If you’re like most people experiencing hair loss and shedding, you’ll notice that treatment takes a lot of trial and error to get your hair back on track.
asserted
treatment → ’re → track
Tools like dermarolling, red light therapy and scalp massagers have come up time and time again on social media promising healthy hair growth, but do those viral products actually work?
asserted
products → come → growth
I spoke to board-certified dermatologists and trichologists to narrow down the best at-home tools you can use to help your hair grow, and how to separate them from the gimmicks.
asserted
hair → speak → gimmicks
What hair growth tools actually work?
asserted
tools → work → ?
“Anything claiming instant regrowth or dramatic results in a week is unrealistic,” says board-certified trichologist Aga Tompkins.
asserted
Tompkins → claim → week
“Hair grows in cycles.
asserted
Hair → grow → cycles
No tool overrides biology.”
asserted
tool → override → biology
To separate the tools that actually work and those that are simply gimmicks or shams, I narrowed down the most popular tools on the market today and consulted with dermatologists and trichologists.
asserted
I → separate → dermatologists
Keep in mind that the most effective treatments for hair loss with proven results are oral and topical medications, specifically minoxidil, which you can get as a prescription from your doctor or over-the-counter from hair care brand Rogaine.
asserted
you → keep → Rogaine
Experts say yes.
asserted
Experts → say → ?
“This is one of the few buzzy tools that actually has decent data behind it,” says Dr. Omer Ibrahim, a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago, IL.
asserted
Ibrahim → have → Chicago
“Low level red light can stimulate hair follicles and keep them in the growth phase longer, especially for androgenetic hair loss.”
However, red light therapy isn’t magic and it won’t regrow a totally bald area, but it can help thicken hair if you use it consistently, says Ibrahim.
asserted
Ibrahim → stimulate → it
When choosing any red light therapy device, it’s important to choose an FDA-cleared device, meaning it has been studied for safety and efficacy, says board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Michele Green.
asserted
Green → choose → safety
This FDA-cleared cap comes recommended by dermatologists in our guide to red light for hair loss.
asserted
cap → clear → loss
It delivers low-level light therapy, which can help stimulate circulation and cellular activity within the follicle, says Tompkins.
asserted
Tompkins → deliver → follicle
It also sits close to the scalp, which is important since proximity matters with light therapy, as energy delivery decreases with distance, experts say.
asserted
experts → sit → distance
It also comes with a stand, so you can place it under your face to expose it to the red light, or wrap it around smaller body parts like legs and calves.
asserted
you → come → legs
HigherDose recently launched this infrared filtered showerhead, which has a built-in red light ring and a water filtration system.
asserted
which → launch → ring
It’s a great way to deliver red light therapy to your hair, face and body all at once.
asserted
It → ’ → once
It comes with a remote that lets you control the red light time period and automatically turns off after five-, 10- and 15-minute sessions.
asserted
you → come → sessions
I’ve used this showerhead for the past month, and though I haven’t noticed dramatic results quite yet, I have been loving the fact that I can stack my habits.
asserted
I → use → habits
Plus, the showerhead took less than 10 minutes to install, which is great for someone who isn’t handy (like me).
asserted
who → take → me
Dermarolling and dermastamping
Dermarolling, also called scalp microneedling, involves a device with several tiny needles that creates microinjuries on the scalp, which stimulate the body’s wound-healing process and lead to the production of new collagen and elastin, says Green.
asserted
Green → call → collagen
“Collagen helps build hair proteins and strengthen hair follicles, while elastin promotes new hair growth and keeps hair anchored in the follicle,” she says.
asserted
she → help → follicle
Similarly, a dermastamp is a stamping device that uses tiny needles to create microchannels in the skin to stimulate hair growth.
asserted
that → stamp → growth
Unlike a dermaroller, the device is stamped vertically into the scalp and is best used to target specific areas rather than treat the entire scalp, says Green.
asserted
Green → stamp → scalp
Both dermarollers and dermastamps are most effective when used in conjunction with topical or oral medications (like minoxidil) or with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), says Green.
asserted
Green → use → plasma
It’s best to have scalp microneedling performed by a dermatologist, though there are at-home devices you can use up to twice a week, experts say.
asserted
experts → ’ → home
For at-home scalp microneedling, make sure your device doesn’t exceed a 0.5 millimeter needle depth to stimulate hair follicles safely, says William Gaunitz, a certified trichologist.
asserted
Gaunitz → make → follicles
Vegamour’s dermaroller has a 0.25 millimeter needle depth, meaning it’s safe to use at home without irritation or injury, says Gaunitz.
asserted
Gaunitz → have → irritation
It comes with a travel case and has an extra-wide roller to cover more surface area, according to the brand.
uncertain
It → come → brand
You can twist the head on and off, so you can easily replace it when the needles get dull.
asserted
needles → twist → it
Dermastamps are basically microneedling, but more controlled than a roller, which Tompkins prefers.
asserted
Tompkins → prefer → which
“The evidence is the same as microneedling, meaning it can help, especially alongside proven treatments.
asserted
it → mean → treatments
Stamps are less likely to cause tearing of the skin if used correctly,” she says.
asserted
she → cause → skin
This one helps your scalp absorb serums and oils better and quicker, plus supports scalp blood flow to encourage hair growth, according to the brand.
uncertain
scalp → help → brand
It comes with a cover, so the needles won’t be exposed when you’re not using it.
asserted
you → come → it
Research on whether scalp massages work for hair growth is very limited.
asserted
massages → work → growth
Scalp massagers stimulate circulation and dilate scalp blood vessels, which may encourage hair growth, says Green.
uncertain
Green → stimulate → growth
They can also remove product buildup and dead skin cells from the scalp.
asserted
They → remove → scalp
…and 66 more, not listed.
The Aporia
