Light Therapy

Laser light was discovered in the 1960s. Over the years, engineers have expanded their use to therapeutic and healing, in fascinating ways. Many pioneers are creating ground-breaking electronic devices with successful results in hair growth. 

Two of the most popular laser products designed for hair growth are HairMax and iGrow. These products come in different formats, but work in pretty similar fashions. They shine laser light at the follicles, restoring their functionality and preventing hair loss from occurring.

In this article, we’ll look at Hairmax vs iGrow. We’ll consider the pros and cons of each, and consider the effectiveness, convenience, and costs of both product lines. But first, let’s go over the basics of hair lasers.

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Hair Lasers 101

Hair lasers can encourage hair growth, but they don’t work miracles!

Unfortunately, hair cannot be restored if the follicle is dead, as in male/female baldness. What laser sensors can do is prevent this stage from ever happening. 

The heat of the laser works on the hair follicles where the hair is thinning before baldness occurs. This is known as the telogen phase. 

The laser energy intervenes and sends the follicle back to a healthy growth stage, known as the anagen phase. 

What’s more, this treatment can be done at home! There is no need to spend thousands of dollars at a specialist clinic.

HairMax and iGrow produce some of the latest innovative electronic devices in hair growth technology. Both are on our list of the Best Laser Caps available.

They have incorporated red light laser diodes into head gear. These devices are proving successful at thickening hair where it’s thinning. 

This means the hair doesn’t get to the telegenic stage. The laser sensors stimulate the blood flow underneath the skin. It’s that process that induces hair follicle regrowth as cells are healed.

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Who are HairMax?

HairMax is a reputable brand name. All their hair growth devices are FDA (US Federal and Drug Administration) cleared. While HairMax is a global business, created in 2000, its parent company is Saks Medical & Cosmetic Ltd (SMC). 

They are pioneers in home-treatment devices for hair growth. This is a leading brand with bona fide clinical studies. They have many international medical licenses, and numerous published medical journals. 

Here’s a short video showcasing some of the details behind HairMax Products:

What are HairMax Products for Hair Growth?

Hairmax has introduced electronic devices that use red laser diodes effectively. It’s the heat from the laser sensors that promote hair growth in thinning hair. You can still use laser treatment even if you have dyed your hair. Please note that these devices are more effective on dry hair. 

HairMax has a pretty wide product line, with items at several price points including laser combs, laser caps, laser bands, etc. Note that there are two models of the HairMax laser band. They look identical but have a different amount of laser sensors. 

The bands have combed teeth to part the hair so the heat can gain better access to the scalp. Each laser gives off collimated light, which means it’s more direct than LED light sensors are. 

HairMax LaserBand 82 (FDA Cleared) Laser Hair Growth 

• Weighs 2.65lbs
• 82 laser diode sensors

With 82 medical laser diodes, it equates to 246 sensors as it moves over three different parts of the head. Recommended use for this laser band is 3 times a week and each session should total only 90 seconds.

You could have 30-second sessions on 3 different parts of the head if you have multiple thinning patches.

The band vibrates to let you know when to move it if you want to.

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HairMax LaserBand 41 (FDA Cleared)

• Weighs 0.3lbs (6.1oz)
• 41 laser diode sensors

This model has 41 medical laser diodes, or half of the LaserBand 82. It equates to 246 sensors if moved over six different areas of the scalp. Recommended usage is 3 minutes every other day.

Once again, the band vibrates a little to let you know when to move it should you wish to do so.

Although there is a price difference between the 2 models, they both do the same thing. The model with fewer laser sensors needs to be worn for a longer time during each treatment.

Another of HairMax’s hair products are Laser Combs. Such combs were the pioneers of laser hair growth in the beginning but many prefer to use them instead of wearing head gear.  

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HairMax Ultima 9 Classic LaserComb

• Weighs approx. 2lbs (32oz)
• 9 laser diode sensors

The manufacturer recommends using this product for 11-minute sessions on 3 days of the week. It’s ideal for areas on the head where the hair is thinning, but can be used over the entire scalp.

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HairMax Ultima 12 LaserComb 

• Weighs apprx. 2.5lbs (40oz)
• 12 laser diode sensors

This model has 12 laser sensors. By using the product on your scalp for 8 minutes, 3 times a week, it will stimulate hair growth where the hair follicles are slowing down. It also has removable teeth for easy cleaning. The timer lights up so you can monitor how many minutes of treatment you have left. 

Both Combs are handheld and you move them over the scalp as if brushing the hair slowly. 

They’re charged by sitting in a cradle that plugs into the normal electricity supply. This makes them cordless so you can continue on with your daily routine as you use it. 

See here for more information on HairMax’s laser combs specifically.

The Laser sensors on the laser combs work by healing damaged cells. Though, it does take time for the hair to return to a healthy condition. 

Indeed, you may lose hair that’s already damaged before the healthier hair comes through. Be patient, it may take months for good results.

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Can you use HairMax every day? 

HairMax does not recommend daily use. The ideal way to use a HairMax laser product is for only 3 days a week. At the moment there are no known side effects of using laser treatment for hair growth. 

You may also have heard that laser treatment can remove hair as well as grow it. Don’t worry if you overdo your sessions because to remove hair the wavelength of the sensors needs to be much higher. 

Typically, the sun emits a wavelength of heat between 250-2,500 nanometers (nm).

Laser therapy hair devices, for hair growth, give off a wavelength of around 630-670nm. 

To remove hair the laser treatment would need to output a wavelength of around 690-1100. This overheats the hair follicle and destroys the roots, as opposed to encouraging it to grow.

