It’s time to talk about Laser Cap Therapy for Hair Growth. You might have heard of this, but I don’t think many people really understand it. Laser Cap Therapy can be used together with other hair growth treatments or on its own. It’s a safe and effective hair growth therapy that we’ll discuss here.
What is Laser Cap Therapy?
You’ve probably heard about laser cap therapy for hair growth. It’s used to treat baldness and thinning hair, but it’s also used to treat some other hair-related conditions. A low-level laser is aimed directly at your scalp to stimulate blood flow in that area. The laser doesn’t change the structure of the hair itself — it just helps nourish the follicles overall, so they grow healthier new hairs.
Low-level lasers produce a red, purple, or near-infrared light. The laser cap offers a unique way to stimulate hair growth. Using the cap is proven most effective in combination with minoxidil treatment (Rogaine) and prescription medicines for hair loss. It is one of the more popular alternative treatments for stimulating hair growth and may help some men regrow partial or full scalp hair.
How Does Laser Cap Therapy Work?
Laser hair growth caps are a relative innovation in the world of hair care.
The caps use a low-level laser therapy technology that stimulates the scalp and hair follicles. The low-level laser therapy products also feature lower-strength lasers that emit photons that penetrate the scalp, targeting the follicles. The red light or infrared range is the emitted light.
Most laser hair growth caps use LLLT technology to treat thinning or balding areas of the scalp.
The emitted light is in the red light or infrared range (typically ranging from 630nm to 980nm).
The cap provides a constant source of light that helps stimulate blood flow, increase energy levels and oxygenation of cells, and increase cell activity. The cap may be worn at night while you sleep.
The wavelength of light used in this treatment is non-damaging and safe for all skin types, so you can wear your cap at home without worrying about irritation or damage. In fact, some people even find wearing their LLLT caps relaxing!
Benefits
Laser cap therapy is a non-invasive procedure that uses laser light to stimulate hair growth. It has no side effects and has been proven to be an effective and safe way to treat age and genetic-induced hair loss. In addition, the laser cap is very easy to use and suitable for home use.
The laser cap is worn on the head for 15 minutes at a time, three times per week. When used as part of a medical regimen that includes other hair loss treatments such as topical solutions like Minoxidil, micro-needling, or platelet-rich plasma (PRP), laser cap therapy can yield faster and more positive outcomes.
Laser cap therapy works by stimulating the production of new cells in your scalp and increasing the blood flow in your follicles where new hair growth occurs. The result is thicker, fuller hair with fewer split ends and less breakage over time—which means healthier-looking locks!
More research is needed, but some studies show outstanding results:
- A study that was conducted in 2014 shows that low-level laser therapy is effective and safe for hair growth in both men and women [1].
- Another study conducted in 2013 shows that males ages 18-48 found that laser hair therapy provided an outstanding 39% increase in their hair growth during a period of 16 weeks [2].
Primary Benefits:
- Ease of use, very suitable for most patients, and appropriate for home use
- No known side effects
- Pain-free and non-invasive
- FDA-approved procedure
- Provides better outcomes if combined with other hair loss treatments
- Not a time-consuming treatment; can be worn for just a few minutes, and a few days a week
- Clinically proven to stimulate hair follicles
Side Effects
Since low-level light therapy is a non-invasive treatment, the risk of side effects is usually rare. The presence of side effects is generally minor and primarily temporary.
Most people who have undergone laser cap therapy report feeling no side effects. However, some people may experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting during or after treatment. These side effects usually go away within a few minutes or hours after completing treatment [3].
If you’re experiencing hair loss, laser cap therapy may be the right option for you. It’s painless, and the risk of side effects is low, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any negative results.
As with all things, there are also downsides to the treatment as well. For instance, it’s time-consuming, and the chances are you’ll undergo several sessions to achieve the possible results you’re aiming for. Also, it can be really expensive, depending on your budget and the clinic’s offers.
Negative Side of Laser Cap Treatment
Since this is a revolutionary device, there are things to also consider like the negative side of the procedure, such as:
- The treatment can cost thousands of dollars a year, making it expensive.
- Can interact with certain medications.
- It is also time-consuming since the treatment requires several sessions a week for several months.
- It may not be effective for people with advanced stages of hair loss instead of those who are experiencing it in the early stages.
- The long-term effectiveness and safety are not yet established.
Ideal Candidate for Laser Cap Therapy
It works by stimulating the hair follicles, which helps to strengthen them and makes them healthier. This also helps to prevent further loss of hair, as well as promote new growth.
