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How To Use LED Light For Healthy Hair Growth – And The Best Ones To Try
The modern way to future-proof your hair and scalp
With the ‘skinification’ of haircare, LED therapy – a non-invasive treatment that uses varying light wavelengths and depths to boost skin health – is now being heralded as a hair remedy.
‘I’m a huge fan of LED. It has had fantastic results for people with chronic scalp conditions like androgenetic alopecia and frontal fibrosing alopecia among other scalp and hair-loss issues in my clinic,’ says Claire Fullam, clinical trichologist and founder of Remi Scalp Care.
The best LED treatments for hair growth
How LED light works for scalp health and hair growth
‘With the majority of hair loss and scalp conditions fuelled by inflammation, LED is brilliant as it hugely reduces inflammation, more than most topical products,’ she adds. And because LED increases blood flow, it also has impressive results for hair growth. ‘Your blood transfers hormones, nutrients and oxygen into the follicle. Increasing those opportunities is vital for stable growth, particularly as we age,’ explains Fullam.
The specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light work particularly well to stimulate the mitochondria (the energy of our cells) within each hair follicle. But it’s not about turning on some kind of ‘bionic hair growth’, says hairstylist Tom Smith. ‘It is more about improving hair quality.
A good way to know if LED light might work for you is to understand if your hair has been better at some point in your life, because LED won’t fundamentally change your hair type, texture or natural density, but will instead give hair the boost it needs to get back to its best.
Over time, it helps to extend the hair’s growth phase and improves the way each strand is formed. Hair feels thicker, behaves better and is more resistant to breakage.’
How to use LED light for hair growth
But as with most beauty fixes, consistency is key. Results are visible after 16 weeks of regular use. Team ELLE loves CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Growth Helmet and the HigherDose Red Light Hat.
‘Ten minutes a day, every day, is needed, and you’ll see a change in how your hair behaves after a few months. For those of us who demand a lot from our hair (colour-ing, heat styling, extensions, life stress), LED is one of the most intelligent ways to future-proof it,’ says Smith.
The best LED helmets for healthy hair growth
Current Body is often our first port of call LED devices as the brand does thorough clinical trials and before and afters. In its clinical testing, this helmet shows an increase in hair growth rate by 128% in 12 weeks, with consistent use. The 620-660nm red light wavelengths helps to encourage blood flow, minimise inflammation and keep hair loss at bay. It comes in two sizes to fit all head shapes, and sits comfortably on the scalp for a full-coverage treatment.
Product specifications
| Wavelengths: | 620-660nm red light |
|---|---|
| Size: | 2 |
| Usage: | 10 minutes |
A clever, approachable way to using a red light therapy device on your scalp, this cap makes it easy to wear it while you're out and about - no more excuses for skipping a session. According to the brand's studies, 86% of users noticed hair growth after 16 weeks. Just pop it on, and go.
Product specifications
| Wavelengths: | 650nm red light |
|---|---|
| Size: | 1 |
| Usage: | 10 minutes |
Hairstylists agree that regular head massage can do wonders for your scalp health as it helps to encourage circulation and blood flow. Tapping into the benefits of massage, Foreo's LED device feature T-Sonic pulsations. Designed to improve the absorption of products, it works best when paired with a hair growth serum. It feels soothing after a long day, and can be used both in and out of the shower.
Product specifications
| Wavelengths: | 650nm red light, with 637 silicone bristles |
|---|---|
| Size: | 1 |
| Usage: | 1-3 minutes per treatment area |
Solaris Labs NY Intensive LED Hair Growth Brush
US brand Solaris Labs creates future-facing devices that fit seamlessly into your daily routine - because at-home tools deliver better results when used everyday. This hairbrush delivers blue and red light therapy, along with gentle vibrations through its silicone bristles so you can get right into the scalp. The added blue light is useful for those with scalp spots, too.
Product specifications
| Wavelengths: | 630nm and 660nm red light, 420 nm blue light |
|---|---|
| Size: | 1 |
| Usage: | 20 minutes |
CurrentBody Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device
If you're looking to invest in a device that works for scalp, face and body, try this red light dome by Current Body. This gadget, which is also used in professional spaces, combines red, blue and infrared therapies to manage inflammation, breakouts and yes, the fine lines on the rest of your face and body. It is a more luxurious option, but it's certainly worth considering if you want one device that can be used top to toe.
Product specifications
| Wavelengths: | 633nm red light, 415nm for blue light, 830nm near infrared |
|---|---|
| Size: | 1 |
| Usage: | 30 minutes |
Katy Young is the Group Luxury Beauty Director, overseeing the print beauty sections of both ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar UK. Whether sharing her opinions on the latest wave of eye creams that make the cut, deep diving into ethical beauty brands or ‘bathing’ her aura, Katy is a one-stop-shop of expert beauty knowledge.
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![jodie turner smith new bob met gala new york, new york may 05: jodie turner smith attends the 2025 met gala celebrating superfine: tailoring black style at metropolitan museum of art on may 05, 2025 in new york city. (photo by dimitrios kambouris/getty images for the met museum/vogue)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-2213610212-688772f19e73e.jpg?crop=0.500xw:0.750xh;0.257xw,0.0204xh&resize=360:* "Jodie Turner-Smith new bob The 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" - Arrivals")
