If you are experiencing hair loss, you’ve most likely come across low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an effective solution to restore your hair. However, you might be wondering what the heck LLLT is and how it can help with sustainable hair growth. I mean, it just lights, right? Well, not exactly. In fact, there is a lot of science and clinical studies built around the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for hair loss. So, let's dive in and discover why LLLT might be the best solution for your hair loss and how this science works.

While LLLT is gaining popularity, the science behind LLLT for hair loss started back in the 1960s when a team of researchers tested the effects of cold lasers on cancer. They found that the mice they had shaved for the testing with cold lasers began regrowing their hair faster than the other groups. This discovery leads to thousands of clinical studies built around LLLT technology for hair growth. Fast forward to today and LLLT technology is a leading non-invasive solution for hair restoration.

LLLT devices work in five ways to help you hit your #hairgoals.

As mentioned above, low-level laser therapy has many uses, but hair restoration is one of the most popular uses of LLLT technology. Today you can receive low-level laser therapy treatment at a doctor's office or buy an FDA-cleared device for discreet, at-home use. FDA cleared devices like the illumiflow laser caps are Class II Medical devices, proven to be safe and effective for home use.

So what makes laser hair growth so effective? Well, it all comes down to cold lasers and red light.

Cold lasers are used in LLLT to produce a specific form of red light that provides low levels of heat to the surface of your skin. This light, in turn, energizes the mitochondria of your cells, helping support cell repair and encourages cell health.

Decades of research have proven that coherent red light between the wavelengths of 630nm and 670nm is the optimal frequency for stimulating new hair growth, which is why all illumiflow products have been designed and formulated to meet these standards.

Choosing between LLLT therapy or a hair transplant comes down to a few factors – cost, safety, and effectiveness. There are two main techniques used for hair transplants.

The first technique is known as follicular unit transplantation (FUT). With a follicular unit transplant, the surgeon will cut a strip of your scalp, separate it into sections, and then implant it into the areas you are experiencing balding.

The second technique is known as follicular unit extraction (FUE). With this method, the surgeon will use a needle to make holes in your scalp where there is balding. Then, the surgeon transplants tiny hairs to this area. This procedure might take a few more sessions to be completely effective. Hair transplants are safe, but you might experience some side effects like:

• Infection
• Itching
• Inflammation
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Temporary loss of new hair
• Unnatural looking placement

The success rate of a hair transplant is 10-80% and the estimated cost can be anywhere between $4,000 to the upwards of $15,000. For prolonged success and to reduce the risk of balding in not treated areas, the use of Minoxidil and LLLT might be recommended by the surgeon.  

LLLT, on the other hand, is an entirely non-invasive and pain-free hair restoration therapy. With LLLT, strategically placed laser diodes are housed in a laser cap and placed on your head. Each laser cap manufacturer has different standards for use, but at illumiflow, our laser caps were designed to be used for 30 minutes every other day. With LLLT, you will typically see results in about 4-6 months, and the cost can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.

LLLT has no known side effects,so it works well with other hair loss solutions like minoxidil, lifestyle changes, and even hair transplants.

With low-level laser therapy growing in popularity, there is no shortage of at-home solutions available on the market. However, they are not all created equal. Some laser caps use both LEDs and laser diodes; others, like illumiflow, opt only to use premium lasers. So why is this important? Well, the clinical studies developed around LLLT focused on laser diodes, not LEDs. In fact, LEDs do not produce the proper power or coherence to reach deep tissue, which is essential to promote cellular change. LEDs also do not operate at a high enough wavelength in comparison to LLLT for the most substantial results.

As you can see, the science behind LLLT is both fascinating and exciting. Low-level laser therapy is safe and effective for hair growth, and you can even see results in just 4-6 months. At illumiflow, all of our products are designed with medical-grade lasers for optimal performance. Led by years of research, we have ensured that our laser caps deliver the perfect amount of power and wavelength for sustainable hair growth results. All of our laser caps have been FDA cleared for added safety and are classified as Class II Medical Devices, built to be used easily at-home.

To recap, LLLT for hair loss is:

• Safe
• Effective
• Backed by clinical studies
• Perfect for at-home use

When you search for LLLT hair growth products you’ll find a number of options. They can range from spending thousands to go into a hair clinic or spending that money on an at home laser cap. There are pros and cons for the most popular laser caps, and we’ve compiled a list (along with in-depth reviews as well) to help you make your decision.

If you’re looking for all the benefits of those multi thousand dollar treatments but at a fraction of the cost, we have the perfect solution for your hair loss!

From our introductory 148 laser cap to our comprehensive 272 laser cap, our LLLT devices can help you tackle the beginning stages of hair loss or stop progressive balding. All of our devices are backed by an industry-leading 3-year warranty and come with a 6-month satisfaction guarantee, no questions asked.

As with any hair loss treatment, we encourage you to also focus on a healthy diet, get some exercise, and manage your stress. While you can use LLLT on its own, it’s essential to create a healthy space for hair to grow. That’s why we include a free copy of our holistic hair growth guide for completely free, with each purchase!

If you are unsure if LLLT is the right fit for you (pun intended), take this test to determine if we are the right match for your #hairgoals.