HairMax

Hair loss isn’t rare, but millions are in search of a permanent way to restore their full head of hair without costly implants or questionable medications.

The HairMax product line offers a range of at-home devices that utilize laser technology to purportedly help you regrow hair. These products can be used by both men and women to address hair thinning or pattern baldness attributed to your genetics.

HairMax’s ideal candidate is anyone dealing with mild to moderate hair loss who wants to preserve the hair they have and regrow what’s been lost. As the device can’t regrow hair from places where you no longer have hair follicles, you’ll get better results the earlier you start using it.

But will these laser hair care products work at all? Here, we’ll go over the technology that HairMax claims to use and explain who can most benefit from LLLT.

How Does HairMax Work?

All HairMax laser treatments work by delivering low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to your hair follicles at the base of your scalp. This triggers a process called photobiostimulation where the follicles get more oxygen through increased blood flow to give them the energy necessary for supporting and restoring hair growth.

Over time, LLLT helps you regrow healthy hair in places where the hair follicles were beginning to shrink or die back. With HairMax products, you can treat your scalp up to three times a week with sessions lasting from just 90 seconds to up to 30 minutes.

These devices are meant to encourage new hair growth, reverse hair thinning, increase hair strength, density and fullness, and reduce shedding over the long run.

You can also use HairMax laser devices on hair transplants to speed up healing time and improve the overall results, though it’s best to speak to your surgeon before beginning the process.

While the company states that these devices should be used indefinitely to maintain results, it’s possible to cut back on treatments to once or twice a week if you decide you are happy with your level of progress.

Using HairMax devices more than three times a week is not recommended, and it won’t increase its effectiveness to do so. In fact, you might overstimulate the hair follicles and cause them to slow down.

Is HairMax Effective?

HairMax references seven clinical studies from universities across the United States that show that the devices are effective for hair growth for both men and women dealing with mild to moderate hair loss. They won’t reverse severe loss and can’t restore hair follicles that aren’t currently functioning.

All study participants used HairMax devices three times per week on non-consecutive days for 10-15 minutes per treatment. More than 90 percent experienced significant hair growth and improvements in hair density compared to the control device.

The company reports that the average user will have an average of 129 new hairs per square inch of treatment space within 16 weeks.

Here’s a summary of other studies related to LLLT treatments.

• A 2014 study in The American Journal of Clinical Dermatology found that using the HairMax LaserComb led to statistically significant improvements in hair density and growth at rates comparable to short term clinical trials with Rogaine and Propecia.

• A 2019 24-week study in Lasers of Medical Science found that wearing caps outfitted with lasers was an effective hair loss treatment for the 36 men and women tested.

• A study published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine in 2013 found that laser treatments at 655nm (HairMax devices deliver 660) for six weeks led to statistically significant improvements in hair growth for men with alopecia.

Key Takeaways

Clinical studies show promise for the effectiveness of LLLT devices like those from HairMax for men and women with hair loss. However, existing studies are small, and their “clinically significant” improvements might not be evident outside a testing situation. They aren’t any guarantee that LLLT will be effective for your hair loss situation.

Are There Any Side Effects?

The HairMax website states that all its laser devices are safe and can be used simultaneously with other hair growth products. It claims that no harmful side effects have been reported in any clinical trials or from customers since the products have been on the market.

Though you may experience slight tingling and itching soon after starting treatment due to the increase in blood flow, these symptoms should disappear after two weeks of use. The lasers do not give off heat, so you don’t need to worry about burning your scalp.

However, as the devices contain real lasers you need to take care not to shine them directly in your eye.

HairMax Laser Products

All HairMax laser devices are FDA-cleared, emit the same laser energy, and should deliver the same results. Each device also includes a built-in rechargeable battery that should last for 24 hours of continuous use before requiring a recharge.

The primary difference between them is the number of lasers they have, which controls how long each treatment needs to last.

Below, we go through the key differences between each device.

Laser 272 PowerFlex Cap

This hair growth device looks and operates like a baseball cap lined with lasers. It includes 272 laser diodes for full scalp coverage.

• Treatment Time: 15 minutes, three days a week
• Cost: $1,999

LaserBand 82

This band will fit most head sizes, and it contains 82 lasers for full scalp coverage equal to 246 lasers when moved over the scalp three times per treatment session.

To use the LaserBand, place the device on the front of your head and slowly move it to across your full scalp, moving it half an inch every four seconds when you hear an audible beep.

• Treatment Time: 90 seconds, three times a week
• Cost: $799

LaserBand 41

Equipped with a comfort-flex band design to accommodate most head sizes, this headband contains 41 lasers for scalp coverage equivalent to 246 lasers when used six times per session.

