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The high-dose red light-sensitive cap is a beauty device that is easy to integrate into your daily routine. With consistent use for several months, it can strengthen hair and promote new hair growth.
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Thinning hair is a common problem among both men and women. As we age, our hair naturally becomes thinner and finer than before. Although there are many serums, conditioners, and balms on the market that promise to rejuvenate the scalp, not all of them live up to the hype.
Over the past few years, new beauty and health gadgets like the best LED face masks have started using red light. Red light is believed to have all sorts of beauty benefits, from firming and clearing skin to improving mood. High-dose red light caps are the latest in a series of popular at-home red light devices. I tried this hat myself to see if it really works as promised.
The High Dose Red Light Cap costs $449 in the US and £449 in the UK. You can buy it from the High Dose website and from retailers like Healf. It’s quite expensive for a cap, but since it has red light built into it, it’s a pretty standard price for this kind of technology, whether it’s a cap or a mask.
The product is simple in design and easy to use. It looks like a regular trucker hat with a flat brim. It’s probably not a hat you’d want to wear on the street (it’s a bit bulky, sure), but it’s not designed to look like a futuristic helmet either.
The hat’s canopy features a soft foam panel that’s embedded with 120 LED bulbs that emit 650-nanometer red light. The charger and power supply is a small, palm-sized plastic piece that attaches to the back of the cap. It has just one button that’s used only to turn it on and off. When it’s time to charge, simply unclip the power clip. For travelers’ convenience, the charging station features interchangeable plugs for easy use anywhere in the world.
The hat is made of thick material, durable and long-lasting. The soft and flexible foam pad around the red light will not put pressure on your head and cause discomfort when wearing. After pressing the power button, the device will work for 10 minutes (recommended daily use) and then turn off automatically. Overall, this product has a stylish design and is comfortable to wear.
To see results, this device must be used regularly. The brand recommends wearing it for 10 minutes a day for the first 16 weeks. After that, you can move on to regular use, using the device 3-4 times a week for 10 minutes each time.
Although this hat is very comfortable to wear, it can be a little hot and takes some getting used to. Not too hot, but you can definitely feel the glow of the bulb.
The science behind this hat is pretty solid, although there haven’t been enough human trials to draw definitive conclusions. Researchers have found that low-intensity red light (650 nanometers) can increase hair follicle production in cultured tissue (i.e., in an artificial environment, not on an actual human head). Another study on a small group of balding men (41 participants) found that 655-nanometer laser therapy “significantly increased hair count.”
Higher Dose warns users that the first few weeks of regular use may result in increased hair loss – this is normal and proves the effectiveness of red light. Users can experience the best results after six months of continuous use.
I have very fine hair and it falls out very easily. Since I started wearing hats more often, my hair loss has actually increased. The Higher Dose product description says this is because “weak hair makes room for stronger new hair.”
After I started using the high dose red light sensitive caps daily, I experienced rapid hair loss, just as the high dose manufacturers promise. To me, this is a sign that the treatment is working and my hair follicles are starting to respond. I will have to continue using it and see if my hair quality and quantity improves in a few months.
If you’re looking to increase the thickness and volume of your hair but don’t want to use expensive equipment like high-dose caps, consider using one of the best hair thickening shampoos (which can also complement any red light therapy you’re doing).
CurrentBody has launched the LED Hair Growth Helmet, a red light hair growth device in the form of a helmet that costs £650 in the UK. Although we haven’t tried it yet, customer reviews suggest it’s easy to use and effective, especially for those suffering from hair loss.
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Lizzie Briskin is a food and health writer and editor, chef, runner, recipe developer, and photographer. She regularly contributes to Runner’s World, Popular Mechanics, Insider, and the Chicago Tribune, among other publications. She was born in Boston and currently lives in New York City. When she’s not chasing the sun in Los Angeles, she enjoys exploring, tasting, and enjoying all that the city has to offer.
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