Laser Caps
The Good, The Bad and The Perfect Laser Cap for You
The Top Laser Caps Compared!!
There are so many laser caps available these days which makes it super hard to choose the right one for you. I'm going to walk you through my recommendations for hair loss aka alopecia to see which is worth your money.
But before I jump right into that, I'll quickly explain low level laser therapy or low level light therapy aka LLLT (i.e. the tech used in laser caps to promote hair growth!).
What Is Low-Level Light Therapy?
Put simply, it's one of the best types of non-surgical hair restoration treatments. LLLT directs almost infrared laser light (red and infrared wavelengths) towards your scalp so your hair follicles can feel rejuvenated and provide you with that gorgeous head of hair you're searching for. Put more complexly, it appears that LLLT has a wide range of effects at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels, that causes a series of biochemical reactions that ultimately lead toward stimulation of hair growth. There are really no side effects noted from this making LLLT the most exciting weapon available for treating male pattern hair loss.
Make sense? Great! Let's crack on with the best laser hair growth devices, shall we?
5 Laser Caps Compared!!
#1 LaserCap HD
For years hair loss clinics have been offering non-surgical hair restoration and prevention methods — laser caps being one of them. But you still had to come into the office to receive the treatment. That old way of using light therapy with a big bulky in office machine made it unlikely to be successful due to the hassle factor for the patient.
It's quite exciting (for me, at least!) to now be able to offer a take-home low level laser therapy solution in the form of the LaserCap HD.
So, let's see if this model is truly the best, shall we?
The Overview
The LaserCap HD comes with 224 laser diodes that emit 3.23 J/cm2 of energy during each treatment. I've found that the LaserCap brand (this model in particular) delivers the highest dose of light energy per treatment when compared to the others on my list. Now the important thing to remember is the stronger the light level per diode, the better the outcome for stimulation of hair regrowth.
If you are yet to dive into the world of laser caps, this might seem a tad unsafe. After all, it's shooting lasers into your head, right? Well, yes but they aren't the type of beams you see in the sci-fi movies. Instead, they are perfectly safe and fully cleared by the FDA.
It's Easy to Use
Alongside all of this goodness, it is rather discreet as far as laser caps go. It's not like a big, bulky motorcycle helmet. You'll even be able to slip a regular hat over the top to hide your treatment while you run errands. You may lead a super busy life so killing two birds with one stone is essential.
Above all, it's incredibly easy to use. Other treatments mean you have to comb through your hair while it's happening, and the rest require you to stay stock still the entire time. With the LaserCap HD, however, you won't need to do any of that.
The battery is rechargeable so you won't have the annoying and money-eating chore of buying replacements. It's simply a case of plugging it into the wall!
Now I have supported this product for the last year or so, and I have to say I have seen amazing results, especially in women's hair loss who perhaps don’t go the route of hair transplantation due to the trouble of shaving the head, or other reasons, and want to start with something less invasive.
You'll Love The Wear Time
Personally, my favorite part is the wear time. You only need to put it on for half an hour every other day, and it's recommended to be used at least 3-4 times per week. This makes it even easier to incorporate into your day-to-day routine. But let's see what other users have to say.
What Users Say
Let's Talk Money
After all that, you're probably wondering, "how much does it cost?" (I certainly would be!). It might be a bit more than you were expecting but, in my professional opinion, it's worth the lot.
You'll be looking at shelling out upwards of $1,000-$2000 for this treatment. Whether this is something you're comfortable with is entirely up to you but from my experience, the results are well worth it, especially considering these products will last you years, the pay off is well worth it.
#2 Capillus Rx
There's no denying it — Capillus is one of the leading brands in low-level laser therapy technology and solutions. The company has operated for years and has worked tirelessly to create its new and improved Capillus Rx cap (an improvement of the original 272 PRO edition), and is considered its top of the line product.
I have seen some amazing hair growth with it.
The Overview
This cap has a whopping 312 diodes which is more than the LaserCap HD model. In fact, it's more than the rest on this list too! Each one is fit into the hypoallergenic base to ensure the majority of people can receive the treatment without irritation — in other words, it's good for those of you with sensitive skin.
Since the energy it kicks out per treatment, you can't just get the Capillus RX off the public market. You'll have to go to a treatment center to have it prescribed. At least then you'll know it is FDA approved and fit for the job! The rationale behind that is that if someone is having that much hair loss, they are better suited to have the guidance of a professional.
Industry-Leading Wear Time
The LaserCap, as well as the others I'm going to talk about later, just can't compete with the incredibly short daily wear time.
The brand's former model matched the LaserCap HD. However, the brains behind this improvement have drastically reduced it from half an hour to six minutes. Since the coverage is so full and the number of diodes is so high, six minutes a day is all you'll need to give. This makes it a very appealing device. They also follow science when creating this recommendation that you can read about here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2790317/
High Tech But Easy to Use
Despite all the advanced technology that has gone into the creation of the Capillus RX it still manages to be easy to use.