• Treatment Time: Three minutes, three times a week.
• Cost: $549

Ultima 12 LaserComb

Each comb includes 12 medical-grade lasers and is designed to target thinning areas or boost hair growth over the whole scalp.

For best use, move the LaserComb slowly over your head. It will give an audible beep or vibration every four seconds to alert you to move it half an inch across your scalp. Continue using it until you have covered the whole area you want to treat with multiple passes.

• Treatment Time: Eight minutes, three times per week
• Cost: $399

Ultima 9 Classic LaserComb

This smaller comb with nine lasers lets you send targeted light directly to your scalp, making it effective for treating small problem areas.

• Treatment Time: 11 minutes, three days per week
• Cost: $199

Key Takeaway

No matter which device you choose, the company suggests that you clean it from time to time by removing the teeth (if included) and wiping down the lasers with a soft damp cloth before replacing them.

Return Policy, Warranty, and Financing

When you purchase a HairMax laser device through Lexington International, it will come with a 2-year factory warranty and a six-month money-back guarantee, minus a 20% restocking fee. Note that this return policy only applies to direct purchases from the company.

Financing is available for all devices through Affirm for three, six, or 12-month term lengths. The company offers a range of shipping options, and domestic standard shipping is free.

If your device stops working at any time (even when the warranty has expired), you can contact the company directly at (561) 417-0200.

HairMax vs. Capillus, iRestore, and Theradome

Numerous brands offer low-level laser therapy for hair growth. Knowing which to commit to is a challenge. Is expensive always better? Below, we’ve compared the HairMax product line to some of its biggest competitors.

Key Takeaways

HairMax stands out from its LLLT device competitors with a broader range of products and lower price points. Customer reviews and clinical trials both seem to indicate that they will work as described for many people.

If you’re looking to experiment with home-based LLLT for the first time, we think this is a safe brand to invest in.

Analysis of Customer Reviews

The HairMax laser therapy product line averages 3.7 stars after more than 30 reviews on Amazon, 4.4 stars after 131 reviews on TrustPilot, and 1.6 stars after 12 reviews on HighYa. Here’s a summary of the main comments:

Works If You Give It Time

A significant number of HairMax users were thrilled with these devices. They reported that they noticed significant improvements in their hair thickness and density after several months of use. Many noted that the lasers were easy and painless to use and that they quickly established a habit for using them.

Many of these users shared that they were experiencing dramatic hair loss before trying HairMax and that other remedies didn’t prove effective, but that the friends and family noticed the differences in their hair after a few months with these laser devices. These users planned to use the products for life because they were thrilled with the results.

No Results or Results Were Too Subtle

Not all HairMax users noticed improvements to their hairline. Many customers thought that they saw subtle improvements to their hairline after regular use, but that they weren’t noticeable or worth the equipment cost. They reported that photos of their scalp showed marginally less thinning but that they couldn’t tell the difference on a daily basis and consequently were unhappy with the treatment.

A few HairMax reviewers noted that they experienced better results from using other products, including topical solutions with 5% minoxidil like Rogaine. Others wrote that they believed they were losing more hair after starting HairMax sessions, primarily due to extra shedding.

Poor Product Quality

Some HairMax customers were left unhappy with the product quality of their devices. They reported that they broke down within a few months of use and that it was a tedious process to get the company to fix the problem, leaving them without a treatment option for several weeks.

Others noted that battery life decreased dramatically after the first year of use, going from a 15+ use average per charge to just two or three.

A few people took issue with the devices’ sizing, stating that the devices were too big or too small for their heads and were consequently uncomfortable to use.

Unhelpful Customer Service

In many cases, HairMax customers took issue with the company’s customer service. They thought the brand was slow to respond to their quality concerns and didn’t fix problems in a timely manner, which made it hard to use them for the long term.

Key Takeaways

HairMax laser devices lead to noticeable improvements in hair loss and hair density for many users, but others don’t notice any difference or believe the results are too subtle to be worth the cost.

Pay close attention to your type of hair loss and decide whether you can live with subtle results before committing to these products.

Pros & Cons

The Bottom Line: Are HairMax Laser Devices Worth It?

HairMax laser devices promise to help men and women combat the effects of mild to moderate hair loss. Clinical studies show that low-level laser therapy is a viable strategy for improving hair follicle health and restoring some (but not all) types of hair loss.

If you use these devices as described, there’s a good chance that you will experience some level of hair regrowth. Just keep in mind that the results may be more subtle than desired and that you will need to use the device indefinitely to maintain any results.

HairMax devices are cheaper on average than much of the competition, and each one delivers the laser wavelength shown effective through clinical studies. If you are interested in this form of hair growth treatment, then HairMax seems like a good brand to experiment with.

As you make your purchasing decision between the company’s devices, keep in mind that you will pay more for convenience, not for overall effectiveness.