This shows that it’s unlikely you can do any damage to your hair follicles if you overuse laser products. The strength of the heat wavelength is set at a safe level. 

Do HairMax laser products help to grow hair? 

HairMax has conducted 7 clinical trials. The results are showing that laser treatment for hair growth does work. They have studied 460 people with pattern baldness resulting in a 90% success rate in hair growth. 

This indicates that their laser method is successful in stimulating hair growth.

They’re so confident of this that they offer a 5-month money-back guarantee, to give you time to use the equipment and see for yourself.

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What Is the iGrow by Apira Science? 

In 2004, Apira Science inc. introduced their first hair laser system. Apira has carried out many clinical trials and scientific studies. This helps them to develop home user-friendly devices for hair growth, among other health products.

Unlike HairMax, iGrow basically only has one flagship product: the iGrow helmet.

Here’s a quick video showcasing the iGrow Helmet.

iGrow Laser Hair Growth Helmet

• Weighs approx. 3lbs (48oz)
• 51 laser and LED diode sensors

The iGrow laser helmet looks quite different from the Hairmax devices, though it works on much the same principle. It uses LLLT (low level light therapy) in the form of laser sensors. This model uses laser diodes and LED lights, so it has a combination of LLLT sensors. 

The helmet sits on the head and covers the whole scalp. It cannot damage existing hair and is perfectly safe to use. The skin absorbs the heat and the healing process. The heat stimulates blood flow, which in turn encourages cells to regenerate. 

Dying cells begin to heal and this results in the thickening of hair strands. 

Clinical trials have shown a 35-36% increase in hair growth, over a 16 week period. Awesome!

The device is hands-free, making it easy to use as you continue on with your busy routine. It needs no batteries as it charges from the provided charger. 

This revolutionary design has inbuilt headphones. Stay entertained while you undergo your treatment. You can listen to music or watch TV, using the aux-hook up.

Can you overuse the iGrow laser cap? 

There’s no evidence to show that the overuse of iGrow laser hair treatment has any detrimental effects. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on usage, for the best results. 

It’s well accepted that laser treatment for hair growth has minimal side effects. This type of home treatment is considered safe to use. Once your hair begins to grow back, using a model such as iGrow will keep the hair thick and healthy. 

There is one warning to note, however. If you have any lesions or skin growths on your scalp, overuse may encourage them to grow too. You could avoid that area altogether. Or, make sure you don’t overuse the laser treatment where the growths and lesions are more prominent.

While undergoing laser treatment, you can also continue to use hair growth solutions and medication. 

What is the effect of iGrow on hair loss? 

When you first begin using laser head treatment for hair growth, including iGrow, you may notice that you experience some hair loss. This is not the fault of any particular laser hair treatment model, as it can happen no matter which brand you use. 

Telogen effluvium (temporary shedding of hair) is a possible side effect in the beginning. 

The likelihood is that you’re losing the weakened hairs where the follicles are already dying. Such follicles will become stimulated by the laser heat, and new hairs will start to grow. 

With the development of home devices, such as the iGrow, it means that treatment is available in the comfort of your own home. Not only that, but you also have full control of the treatment sessions. 

IGrow hair growth laser treatment is much less expensive than laser treatment in a specialist clinic. Many clinics don’t recommend using them. 

Could that be because they have a vested interest? 

Instead, seek the advice of a dermatologist, who will be less biased. All you’ll have is a one-off payment and then the use of electricity during the sessions. Plus, you will need lots of patience. Any laser hair growth treatment takes a long time. 

The effects of the iGrow laser helmet will be positive if you continue to use it. Even after hair growth begins to show, you should keep using it to keep the new hair thick and healthy. 

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HairMax vs iGrow

Given what many studies are showing and ecstatic users are reporting, it is clear that laser treatment can work. But the process does take time, and it does not work for everyone. 

Both HairMax and iGrow are reputable companies, and their laser caps, bands, and combs are powerful and effective.

If we had to choose one, we would lean the HairMax’s offerings, due largely to its much wider product line with laser combs, caps, bands, etc.

This product differentiation means that buyers can choose the price point they’re comfortable with, at least to start, and once they’re comfortable, they can jump to the next product if they like.

But the iGrow helmet is excellent, and has many fans across the globe, so you certainly won’t go wrong if you want to just jump in with that.

What to Expect During the Process

Be sure you carefully follow the instructions, and have a good understanding for the process before you get started. Each brand model is different. 

It’s important to read how many sessions and minutes you need for your hair growth laser treatment to be successful. 

We’re still very much in the early days for research to be showing how effective long term laser treatment can be. For those who are willing to go through 3-4 sessions a week, for many months, the statistics are favorable.

Normal Hair Loss

Generally, we lose up to 100 hairs daily. Under normal circumstances, these are hairs that will grow back again. That is if you don’t suffer from pattern balding, or androgenetic alopecia (genetic or hormonal balding). 

No Resurrection Here

As we mentioned above, laser treatment cannot return hair that is already lost to dead follicles. What these systems are designed to do is to rejuvenate dying follicles, and prevent them from dying completely. 

That means if your hair is only at the thinning stage, then the laser treatment should help thicken those hairs. If you have a bit of that thin fuzzy stuff in areas of your scalp, then it’s not too late to try out laser treatment to thicken it.

Buying your own laser hair growth device means that you can do this safely. As well as having sessions in your own time, and in the comfort of your own home.

How Can I optimize my use of these laser systems?

While our understanding of lasers has come a long way since the 1960s, it’s still not known what the optimal usage is. It could even be that it’s different for each person. These kinds of results should come about in the next few years of scientific studies. 

We’ll keep watch for more information, and update as new studies come in. Until then, good luck and good hair growth!