Red Light Therapy for Hair Growth | Is it for you?

What is Red Light therapy?

Red Light therapy is a form of photobiomodulation (PBM). Photobiomodulation is the process of using light (photo) to affect the healing (modulation) of living cells (bio). PBM is accomplished through using low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Although the word “laser” is in the name, LLLT is applied using non-thermal (non-heat), non-coherent (non-laser) light-emitting diodes (LED’s) ie. “red light”. 

Although red light can be used to stimulate growth in many different cells, the focus of this article is how it can be used to stimulate growth specifically in hair cells.

What is Red Light therapy for hair growth?

A range of wavelengths can be produced using LLLT. Different wavelengths produce different effects on various cells in the body. Hair growth can be stimulated using specific wavelengths. 

Red light therapy uses red or near-infrared beams of light. The wavelengths of visible red light are between 620 and 750 nm. Near-infrared light wavelength is between 750 and 1100 nm. Stimulation of hair growth appears to work best between 660-820 nm.

The goal of Red Light therapy is to stimulate the cell growth of the hair root as well as support the cells around the hair root including increasing blood supply to the area.

What are other names for Red Light therapy?

• Bio stimulation, photonic stimulation

• Cold laser therapy

• Low-level laser light therapy

• Low-power laser therapy

• Non-thermal LED light

• Photobiomodulation

• Phototherapy

• Soft laser therapy

Who can benefit from Red Light therapy?

As with most medical conditions, treatment in the early stages will often provide better results than in later stages. A diffuse thinning, especially when it is not associated with a medical condition, often demonstrates excellent improvement with red light therapy. Studies have shown that LLLT stimulated hair growth in both men and women. Individuals from their early 20’s to late 60’s have demonstrated improvement with hair growth with this intervention.

Hair loss associated with the following conditions are among those that may benefit from red light therapy. 

• Androgenetic alopecia (male/female pattern baldness). 
• Alopecia areata
• Chemotherapy hair loss
• Telogen effluvium
• Traction alopecia

It is important to check with your medical provider to keep them abreast of interventions that you are using for the condition. This transparency also helps them empower you with individualized information to provide a better understanding if your medical condition would benefit from red light therapy. Some conditions may have significant scarring in the scalp which will decrease the expected benefits. Some individuals may be on medications that do not work well with the continuous use of red light therapy. 

What are the Options for Red Light Therapy for Hair Growth?

LLLT has increased in popularity over the last decade. As well as several home options for LLLT, there are clinics that specialize in Red Light therapy and cosmetic and dermatological medical specialty clinics that provide these services. 

Home options include caps, helmets, brushes and combs, stand-alone units and stand-up lights.

How does Red Light therapy for hair growth work?

Red Light therapy has been demonstrated in several studies to promote hair growth. It can improve the number of active hair follicles, encourage the growth of hair strands, increase the thickness of the hair and decrease the rate of hair strands falling out.

https://wimpoleclinic.com/

There are several working theories about how and why red light therapy works on hair growth.

The theories explaining how Red Light therapy for hair growth works include:

• LLLT increases adenosine triphosphate (ADP) which provides increased energy to the hair root which improves the growth as well as slowing down the falling out phase of the hair.
• LLLT increases blood flow to the hair roots which can improve hair growth.
• LLLT acts on the mitochondria (power plants) of cells to provide them with more energy which allows them to work more efficiently at growing hair and not shedding hair sooner than the normal growth cycle.
• LLLT may extend the anagen phase of hair growth and augment cell division.

Pictures of active treatment group subjects
pre and post treatment with Red Light therapy.

The growth of human scalp hair in females using visible
red light laser and LED sources
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lsm.22277

Is Red Light therapy for hair loss safe?

There is a general consensus among researchers that Red Light therapy for hair is safe. There have not been any reported serious negative side effects from using LLLT. 

Possible minor side effects which may be due to increased blood supply include:

• Itching
• Acne
• Tenderness

These symptoms usually resolve within 2 weeks.

Is Red Light therapy safe for my eyes?

Red Light therapy has been used for promoting eye health and improving vision by using a non-invasive treatment that involves exposing the eyes to low-level red light, typically between 630 to 700 nanometers.

If your eyes are irritated by red light therapy, use of goggles or a sleep mask is  recommended when you use red light therapy.

