The 5 Best Hair Growth Devices That Can Reverse Genetic Hair Loss

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 Scotssdale, Arizona.

“By far and away, the leading cause of hair loss in both men and women is androgenetic alopecia. Almost all men and around 50% 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.

“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.

For patients suffering with stress-induced hair loss, the pandemic also increased a need for more support. “There is a type of temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium. In this condition, a lot of the hairs all over the scalp going 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.

“Low-level laser light therapy in the red light range triggers a reaction in the cells that help regenerate the hair to do several things: improve the blood supply a nutrients, improve the health of the cells that help regenerate the hair, help reduce the local effects of hormones on the hair follicle. All of this helps to regrow new hairs, as well as reverse the miniaturization of damaged hairs,” says Dr. Finney.

“There are many different types of light therapy for hair loss. There is red light and there is 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% after ten weeks of use. Similar findings have been reported with red light helmets as well,” says Dr. Lal.

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, 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 recommendation.

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 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 4-6 months. Results take time,” says Dr. Finney.

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, 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.