The science of laser hair growth
The pioneer in laser hair growth.
HairMax is the pioneer and global leader in at-home laser hair regrowth technology, bringing doctor-recommended laser light treatments to people with thinning hair around the world. Watch how it works, then read the science behind it.
How low-level laser light reaches the follicle · 66 seconds
What it does
How HairMax laser phototherapy treats hair loss and stimulates hair growth
HairMax hair growth laser devices use safe, nourishing low-level laser light energy to stimulate your hair follicles at a cellular level.
- Increases delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the follicle to help promote hair growth
- Energises and awakens weakened or dormant hair follicles
- Reverses thinning hair and restores the natural growth cycle
- Stimulates hair to grow fuller, denser and stronger
Ongoing treatment is required to maintain benefits.
1967
It started with an accident.
Laser for hair regrowth sounds counterintuitive, because most of us know lasers as something that removes hair. The truth is the opposite, and it was found by chance.
In Budapest in 1967, Dr Endre Mester shaved the backs of a group of mice and treated half of them with a low-powered ruby laser. He was testing whether laser light could cause cancer. It didn't. But the shaved patches on the treated mice grew their hair back faster than those on the untreated mice.
That surprise was the first demonstration of what we now call photobiomodulation: light at the right wavelength and dose can switch on cellular activity instead of destroying tissue. HairMax has spent decades turning that discovery into a safe, clinically studied treatment you can use at home.
Source: Mester E, Szende B, Tota JG. Effect of laser on hair growth of mice. Kiserl Orvostud 1967;19:628-631.
The science
How low-level laser light therapy works to regrow hair
HairMax laser treatments work through photobiostimulation, delivering low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to your hair follicles to activate them for stronger hair growth. It can help promote hair growth in five different ways.
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More energy for the follicle
Increases the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which provides energy to the hair follicle.
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Better protein activity
Helps stimulate and stabilise certain protein levels. When protein synthesis improves cell permeability, cells can accept more nutrients and oxygen.
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Increased blood circulation
A greater flow of vitamins, nutrients and oxygen reaches the hair follicle directly, encouraging growth. It also helps remove waste such as DHT, a main contributor to hair loss.
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Cell activity at the follicle base
Stimulates cell proliferation at the base of the follicle, enabling it to enter the growth (anagen) phase and rapidly produce new cells. New, thicker terminal hair replaces the thin, wispy miniaturised hair of pattern hair loss.
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Calmer follicles
Helps reduce inflammation of the hair follicle, which contributes to the miniaturisation process that occurs in hair loss.
The evidence
Clinically proven
Before HairMax, treatment options were limited to oral prescription and topical drug treatments. Only two drug treatments were approved for men and one for women.
HairMax laser devices use low-level laser therapy to offer a safe and effective non-drug, non-topical option. A peer-reviewed medical journal article by leading authorities in the field of hair loss compared the clinical results of HairMax laser treatments with those of oral and topical drug treatments and found them comparable. HairMax laser devices also have an excellent safety record, with no harmful side effects reported.
In the trial submitted to the FDA, 93% of male participants showed a statistically significant improvement in hair counts after 26 weeks of treatment.*
HairMax laser devices now hold multiple FDA clearances for marketing, each one requiring not only safety data but also proof of effectiveness from scientifically designed clinical studies.
See the results from the clinical studies.
Success rates
We've devoted over two decades to researching and developing safe and effective laser hair growth devices. In the clinical studies, participants experienced significant hair growth.
Don't just take our word for it. The HairMax video library includes male and female user testimonials, instructional videos and more about how HairMax works. Watch the videos and see real results.
Why it works better
The HairMax difference
HairMax laser devices are designed with three elements that work together for a highly effective treatment.
Hair parting teeth
On HairMax devices, the teeth part your hair for optimal laser light delivery and follicle stimulation. On devices without teeth, hair blocks laser light from reaching your scalp.
Laser intensity
HairMax lasers deliver collimated light, which travels in a straight line. This focused light penetrates the scalp to reach your follicles, unlike LED light, which is not collimated or focused.
Laser density
HairMax laser diodes are closely placed within each device, giving a consistent and uniform delivery of laser light to your follicles.
See more on the HairMax advantage and the comparison between laser devices.
Laser hair growth: your questions answered
How does laser therapy differ from LED light therapy?
Laser light is collimated, meaning it travels in a straight line and stays focused as it passes through the scalp to your follicles. LED light is not collimated or focused. HairMax devices use medical-grade laser diodes, not LEDs.
How often do I need to use my HairMax device?
Treatment is three times a week. Session length depends on the device: the PowerFlex Laser Cap 272 takes 7 minutes, the LaserBand 82 as little as 90 seconds and the LaserBand 41 as little as 3 minutes.
How long does it take to see results?
Hair grows slowly, so patience and consistency matter. HairMax clinical studies measured hair counts after 26 weeks (six months) of treatment. Individual results may vary.
Is laser hair growth treatment safe?
HairMax laser devices have an excellent safety record, with no harmful side effects reported. They are drug-free and non-topical, and each FDA clearance was granted on the basis of both safety and effectiveness data.
Do I have to keep using it?
Yes. Ongoing treatment is required to maintain the benefits, just as it is with other hair loss treatments.
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Find the right HairMax laser device for you
Every HairMax device comes with our 180-day money-back guarantee.
*HairMax laser devices are FDA-cleared to promote hair growth in males with androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss) who have Norwood-Hamilton classifications IIa–V, and in females with androgenetic alopecia who have Ludwig (Savin) classifications I–II or frontal patterns of hair loss, who both have Fitzpatrick skin types I–IV. Clinical study figures are from HairMax studies of the male and female participants described. Individual results may vary.