Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With Tried & True, our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.
While I have many genetic blessings, it’s safe to say that my follicles are not particularly blessed. My hair is baby-fine, wavy and dark, which makes it all the more apparent when it is thinning. All of which to say, over the last few years, with a few deeply stressful life circumstances, I noticed that I was shedding a bit more than normal.
In May, I received a CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Regrowth Device and after months of use, I can say that I am a believer in red light’s therapeutic benefits for the scalp and hair follicles. The process with the device is fairly straightforward, but like with every other beauty tool, you actually have to use it to see results. And use it I did, nearly every day (barring when I was traveling) for over 4 months. The changes that I saw were remarkable.
But let’s take a walk back to how the device itself works. Powered with 120 red (640 nm) LED wavelengths, designed to target the whole head, you wear the helmet for 10 minutes a day and the light works to increase the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the scalp to stimulate hair follicles back into their growth cycle. It even has a built in bluetooth headset so you can listen to something while you receive your treatment. I would do a meditation or guided breath work while I sat in my helmet each day. And don’t get me wrong, you look dopey; I would sooner die than let anyone see me wearing this helmet. But it’s really worked.
Almost instantly, I noticed that my scalp seemed less greasy on my day to day. Within a couple of weeks, my hair felt stronger. And over a 4 month period, my hair grew to crazy lengths certainly the longest it has gotten in years. But not just that. I saw areas near my temples fill out with new growth beyond baby hairs—something that has not happened in years. My friends were even noticing that my hair seemed different.
To clarify what I had seen in my own results, I reached out to Dr. Robert Finney, board certified dermatologist and expert in the field of hair restoration. Of course, I wanted to know what about the CurrentBody device that was different and a cut above others available. Dr. Finney explains, “The two most important factors to scrutinize when looking at LED devices for hair loss are wavelength and energy. The CurrentBody Device nails both of these points with their device. They have LEDs that are both effective and powerful. They selected the best wavelengths of red light to activate the cells important in hair growth and utilize an energy source that ensure they are delivered in full force.”
I also wanted to know if the device was appropriate for people experiencing thinning due to conditions like PCOS or post-partum hair fall. In the case of PCOS, Dr. Finney said that PCOS hair loss can be caused by excess androgens, which can accelerate pattern hair loss, so LED therapy can be helpful. He notes, “Post-partum shedding and other forms of telogen effluvium have not been studied but in theory the anti-inflammatory effect of red light could be helpful.”
Once I had that clarified, I had to know how often I needed to use my device to maintain my results. Dr. Finney reminded me that when treating genetic hair loss, treatment should be continued in perpetuity, because it is a progressive condition. Say no more! “I always tell patients think about what you are comfortable doing long term given that treatments should be continued as such,” he says, “That is why red light can be a great option, because there is extremely minimal risk associated with it. ”
While I will be continuing with regular use and treatments to maintain my results, I was curious if I could make my results even more noticeable, too. Dr, Finney explains “I always tell my hair loss patients that combination treatment yield the best results. With respect to red light and hair loss, there is even a clinical trial to back this up. One study showed that LED device + topical minoxidil outperformed either on their own. So LED devices can be a great option to use at home in combination with other topical or oral ingredients.”
As I move forward, I will be adding a topical hair growth serum, and perhaps a hair supplement too. But one thing I know for sure, is that the CurrentBody LED Hair Regrowth Device is a permanent fixture in my routine.