Can Red Light Really Restore Hair Growth? My 6-Week Investigation Testing The iRestore Elite

While hair loss or thinning can feel isolating, it’s more common than you might think. In fact, research indicates that more than 50% of women1 will experience female-pattern hair loss (FPHL) between the ages of 50 and 65 years old.

I know aging2, genetics, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and other lifestyle factors play a driving role—but, as someone who has dealt with periods of excess shedding and thinning, I’m always on the hunt for new ways to optimize my scalp and hair health.

That’s why I jumped at the chance to test out the iRestore Elite red light hat, AKA the gold standard of at-home red light hair growth products.

Board-certified plastic surgeon Anthony Youn, M.D. previously recommended low-light laser therapy (LLLT) to mindbodygreen as an impactful treatment for hair loss, noting that LLLT can create changes in your follicle's growth phase, which can help to thicken and grow hair. 

Existing research is encouraging, too. One study found that women who used red light therapy at 650 nm every other day for 17 weeks experienced a 51% increase in hair density3—and another clinical trial found that red light therapy yielded increased hair density and thickness4 in both men and women after 24 weeks of treatment.

Certified trichologist and founder of Advanced Trichology, William Gaunitz, FWTS, agrees that an LED light cap can help improve hair growth and adds that laser and LED caps have been used for nearly 15 years with positive effects on hair growth.

The technology is top notch

I could tell just by looking at the inside of this helmet that it would be more intense than the other red light hats I’ve tried.

With 500 medical-grade LED lights and lasers and 2,500 mW of power output, this is the most powerful at-home red light hat I’ve come across yet. The advanced VIXO™ Lasers are designed to deeply penetrate and stimulate the follicle for more impressive results over time.

It's easy to use

I'm not one for instruction manuals, so I appreciate that the iRestore Elite is fairly self-explanatory. You’ll simply plug it in, put the hat on your heat, press the “start” button on the remote control, and go about whatever else you’re doing.

Each session is just 12 minutes, and the remote control will count down throughout so you can see how much time is left.

The hat will beep (very quietly) when your session is complete.

It's comfortable

It's durable and well-made

While I don't particularly love the look of the hard-top helmet, I do love that this thing is super durable. I can tell it's made with high-quality materials and will stand the test of time—which, of course, is something you'd expect from a hat that regularly costs $2,499.

You'll also get a 3-year warranty and a 12-month satisfaction guarantee.

The results

Experts say it takes at least three to six months to see true results from red light therapy for hair growth, and the best results will come in 12 to 18 months with continued use—so everything for me six weeks in is very preliminary. However, I'm extremely optimistic about the small signs of new growth I'm seeing around my hairline and part.

My experience with the iRestore Elite has been great so far, but I wouldn't be a true shopping editor if I didn't have a few suggestions for the brand.

The biggest (yet very minor) qualm I have with this hat is that, while the device itself is insanely durable and well-made, both zippers have already come off the case. I now just leave the case unzipped and on my bookshelf—which, again, is not a huge inconvenience, but a small annoyance to be aware of.