Another thing to consider is the results of laser hat therapy for baldness and hair loss may also vary from patient to patient, and this depends on the type of hair loss they are experiencing. Some experts believe that the effectiveness of the low-level laser therapy eventually depends on the health quality of the hair cells. However, the therapy is indeed effective in patients experiencing early stages of hair loss.
It’s also important to take note of the type and level of hair loss you have so that the clinic may determine the type of hair loss you are facing and can recommend the best treatment solution that would suit you and also give you a lifestyle and diet changes.
They are also clinically proven to treat androgenetic alopecia. It slows down the presence of hair fall and promotes thicker hair growth. It requires consistency and patience to get the results of the laser cap therapy. Using it for several months would be ideal before actually seeing good results. Always take note that the faster you get treatment for your hair loss, the better are your chances of preventing irreversible damage [4][5].
Types of Laser Hair Caps
There are different types of laser hair cap treatment options that are suitable for you:
Capillus
The laser cap therapy system delivers safe, low-level laser light to your scalp. Using this for 6 minutes a day, you can stimulate and strengthen the cells in your hair follicles to encourage new growth. There is also a lightweight carrying case included in the cap that makes travel and storage stress-free for you. There is also a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack that comes with it that fits easily into your pocket or purse, allowing you also to move freely while wearing the cap.
LaserBand
This contains 82 medical-grade lasers that will provide light therapy to your scalp. It also has special teeth that part your hair that optimize light distribution to your follicles. You need to use it for as little as 90 seconds and thrice a week. This laser device is portable, small, and easy to use. It also comes with both a rechargeable battery and a power cord for convenience purposes.
This device will not only improve the quality of your hair and make it look fuller and healthier, but it can also help you regain confidence in yourself so that you can enjoy life again!
LaserComb
This is a revolutionary hair loss prevention system that uses laser comb therapy to revitalize your hair follicles at home. You can treat the areas of your scalp that are affected by hair loss with just three 8-minute sessions per week. The device includes a rechargeable battery and power cord.
LaserHelmet
The LaserHelmet is a breakthrough in hair restoration technology. You can do two 20-minute sessions per week, wherein you can stimulate your hair follicles which reduces shedding and increases volume. You can also wear the helmet while reading your favorite book or watching your TV show. The LaserHelmet also includes a power adapter and a carrying case.
Conclusion
The laser cap treatment is noninvasive and relatively painless. This can make it a viable option for those who discontinue more invasive treatments because of discomfort. While results are not guaranteed and need to be weighed against other methods, the laser cap treatment is considered effective for many people. The treatment also gives patients who’ve tried more invasive treatments a second chance at stopping their hair loss.
In all, laser hair treatment is a safe way to slow the progression of hair loss and, in some cases, even stop it. However, like any other treatment option, it’s essential to weigh the cost, benefits, and negatives before committing to anything. Whether laser treatment will be right for you depends on how your hair loss has progressed and what your expectations are after treatment. Approaching this decision with an open mind will help you make a good choice.
Disclaimer: This article is only a guide. It does not substitute the advice given by your own healthcare professional. Before making any health-related decision, consult your healthcare professional.
Editorial References And Fact-Checking
- Avci, P., Gupta, G. K., Clark, J., Wikonkal, N., & Hamblin, M. R. (2014). Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) for treatment of hair loss. Lasers in surgery and medicine, 46(2), 144–151. https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.22170
- Lanzafame, R. J., Blanche, R. R., Bodian, A. B., Chiacchierini, R. P., Fernandez-Obregon, A., & Kazmirek, E. R. (2013). The growth of human scalp hair mediated by visible red light laser and LED sources in males. Lasers in surgery and medicine, 45(8), 487–495. https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.22173
- Egger, A., Resnik, S. R., Aickara, D., Maranda, E., Kaiser, M., Wikramanayake, T. C., & Jimenez, J. J. (2020). Examining the Safety and Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Review of the Literature. Skin Appendage Disorders, 6(5), 259–267. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509001
- Yoon, J. S., Ku, W. Y., Lee, J. H., & Ahn, H. C. (2020). Low-level light therapy using a helmet-type device for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: A 16-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham device-controlled trial. Medicine, 99(29), e21181. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000021181
- Avci, P., Gupta, G. K., Clark, J., Wikonkal, N., & Hamblin, M. R. (2014). Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) for treatment of hair loss. Lasers in surgery and medicine, 46(2), 144–151. https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.22170