Can LLLT be used daily?

Yes! Daily use of LLLT does not cause a safety issue.

How long do I have to use Red Light Therapy before I see results?

Hair growth occurs in a continuous process that is divided into 4 phases - anagen, catagen, telogen and exogen.

Stages of hair growth

Anagen is the hair growth phase which can last 2-8 years.
Catagen is the hair regression phase which lasts about 2 weeks.
Telogen is the hair resting phase that can last about 2-3 months.
Exogen is the hair shedding phase

Hair Growth Cycle and Hair Loss

It's important to remember each hair follicle will go through the hair growth phases independently.

Because each hair follicle will be in a different state when red light therapy is started and there will be a different level of health of the cells of the area, improvement will be prolonged and there will unlikely be immediately visible results. 

Results will occur usually over 3-6 months of continuous use. 

It will take longer to see results in individuals with advanced hair loss, have high stress, are not healthy generally, do not have a healthy scalp or are not eating a diet that supports hair growth. As with all cosmetic interventions, it is possible to consistently treat for a prolonged period and still not see the desired results.

How often should I use LLLT?

If you are receiving LLLT at a specialty clinic they will likely conduct an individualized assessment and make recommendations based on that assessment. Usually their recommendations will be in alignment with protocols that they have found work best with their equipment.

If you are using a home device it is usually recommended to use red light therapy 3-5 times per week for 10-20 minutes; however, there will be specific recommendations in the instructions of your home unit.

How much does Red Light therapy cost?

Home LLLT units can vary greatly in price. 

• Red Light therapy hair growth caps and helmets can range from $99 to $1899.
• Red light combs and brushes usually range from $27 to $239.
• Stand up, or stand alone red light therapy devices can range between $50 to $499.

What type of Red Light hair treatment will work best for me?

That depends. . . 

Every person is different and will have different variables to consider. As William Shakespeare said “To thine own self be true. . . “. Some individuals, no matter how much money they will save by DIY, need the structure and commitment of going to a clinic. Some people will buy a device and use it for a few days and then never think of it again. Others will buy a device and then use it consistently for a year and be committed to the process.

Before investing time, money and resources on the process determine what you are most likely to stick with based on your previous track record. Unfortunately, the desire to achieve something is rarely all it takes to reach a goal. As much as some people want to grow hair they will not be disciplined enough to use an at-home device.

Even if you aren’t able to commit to “The Full Monty” to growing hair, (which means "everything which is necessary, appropriate or possible”, i.e. 'the works'"), what can you commit to that it is likely you will stick with and it will become the new normal? Once you are able to maintain the first step you can decide on what the next best step for you is.

If you can’t commit to using a device for a set number of times per week for a set time can you commit to:

• Eating 20% better?
• Decreasing stress by 10%?
• Massaging the stubborn area of your scalp with the bald spot for 10 minutes per day?
• Taking a good quality multivitamin?
• Some other small step towards hair growth improvement?

There is likely at least 1 action you can commit to that will help improve the current situation.

If you can’t commit to taking any life-style steps there are medications that can help hair growth. It is important to be assessed by a healthcare provider first to determine if there are any medical conditions that could be inhibiting hair growth. After it is determined that you have no contributory medical conditions, or that any medical conditions you experience have been addressed, they can review what medications may work for you and what continued monitoring is necessary. 

Some individuals can take a daily pill but would not participate in lifestyle changes. If this describes you it makes sense to skip the preamble in trying other things and jump right to what you will stick with. If you start seeing increased hair growth it may motivate you to try some of the other actions that are available to you.

What should I look for in a Red Light hair growth device?

The important factors are:

Wavelength

Red wavelength ranges between 630-750 nanometers (nm).
Near-infrared (NIR) ranges between 750-2500 nm 

 https://wimpoleclinic.com/

Infrared light has been used for many health purposes including pain relief, relaxation, increased circulation, weight loss and skin detoxification. If you are intending to use red light therapy for other purposes than helping hair growth it makes sense to get a device that will fulfill the parameters needed to treat the other conditions. 

For hair growth, wavelengths in the 600-830 nm range were demonstrated to be beneficial. The hair promoting benefits of 650 nm were demonstrated in this study. This study found 620-655 nm were beneficial. 

