Best Red Light Therapy for Hair Growth: WIRED Certified (2026)

Hair loss is not Always dramatic. It can be incremental. You start to notice a little more scalp in the harsh bathroom lighting; A small bald spot when you tie your hair into a ponytail. The shower drain is more clogged than usual. Not long ago, hair loss treatments meant topical treatments, nutritional supplements, or traveling to Türkiye. Fortunately, red light therapy brings the possibility of hair regrowth to your home, without the need for a medical appointment.

behind Skin rejuvenation, Research indicates Red light therapy can help stimulate hair follicles, increase circulation to the scalp, reduce inflammation, and lower levels of dihydrotestosterone, the hormone that causes hair loss and thinning. Red light therapy also supports the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which helps provide oxygen and blood flow to the scalp and stimulates follicles to remain in the hair growth phase.

To determine the best red light treatment for hair growth, I consulted three WIRED technology reviewers who have dealt with hair loss themselves. We evaluated red light therapy caps, hands-free helmets with full scalp coverage, low-level laser therapy or photobiomodulation devices for 16 weeks. Along the way, we reviewed research, spoke with dermatologists, and tracked ease of use. These are our favorites that have produced useful results and earned our trust.

Be sure to check out our other hair care guides, including The best types of dry shampoo, The best heat protectant spraysand Best hair dryers.

Best red light helmet

Current body LED hair growth helmet It is a wireless, Bluetooth-enabled wearable device that aims to improve hair density, thickness and general condition. Each panel on the helmet contains 12 red lights (120 total), which range between 620 and 660 nm. 620nm red light helps improve scalp health by promoting blood circulation, and 660nm red light penetrates deeper, reaching through the epidermis and dermis to the subcutaneous, where it stimulates growth and repair at the follicle root. According to CurrentBody, just use the device for 10 minutes a day, and you’ll see results within 12 weeks.

My hair grows very slowly. I got a short haircut in the spring of 2011, and my hair didn’t touch my shoulders until the end of 2013. My hair is also very fine. It tangles easily and often breaks (my ends are chronically dry and split). After 12 weeks, I didn’t notice a huge difference in length (and I cut my hair mid-test), but I did notice that my hair seemed to be sprouting new follicles along my scalp and sideburn area in particular. I started seeing tiny hairs along my hairline that I had never seen before. My hairdresser commented that my hair felt thicker, and I noticed less breakage and frizz when combing. My bald roommate also tested it (although not as daily as me) and said his hair became thicker and there was new growth around the scalp.

The helmet comes in two sizes: medium for a skull circumference of 21.3 to 23.2 inches, or large for a skull circumference of 23.3 to 25 inches. (I chose the medium, and it was too big for my head.) The device sits on a base and charges via a USB-C cord. It takes about three hours to fully charge, and it stays on a single charge for about a week. The device is turned on by pressing the single button located below the charging port. The round earcups protect sensitive ears with a comfortable, removable faux leather cloth, and can be adjusted several inches up or down to ensure a comfortable fit. A display on the right ear cup indicates the time remaining in the treatment session, and the helmet automatically turns off when the 10 minutes are up. You can also connect the device to Bluetooth and play any type of music or video while wearing it, because God forbid I’m left alone with my thoughts for 10 minutes a day. Just make sure your hair is clean and dry before use.

My only complaint is that the ear cups aren’t the easiest to adjust while wearing them, and they often pull on my hair while removing or adjusting the helmet. However, this is the best red light therapy for hair growth. Just wait, I’ll look like Fabio on the cover of a romance novel by next year. See Full review here. —Molly Huggins