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

Hair loss is not always the thrills. It can be more and more. You begin to notice the scalp a little in the strong light of the bath; a small bald spot where you tie your hair into a ponytail. The shower drain is more clogged than usual. Not so long ago, hair loss treatment meant herbal remedies, supplements, or a flight to Turkey. Fortunately, red light therapy brings the power of hair regrowth to your home—no clinic appointment necessary.

In addition to skin rejuvenation, research shows that red light therapy can help strengthen hair strands, increase blood circulation in the skin, reduce inflammation, and lower levels of dihydrotestosterone-a 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 skin and causes follicles to stay in the hair growth phase.

To determine the best treatment for red light hair growth, I contacted three WIRED tech reviewers who have experienced hair loss themselves. We tested red light therapy caps, hands-free helmets with full scalp coverage, and low-level laser therapy or photobiomodulation devices for 16 weeks. Along the way, we’ve reviewed research, talked to dermatologists, and tracked down how easy it is to use. These are favorites that have produced meaningful results and earned our trust.

Included in this guide

The best Red Light Therapy Helmet

CurrentBody LED Hair Growth Helmet

Jump to the review

Best Low Level Light Therapy

iRestore Elite Laser Growth Hair System

Jump to the review

Be sure to check out our other hair care guides, including Best Dry Shampoos, Best Heat Protectant Sprays, and Best Hair Dryers.

Best Red Helmet

CurrentBody’s LED Hair Growth Helmet is a wearable, wireless, Bluetooth-enabled device intended to improve hair density, thickness, and overall condition. Each panel in the helmet has 12 red lights (120 in total), located in the spectrum of nanometers (nm) 620 to 660. The red light of 620-nm helps to improve the health of the scalp by promoting circulation, and the red light of 660-nm penetrates deeply, reaching through the epidermis and dermis to the hypodermis, where it stimulates the growth and repair of the follicle root. According to CurrentBody, you only need to use the device for 10 minutes a day, and you will see results within 12 weeks.

My hair is slowly growing famously. I got a pixie cut in the spring of 2011, and my hair didn’t touch my shoulders until late 2013. My hair is also very good. It clumps easily and tends to break (my ends are dry and split). After 12 weeks, I didn’t notice a huge difference in length (and I got a haircut during the test), but I did notice that my hair seemed to be sprouting new follicles around my scalp and the side area in particular. I started to see small children’s hair next to my hair that I had never seen before. My stylist commented that my hair felt thicker, and I noticed some split ends and hair getting caught in the bristles when brushing. My balding roommate also checked it out (although not every day like me) and said that her hair felt thicker and that there was new growth on her scalp.

The helmet comes in two sizes: medium for skulls 21.3 to 23.2 inches, or large, for 23.3 to 25 inches. (I chose medium, and it was too big for my head size.) The device sits in the base and charges via a USB-C cable. It takes about three hours to fully charge, and lasts on a single charge for about a week. The device is powered by pressing a single button located below the charging port. The round ear cups protect sensitive ears with a flat, removable leather lining, and can be adjusted a few inches up or down to ensure a perfect fit. The screen on the right ear shows the time remaining in the treatment session, and the helmet turns off when the 10 minutes are up. You can also connect the device to Bluetooth and play any kind of music or video while wearing it, because God forbid I be left alone with my thoughts for 10 minutes a day. Just make sure your hair is clean and dry before use.

My only complaints are that the earmuffs are not easy to adjust while wearing and I often pulled my hair out while removing or adjusting the hat. However, this is the best way to treat red light for hair growth. Wait, I’ll be like Fabio on the cover of a romance novel next year. See the full review here. –Molly Higgins