Because this is an expanding field with new studies continually being published, it makes sense to purchase a device that has some wavelength flexibility. Future studies may demonstrate that wavelengths in the higher or lower ranges may be more beneficial. 

Light intensity and radiance 

Some home devices do not list the intensity or radiance that the device emits. The higher the intensity of the light the faster and better the product may work to grow hair; however, results will still vary between individuals and a brighter and more powerful light does not guarantee better results; but, choosing a low-powered device may decrease the desired results.

Number of LEDs 

The more light emitting diodes (LEDs) a device has the more light it emits which may improve hair growth results. Even if a device has a high number of LEDs but a low light intensity the effectiveness will not necessarily be better than a low number of LEDs and a high light intensity.

Treatment area 

There are many different sized options for red light therapy. Devices that pin-point a limited area to standing lights that cover a large area are available. If you are looking to improve scalp hair a red light cap or helmet can be the best device. If you are looking to improve beard and scalp hair growth a device that can be used for both areas may be better. If you have only a small area that is not growing hair that you would like to target, a hand-held red light comb may be the best choice as the light can be directed to the area for the prescribed period of time. 

Features to look for:

A built-in timer is an excellent feature not only to ensure that the correct amount of time is provided but also to turn off the device if you happen to fall asleep while using it. 

Although battery powered red light therapy exists, and makes it convenient as the user is not tethered to a cord, often the battery does not provide enough power for the LEDs to operate at full capacity for the entire treatment session.

Common myths about Red Light hair growth therapy

1. Red light therapy doesn’t help hair growth.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of red light therapy to help hair growth, however, not all interventions work for everyone. Users that smoke, eat a nutrient deficient diet and are highly stressed will not have as good of results as someone who doesn’t use tobacco products, eats a wholesome diet and are engaged in several stress relieving methods.

Early intervention is always more beneficial than later intervention. Individuals that have been going bald for 20 years and are now missing 80% of the hair they used to have and hair follicles that have not grown hair for decades will not have the same results as someone that started to lose hair a few years ago.  Even if the person who has lost 80% of their hair did show some improvement, it is likely it will not be the cosmetic result that they wanted due to the advanced hair loss. A more reasonable goal may be that red light therapy be used to decrease the current hair loss rather than to restore the previous full locks of hair. 

2. LLLT will change your hair color

There appears to be no experimental evidence that red light therapy changes natural hair color or chemically enhanced hair color. There are some anecdotal reports of decreased grey hair using red light therapy; however, those noted changes are more likely to be due to other lifestyle changes the user has made (ex improved diet, reduced stress etc) rather than due to the red light therapy. 

There are differing opinions regarding red light therapy and gray hair even among experts. Some believe that red light therapy helps the hair follicles be healthier and have more energy which will translate into reversing grey hair or slowing down the progression of grey hair. Others believe that there is not enough compelling evidence to conclude there is any effect on grey hair from red light therapy. Further study will hopefully be completed in the future. 

3. Red Light therapy can burn your scalp 

The devices used for LLLT never emit enough heat to cause damage to your skin or cause a burn. If you feel any sensation hotter than a mild warmth check the temperature settings (if the device has them) and turn down the intensity. If the device does not have temperature settings, or if you have turned them down but the heat is still more than a mild heat consider returning the device as it may be defective or counterfeit.

4. Red Light therapy can cause skin cancer

Red Light therapy devices do not emit UV, or other cancer causing radiation. They are considered safe to use on skin without fear of causing cancer.

Tips to improve hair growth when using Red Light therapy

• Gently massage the area you would like improved growth in daily for a few minutes. Stimulating the area with massage helps improve blood flow which can improve hair growth. This can be done manually or by using a massaging device. The stretching forces on human dermal papilla cells from massage was demonstrated to increase hair thickness. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740347/
• Eat a diet that supports hair growth. 
• Use shampoos, conditioners and styling products that support hair growth and do not stress the scalp.
• Decrease stress: the association of stress and hair loss has been widely documented.

Final Thoughts . . .

Customer reviews can be great to assess device usability, ease of operation and eventual effectiveness. For red light therapy often users expect results within a few days or weeks and will give a product poor reviews because they do not get the desired results in a short period of time rather than the 3-6 months it normally takes to get significant improvement.