Most people lose about 100 hairs every day from their scalp. While most people grow those hairs back, some people simply don’t. It can be due to genetics, stress, hormonal changes, or even medical conditions. But the good news is that there are treatments to help you regrow your hair. In recent years, treatments such as laser therapy, LED, and microneedling and other innovative biohacking approaches have become very popular as effective solutions for thinning hair.
Read on to learn more about which hair growth devices can help with thinning hair.
Best at-home hair growth devices
There are different devices available in the market that use different technologies to stimulate hair growth. Below are the best at-home devices for hair growth and how each one works.
Laser hair growth devices
A laser hair growth device stimulates hair follicles using low-level laser therapy (LLLT). The lasers penetrate your scalp, which stimulates cellular activity, improves blood circulation, and delivers nutrients to the hair follicles. This can encourage hair growth and result in thicker and healthier hair over time.
This therapy has shown amazing results in stimulating hair regrowth. One small study was conducted on women with female pattern baldness. They used a low-level laser hair growth device for about 30 minutes every other day for a period of 17 weeks. The results showed a 51% increase in hair count.
Another similar study performed on 41 men showed a 39% increase in hair growth. This was after using the laser treatment for over a period of 16 weeks.
Currently, there are several laser products available to treat hair loss. These include hand-held devices, laser caps, helmets, and laser combs and brushes.
Benefits of laser hair growth devices
There are a number of reasons laser devices have become so popular. Some of them include:
- It supports hair growth. The laser devices emit LLLT to your scalp to stimulate cellular activity and blood circulation to the hair follicles. This can help boost hair growth where hair loss has occurred.
- It’s non-invasive. With a laser, you don’t need to undergo an invasive procedure. It just uses low-level lasers to stimulate hair growth. Plus, no pain is associated with laser devices, which makes it a great option for people with low pain tolerance.
- No downtime. One of the best benefits of a laser hair growth device is that they don’t have any downtime at all. You just place the device on your scalp and go on with your day.
Laser devices for hair growth often work best on people with mild to moderate hair loss. They may be less effective for those with significant hair loss.
Additionally, they are great if you’re looking for a non-invasive treatment with no downtime.
Potential risks
Side effects are minimal but can include redness and scalp irritation, redness. These are usually temporary and subside within a day or two.
LED light therapy devices
LED (Light-Emitting Diode) devices emit specific wavelengths of light, typically red or near-infrared of light to target cells in the scalp. LED light therapy can help enhance blood circulation in the scalp and deliver more nutrients and oxygen to hair follicles. This can help revive dormant or weakened follicles.
Studies found that low-level 650 nm red light may help encourage the growth of human hair follicles. Additionally, it usually prolongs the hair growth phase.
There is a wide range of LED devices, including LED combs, helmets, and caps.
Benefits of LED light therapy devices
Here are the common benefits of LEDs that make it such a popular treatment for thinning hair:
- Stimulating hair regrowth. LED devices may help promote hair growth by stimulating cellular activity in the hair follicles.
- Non-invasive and painless. It’s a completely non-invasive and painless treatment that does not require surgery or needles.
- Available for home use.LED hair growth devices are approved for at-home use. So you can use them in the comfort of your own home without visiting a clinic or a salon.
- Minimal side effects. LED light therapy devices are generally safe with minimal to no reported side effects.
Potential risks
If you’re worried about the potential side effects of using LED devices on your hair, you can rest at ease. These devices are safe and you can use them frequently with no serious negative consequences for your hair. Only a few minor side effects have been reported like mild redness or irritation. These symptoms usually resolve on their own within a few days.
Microneedling devices
Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed at home or in the office by a professional. This technique involves using a handheld device to puncture the outermost layer of skin with tiny needles. The needles are attached to a dermaroller, dermapen or a dermastamp.
In your scalp creating tiny wounds can stimulate blood flow. This increased blood flow can help provide essential nutrients and oxygen to your hair follicles, Which stimulates healthy hair growth.
Microneedling can also help topical treatments such as minoxidil penetrate your scalp, which may boost their effects. In fact, studies suggest that scalp microneedling often works best with other hair-loss treatments.
At-home devices usually provide a much milder treatment and can be used much more consistently.
Benefits of microneedling
Using a microneedling device does offer several benefits. Below are some of the most common:
- Hair regrowth and hair density. Microneedling may help stimulate the stem cells in the hair follicles. This may potentially help with hair growth and regeneration.
- Helps other hair growth products absorb better. The tiny holes in the scalp can help hair growth products penetrate your scalp, which may boost their effects.
- Increases blood flow to the scalp. The tiny injuries created during microneedling may help trigger enhanced blood circulation. This can help deliver an increased amount of oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles.
Microneedling may be a fantastic option for you if you have androgenic alopecia. It’s ideal if you’re looking to regrow hair, improve your scalp health, or combine it with other treatment options.
Potential risks
So, there are a few side effects you can expect to experience after your treatment. Some of them include redness, bruising, swelling, and pain.
Additionally, there are other side effects that are most likely to occur when you combine microneedling with other treatments. Specifically with Minoxidil use because it can sometimes cause itchiness and irritation. Microneedling can exacerbate these symptoms.
Key features to look for when choosing a device
When it comes to choosing a hair growth device, there are several things you should look out for:
- Testimonials. Just like any other product, reviews offered by people who have already used the device you are interested in can be very valuable. User reviews usually speak to product usability and efficiency, and warn you about hidden flaws in its function.
- Ease of use. A comfortable design, clear visual interface, and adjustable intensity settings are some of the helpful features that make devices user-friendly. Make sure you compare what each of your product options has to offer.
- FDA approval. Choosing an FDA-approved device ensures the product meets standards for both efficacy and safety.
- Cost. Hair growth devices are a one-time investment, but they can be quite expensive. That’s why it’s important to pick a device that fits your budget but also meets your hair needs.
Tips for maximizing results
While hair growth devices can help boost your hair growth, there are other tips you can incorporate to maximize your results.
Below are a few of the tips:
- Combine with other treatments. Studies show that hair growth devices may work best when you combine them with other hair-loss treatments.
- Scalp massage. A scalp massage may help relieve stress, promote relaxation, and may help boost the health of your hair.
- Healthy diet. The nutritional quality of your food can greatly impact your overall health. As it turns out, a healthy diet is also key to stimulating strong and healthy hair growth.
- Be consistent. Hair growth devices don’t offer an overnight fix. They need consistency and dedication to see improvements.
As far as hair loss solutions go, hair growth devices are definitely some of the best options. They are effective, painless, and minimally invasive. This makes them a popular and appealing solution to those who want to treat thinning hair without adverse side effects. But remember results don’t happen overnight. With consistency and patience, you might see a noticeable improvement in your hair within a few months.
Have you tried any hair growth devices? We’d love to hear from you. Share your personal experiences with hair growth devices or ask any questions you may have in the comment section below.
FAQs:
- Do hair growth devices work?
Yes! Studies have proven that hair growth devices do indeed work. But it’ll take time and consistency to see results.
- How to speed up hair growth?
There are a few tips you can implement to speed up hair growth. These include maintaining a healthy diet, being consistent, and combining hair growth devices with other hair growth treatments.
- Can I use hair growth devices alongside medication?
Yes, you can. When you pair hair growth devices together with topical solutions, like hair growth oils and scalp serums, you might see better and quicker results.