There are dozens of LED hair-growth gadgets on the market, ranging from a $50 product purchased on AliExpress to a $2,500 Capillus Spectrum model, which boasts an aggressive array of laser diodes. Contrary to what I suspected, women are actually the current leading consumer group for LED hair-regrowth therapy. As it was explained to me, women are used to spending money on their appearance, and thinning hair is often experienced as a crisis. Men, on the other hand, take the same path I did and get everything done, then go about their day.
Photograph: Martin Szymar
I agreed to test the FDA-approved Grovel, which sits in the middle of the $550 price range. It contains a total of 63 diodes including 24 lasers and 39 LEDs. Beyond its attractive price point, comfortably placed among sketchy drop shippers and well-marketed products that cost almost as much as a top-end MacBook Pro, Grovel stands out for offering treatment at a level supported by clinical research without an extreme approach that could be counterproductive.
Plus, unlike helmet-style caps on the market, this one has an insert attached to a control unit with a small 1,800 mAh Li-ion battery, which Growell says should be good for several years of regular use. Because it’s in three tiny pieces (a control pack the size of an old Motorola Razr, a USB-C cord, and a flat pad that’s only as thick as a piece of cardboard), it’s easy to fold and pack on a trip. It’s clutch, because you won’t want to skip treatments while traveling. (Note that if you stop using the device, your ROMs will revert to their previous state.)
Growing pains?
It couldn’t be easier to use: Place the Light Pad inside the supplied cap or one of your own, connect it to the control module via USB-C, and press the button. It will remain illuminated for the next 25 minutes while you do your work. Because it goes into your own hat, the fit may not be perfect, and I found myself adjusting it a bunch, which probably wouldn’t happen with some helmet-style devices.
In a 2013 study, the level and duration provided by Grovel every other day of use over 16 weeks helped all study participants regrow some hair, an average of 35 percent more for men and 37 percent for women. The same study showed that using more powerful lasers for long periods of time may actually stunt growth slightly. I’m just guessing here, but I think I have at least 30 percent more hair than without the treatment, and probably even more.
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