs
Wavelengths (nm) and Maximum Temp
660 nm and 108 degrees Fahrenheit
Vibration Intensity
5,000, 6,000, 6,950 PPM
Battery
Takes about 4 hours to charge; lasts up to 12 treatments (60 minutes)
FDA-Cleared
No
Warranty
1 year
Fastest Treatment Time
Unlike the usual helmet- or hat-based red-light hair regrowth devices, the Hairmax LaserBand is a 3-inch-thick, flexible headband studded with 82 concentrated lasers rather than LEDs. (There’s also a slimmer, 41-laser version for $250 less.) Take it off its charging cradle and place it on one section of your head for 30 seconds, three times a week. When the time is up, it will buzz loudly; then you can move it to the next section. I appreciated the speedy treatment time, which made it less of a chore to use, but I had to stand in front of a mirror to ensure I was hitting the right spots. The headband’s silicone teeth also didn't secure the band in place very well when I was treating my frontal hairline, so I had to stand stationary while holding it. However, I’m 46, so at this point in life, my hairline has plenty of room for improvement. I have only been testing the LaserBand for two months—the brand says it can take three to see regrowth—but so far I can definitely see some improvement along my part. —Kat Merck
Specs
Treatment Time
90 seconds per treatment, 3 times per week
Light Source
82 lasers
Wavelengths (nm)
655
Battery
10 hours continuous use (but sits on a charging dock)
FDA-Cleared
Yes
Warranty
1 year
Product
Type
Light Source
Wavelengths
Battery Life
FDA-Cleared
Price
CurrentBody LED Hair Growth Helmet
Helmet
120 LEDs
620 and 660
Up to 7 days
Yes
$860
GroWell Laser Hair Growth Cap
Cap
24 Micro-lens lasers and 39 LEDs
655
Up to 7 days
Yes
$550
HigherDose Red-Light Hat
Hat
120 LEDs
650
Up to 14 days
Yes
$449
iRestore Elite
Helmet
500 diodes (300 Vixo lasers and 200 LEDs)
625, 655, and 680
Up to 14 days
Yes
$1,899
Laduora DUO 4-in-1 Device
Handheld
30 LEDs
660
Up to 12 treatments (60 minutes)
No
$300
Hairmax LaserBand 82 ComfortFlex
Headband
82 lasers
655
10 hours (but sits on a charging dock)
Yes
$849
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