Category Archives: LLLT

iRestore Laser, LLLT, Low Level Laser Therapy

iRestore Elite Device for Hair Growth

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iRestore Elite Laser
New iRestore Elite laser device for hair growth.

In my post on the best laser hair growth devices, one of the products I covered was the iRestore laser helmet from Freedom Laser Therapy. Until 2023, the company made two devices that they call laser hair growth systems. Sometimes they also use the terms “laser cap” and “laser helmet”.

  • The iRestore Essential with 120 lasers and LEDs (light-emitting diodes). Current average rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars across 3,800 reviews on Amazon. On sale for $500 after $100 coupon.
  • The iRestore Pro with 282 diodes (both laser and LED). Current average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars across 940 reviews on Amazon. On sale for $800.

iRestore Elite Laser Helmet with 500 Diodes

In 2023, Freedom Laser released the newest iRestore Elite model with a huge 500 combined laser and LED diodes. The white color of prior models has been replaced by a sleep black appearance.

This device is FDA cleared for home use for hair regrowth purposes.

According to the company’s website, the iRestore Elite comes with the following features and advantages

  • 500 diodes (Lasers & LEDs). The most in any home-use laser hair growth device on the market. I have not tried to verify this claim.
  • 2500 mW total power output.
  • Brief daily 12-minute treatment time.
  • Unique triple wavelength red light technology (625/655/680 nm) for deeper scalp stimulation. Make sure to read my post on low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and wavelength.
  • Proprietary Lumitech™ red light therapy.
  • Advanced vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).
  • A patented extended scalp coverage for maximum effectiveness. It stimulates hair follicles in the temples, crown and hairline regions of the scalp.

The lasers are medical-grade VCSEL with a wavelength of 680 nm. The LEDs are medical-grade with wavelengths fo 625 nm and 655 nm. Kevin Chen, the president of iRestore, says that the Elite is the most powerful hair growth device for home use. It is sometimes called the “Ferrari of Hair Growth Devices.”

The iRestore Elite device can be purchased for $1,900 after a $600 off discount offer with a promo code. You can also buy a rechargeable battery pack that is on sale at $89. A 3-year warranty is included, and it can be extended to 5 years for an additional fee.

What’s Included

The hands-free helmet (not cap) itself has a ventilated design with adjustable soft foam pads so as to fit every head size perfectly. IT weight only 1.2 lbs.

Included in the purchase price are:

  1. The iRestore Elite device.
  2. A universal power adaptor.
  3. A controller with timer display.
  4. User manual.
  5. Quick start guide.
  6. A protective carrying case.
iRestore Elite Laser Helmet
iRestore Elite Laser Helmet.
CurrentBody, LED, LLLT, Low Level Laser Therapy

CurrentBody LED Hair Regrowth Device

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I have covered a number of popular laser hair growth devices on this site in the past. Including the LaserComb and Theradome.

While the vast majority of these devices make use of laser diode light, a new FDA-cleared product called CurrentBody LED hair regrowth device uses only light-emitting diode (LED) light.

LLLT and Hair Growth

In general, readers are skeptical about the hair growth benefits of wave based treatments such as low level light therapy (LLLT) and sound therapy for hair loss.

However, LLLT continues to be covered at every single major hair loss conference. Moreover, new studies keep coming out that tout the benefits of light energy and photobiomodulation (PBM) on scalp hair growth and quality. Including a 2021 one from L’Oreal that found LLLT to downregulate scalp inflammatory biomarkers in men with androgenetic alopecia.

Among the things that laser light can do for scalp health and hair quality include:

  • Stimulate the mitochondria via photon absorption.
  • Reduce inflammation and improve circulation.
  • Increase synthesis and production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
  • Increase nitric oxide (NO) synthesis.
  • Impact gene expression in a number of ways.

CurrentBody LED Hair Regrowth Device

The CurrentBody LED hair regrowth helmet device makes use of 120 red LED bulbs that deliver full scalp coverage. The average power of 18 J/cm² compared to an industry average of 6 J/cm² makes this device three times stronger than other devices on the market. It can be used by both men and women suffering from hair loss.

Note that LED diodes are nowadays much stronger than in the past when it comes to wattage output. They can even power car headlights. Historically, laser diodes were always preferred to LED diodes when it comes to LLLT devices. However, this is no longer true due to technological advancements in LED technology. Laser phototherapy (LPT) devices only use laser diodes.

The wavelength of the red light from this device is 640 nm. See my past post on laser therapy for hair loss and wavelength. Red light wavelength ranges from 400 nm to 700 nm.

The device comes in two sizes:

  1. Small/Medium (Head Measurements: 54cm – 58.7cm).
  2. Medium/Large (Head Measurements: 59.7cm – 63.5cm).

It is charged via a USB cord (but no mains plug is provided). You need to use the device for 10 minutes per day for 16 weeks for visible results. The device won “Best New Product” in the “Tools” category for the Marie Claire 2023 Hair Awards. It was also featured on the UK show “This Morning” as one of Nadine Baggott’s top products to beat hair loss.

The company sent me the below before and after image that shows a very good responder to this treatment. Note that this man is also using topical Minoxidil.

CurrentBody LED Hair Growth
CurrentBody LED device hair regrowth results. Before and after.

My Experiences with CurrentBody’s LED Device

I started using the CurrentBody LED hair regrowth device two days ago. I have never used any other laser device in my life. It was extremely easy to use the helmetlike machine right out of the box. It is also relatively lightweight when considering the large quantity of LEDs inside. Note that the device should never be used on wet hair per the user manual instructions.

After my first 10-minute treatment session, I got a slight burning smell, but I did not see any smoke or melted plastic anywhere! After my second treatment, I got a milder burning smell, but it could also be from my shirt as I had been to a bar earlier. No obvious difference in hair texture in just two days of use.

CurrentBody LED Hair
My CurrentBody LED hair growth device on its stand.

The 120 LED lights make this product look very futuristic. I used it for 10 minutes and it then shut itself off automatically based on an in-built timer.

Due to the short duration of treatment, I did not try to connect the headphones with my phone via bluetooth. That in-built option is available in case you want to listen to any music or podcasts during the 10 minutes of daily treatment.

I have not yet needed to recharge the device, but will probably try charging it via my computer USB port. If that does not work or is too slow, I will recharge via using a USB adaptor connected to an electric wall outlet.

Do note that I am also currently using 0.5 mg Dutasteride twice a week and 2.5 mg oral Minoxidil once per day for my hair loss. The oral Minoxidil seems to be working quite well and I only started using it in November 2022. I have been using the Dutasteride for a few years. So my results with the laser device could have some bias when I update this post in the future.