The battery included in the device has a very high capacity, which means you don't have to faff around with replacements every other week. It is already fully-equipped to handle the strong laser dosage.
I've noticed that the cap itself is far more flexible than other models like the iRestore and the LaserBand, allowing you to treat your hair loss discreetly in public.
You don't have to take just my word for it though, both male and female patients (and doctors!) have found it to be super effective.
What Users Say
How Much Is It?
Capillus RX cap is only available through Capillus-registered clinics, typically around 3000 US dollars.
Let's move onto the next top laser caps compared!!
#3 iRestore/iGrow
The iRestore hair growth system is offered by Freedom Laser Therapy. The company was founded in 2003 by people who wanted to bring effective beauty and health solutions to the masses.
The brand specializes in the provision of drug-free and non-invasive solutions. Did they hit the nail on the head with the iRestore helmet? To be honest, it's a yes and no situation.
The Overview
The iRestore Professional model has 282 laser diodes. If you opt for the Essential model, however, you'll only get 51. Obviously, this isn't as great as the previous two but it is a lot cheaper (around $500 for the Essential).
Alongside this, it isn't portable. Sadly, it needs to be plugged in which I find reduces its usability quite a lot. Of course, that's coming from someone who likes to be on the move constantly! Although, I do have to say that the one year warranty provided by the company is excellent.
Not a Fan of The Helmet Style
Granted, this is my personal preference. However, I know some of my patients weren't too keen on this either.
Unlike the LaserCap HD and the Capillus RX that you can slip into a baseball cap, the iRestore Hair Growth System is a rock solid hard plastic helmet. Because of this, you can't wear it while you are out and about, nor does it mold to the shape of your head. This can make for somewhat patchy coverage.
In its defense, it does include foam patches (like you'd find inside a bicycle helmet) to ensure the weight is distributed evenly. It's rather effective at preventing headaches which is always a plus!
It Is Easy to Use
I can't lie — even though I don't rate this FDA-approved model as highly as the other two, people have said that it is easy to use and effective at preventing hair loss. All you have to do is plug it in, plop it on your head, and sit there for 25 minutes.
Plus, you only have to do this every other day so if you're pressed for time but don't want to shell out for the Capillus or LaserCap HD, this might be the one for you.
What Users Say
#4 LaserBand 82
The LaserBand 82 is one of the more cost-effective low-level light therapy solutions designed for those who want results on a budget.
It's comfortable, portable, and comes with a rechargeable battery so you won't have to go without your treatment no matter where you are.
The Overview
The LaserBand 82 has 82 diodes (funnily enough) that work to nourish your hair, prevent thinning, and promote regrowth. I can't disagree with the fact that it has been designed with convenience in mind.
With just a 90 second treatment period, 3 days a week, you're promised results in around 5 months. Fortunately, people have seen results. However, I'm a tad skeptical about the design.
Not All-Around Coverage
Unlike the helmet or hat designs, this FDA-cleared hair growth band doesn't cover your entire head. While it does have teeth embedded around the perimeter to separate your follicles to allow for further nourishment, it's simply impossible to treat your whole head at once.
With that being said, at a price point of roughly $800 and a 5-month money-back guarantee it might be worth a shot if you can afford it.
Great Portability
If you love to travel, the LaserBand 82 might well be the best option. Why? Because it's far more portable than the others I've discussed. While you won't get the same coverage, you will get similar results — all while taking up less space in your suitcase!
What Users Say
#5 LaserComb 12
Yes — I know this is "top laser caps compared!!". But, I wanted to include the LaserComb 12 too. Why? Because if you're struggling with hair loss in a certain area, you probably don't want to sit with a cap on your entire head. So, the comb is a great solution.
The Overview
The LaserComb 12 provides 12 medical-grade lasers that work to stimulate hair follicles to promote growth and prevent thinning. Basically, the same thing as the band.
However, the comb is used to target specific areas, rather than treat everywhere.
Ease of Use
I have to say, it is not as easy to use as the band or helmet varieties I've spoken about. You have to put in a fair amount of effort for it to work (specifically, 8 minutes, 3 times a week).
When reading that, you might feel like that isn't that much but continuously brushing one spot for this length of time becomes very tedious!
FDA-Cleared Technology
The LaserComb 12 is FDA registered and approved which means it is 100% safe. It has even been published in various medical journals and gained 14 international medical licenses. Yup, it's worth the money if you don't mind putting the additional work into your hair treatment.
What Users Say
Conclusion
Top Laser Caps Compared!! The Bottom Strand
Ultimately, hair treatments aren't a one-size-fits-all affair. You're always much better off having a chat with me or another professional before paying for a product that may not suit you.
However, if I were looking for at-home laser caps, I'd choose the LaserCap HD or the Capillus RX especially if I wasn't on a budget. But if I was on a budget, the iRestore works well enough for the money.
