Category Archives: Low Level Laser Therapy

HairMax Lasercomb, Lasercomb, LLLT, Low Level Laser Therapy

HairMax LaserComb 9 vs LaserComb 12

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When it comes to low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to treat hair loss, the HairMax LaserComb is probably the oldest well known product on the market. I briefly covered the company a few years ago when its president Leonard Stillman commented on this blog. However, I did not discuss its products at the time. The LaserComb’s inventor and CEO is David Michaels.

Dateline covered the LaserComb quite favorably in 2011, with before and after photos and patient feedback included. I even mentioned that story in a post in 2014. Thereafter, a whole bunch of new companies have come out with FDA-cleared low-level laser devices to grow hair. None are lasercomb type products that entail combing one’s hair daily or several times a week.

HairMax (part of Lexington International) currently has two laser comb models on the market: The Ultima 9 Classic LaserComb and the Ultima 12 LaserComb. The older device seems to have slightly better online customer reviews. Both products come with money-back guarantees and warranties.

Laser combs are generally safe, well tolerated phototherapy devices when used to treat androgenetic alopecia. I have never heard of anyone complaining about major side effects upon using these products. However, lasers and light can be dangerous to the eyes, so do not do this type of thing.

Note that almost no-one claims that lasers will regrow hair on totally bald regions of the scalp. At best, they can make existing thinning hair stronger via photo-biostimulation and light energy. And possibly regrow recently miniaturized hair follicles.

Some studies suggest that laser light energy stimulation of the mitochondria and cells can also promote new hair growth. At least in modest quantities. However, some of these same studies are sponsored by laser device manufacturers. Hopefully this does not bias results, but one needs to be careful when analyzing findings in support of LLLT.

HairMax Ultima 9 Classic LaserComb

HairMax Ultima 9 Classic LaserCombRecently, I saw the HairMax Lasercomb 9 for sale at Costco for $199 (with bonus shampoo and conditioner bottles). Of the numerous well known brand name low-level laser therapy devices on the market, this is by far the best price. You can purchase lesser known unproven brands at lower prices. Some people even try to made their own laser combs at home.

On Amazon, the price of the Ultima 9 is currently $250, but they have a 5 percent off coupon available as an add-on. The HairMax Ultima 9 Classic LaserComb comes with the following features and properties:

  • FDA Clearance.
  • 9 Medical grade lasers (but no LEDs).
  • Cordless with rechargeable battery.
  • Power cord also available.
  • 11 minute treatment time.

Ratings and Reviews in 2020

Amazon has 61 customer reviews, with a respectable average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. On Costco’s site, customers give the HairMax Ultima 9 LaserComb an average rating of 3.8/5, based on 78 reviews. Walmart currently has the best price for this product at $193, with an average rating of 4.2/5 based on 48 votes. On the manufacturer’s own site, 73 customers have rated the product at 4.3/5 as of today.

I am honestly quite surprised at these reviews. An average of 4.2/5 across the diverse list of vendors I listed above is quite impressive for a laser product. In online hair loss forum reports, a large number of people seem to say that they did not benefit from laser treatment for hair growth.

HairMax Ultima 12 LaserComb

HairMax Ultima 12 LaserComb.
HairMax Ultima 12 LaserComb.

HairMax’s newest LaserComb model is the Ultima 12. On Amazon, it has a rating of just 2.4 out of 5 stars, although based on only 6 customers. An older now inactive page on Amazon had an average rating of 4/5 across 25 reviews in 2019. The price of the Ultima 12 LaserComb is around $395 across various sites.

Average rating on Walmart’s website is a much better 4.5/5, based on 38 customer reviews. Almost the same numbers on HairMax’s Ultima 12 product page and on Bed Bath & Beyond’s site.

The main advantage of Ultima 12 over Ultima 9 is that while the former has 12 lasers, the latter has 9. Treatment time is just 8 minutes with the Ultima 12, versus 11 minutes with the Ultima 9.

LLLT, Low Level Laser Therapy, PhotonMD, Revian Red

Revian Red Light Therapy for Hair Growth

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Update: January 8, 2020 — Revian Red and parent company Know Bio product release article. The LED laser light wavelengths are a combination of 620 nanometers and 660 nanometers.

Update: September 2019 — Revian Red September 2019 Press Release.

Quote from Dr. Rodney Sinclair:

“It took almost 20 years to work out the ideal wavelengths of light, the best fluence or ‘power’, how long the treatments should last and how often the treatments need to be repeated.”

Revian Red Laser
Revian Red Light Therapy for Hair Growth.

It has been a long time since I wrote a post on low level laser therapy (LLLT) to treat hair loss. Although a very controversial subject, there are a number of studies that suggest LLLT can benefit hair growth.

Almost always, laser therapy will not bring back hair in totally bald areas of the scalp. However, LLLT can make existing hair thicker according to many findings. The latest study in support of low level laser therapy for hair growth was published in Lasers in Medical Science in August 2019.

Revian Red

Note that the Revian Red system is currently on sale on Amazon after coupon application. Regular price is $795 on their website. Average reviews for Revian Red cap so far are 4/5.

In April 2019, a new laser system for hair growth called Revian Red entered the market. See the press release from its manufacturer, PhotonMD (North Carolina). Revian Red is FDA cleared for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in both men and women. Note the difference between FDA approved and FDA cleared.

Revian Red with Phone App
Revian Red with Smartphone Mobile App.

One of the more interesting aspects about Revian Red is that it is a wireless cap that comes with a phone app that you can use to take photos and track results. The app also reminds you of the 10 minutes per day treatment schedule.

Also of interest, Revian Red is based on Red LED Light Therapy. See my past post on laser therapy for hair loss and wavelength. The company terms is as modulated light therapy. Red light wavelength ranges from 400 nm to 700 nm.

Clinical Trials

Revian Red underwent clinical trials in Australia that were led my the famous dermatologist Rodney Sinclair. According to Revian’s own site, clinical trial results seem to have been favorable. However, the results are not as yet officially published, even though the trials were completed in May 2019.

Before Revian: Other Laser Devices

I have covered a number of other low level laser therapy devices on this blog in the past. These include combs, helmets and caps.

The oldest of these FDA cleared lasers is the HairMax LaserComb, while the more recent of these is the Theradome Laser Helmet. Also cleared are the funky looking iGrow Laser Helmet; the iRestore Hair Growth System; and the Capillus Laser Therapy Cap.