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Welcome to Retail Therapy by Prevention! In this series, our editors provide thoughtful, honest reviews of what we’ve been testing lately that we want you to know about—because we refuse to keep these game-changing finds all to ourselves. Whether you’re on a mission to find something specific or simply need a little retail therapy in the form of an impulse purchase, consider this your insider’s shopping guide to everything our team thinks is worth the buy.
Ever since I was little, I’ve always wanted long, thick, luscious hair. That’s why I’ve always been on the lookout for ways to make my hair thicker and healthier—especially since it’s now suffering plenty of damage from a perm I got about a year ago (yes, that unfortunately means lots of hair breakage as well as dry, brittle strands). So, when I got the opportunity to try the the HigherDose Red Light Hat, an FDA-cleared red light therapy device for hair growth, it’s safe to say that I was immediately game.
Of course, I’ve heard of other red light therapy devices before, mostly for skincare—like those trendy LED masks and wands for your face—but I’ve never actually tried any myself. I was also familiar with HigherDose, as our own Prevention editors have reviewed and loved other products from the wellness-tech brand, including the Infrared Sauna Blanket and Infrared PEMF Pro Mat. But I wondered: Was the brand’s Red Light Hat worth the hype, too? And could the device actually help me get fuller, thicker, and healthier hair?
HigherDose Red Light Hat
What are the benefits of red light therapy for hair?
Red light therapy is an increasingly popular treatment in the beauty world, especially for anti-aging skincare. It involves using light-light emitting diode (LED) devices that “produce varying wavelengths of light that treat a variety of skin issues, including acne, psoriasis, fine lines, and wrinkles,” Jodi LoGerfo, D.N.P., A.P.R.N., F.N.P.-B.C., D.C.N.P. of the Orentreich Medical Group in New York City, previously told Prevention. “Red light therapy is theorized to work on the mitochondria of our cells—the engine. This gives the cells of the body more energy, allowing other cells to function with maximum productivity.”
The benefits of red light therapy go beyond skincare, though—it can also help with hair loss by promoting hair growth and density, according to experts. “The benefit comes from delivering specific wavelengths of red light to the scalp, which can help stimulate hair follicles and improve blood flow to the scalp,” explains Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in NYC. “When used consistently, red light therapy hats may help prolong the growth phase of the hair cycle and reduce shedding, which can translate into thicker-looking hair and some improvement in hair density.”
Research also shows that red light therapy can be an effective non-invasive treatment for hair loss. “Clinical studies suggest they can be especially helpful for men and women with androgenetic alopecia, especially when combined with other evidence-based treatments like topical minoxidil or oral therapies when appropriate,” notes Dr. Garshick.
Hannah Jeon
How the HigherDose Red Light Hat works
The HigherDose Red Light hat is designed to deliver the benefits of red light therapy to support scalp health and promote thicker, fuller hair. It’s an FDA-cleared device, meaning that it’s been designated to be safe and effective for their intended purposes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Though the device looks like a regular baseball hat on the outside, the entire interior of the hat comes lined with 120 medical-grade LED bulbs designed to deliver the power of 650 nm red light to the top of your head. These lights are powered by a rechargeable battery back that magnetically clips onto the back of the hat.
The device is super quick and easy to set up. The hat comes with a battery pack, multiple different power adaptors, a USB connector, and a manual. First, you place the battery (which you can recharge separately with the power adaptor) on the back of the hat, where it easily clicks into place onto the magnetic dots. You then press and hold the power button to turn the device on—the battery will beep and the red lights on the interior of the hat will illuminate, upon which you can put in on your head for the treatment. Once the 10-minute treatment is done, the battery will beep to indicate that the session is completed.
The brand recommends using the red light hat daily for 10 minutes for 16 weeks, and following up with regular maintenance treatment three to four times a week, based on past clinical studies that have shown this to be effective.
Hannah Jeon
Hannah Jeon
How I tested the HigherDose Red Light Hat
I’ve been using the HigherDose Red Light Hat for about three months now. Following the brand’s recommendation, I’ve been using it every day for 10 minutes. The comfortable, convenient design has been making it easy for me to wear it and undergo these 10-minute sessions while going about my day as normal, including while I’m working, reading, cleaning, watching television, and other daily activities.
What I liked
The first thing I immediately liked about the HigherDose hat: It actually looks like a regular hat! Unlike other red light therapy devices for hair growth—many of which have clunky, helmet-like designs—the HigherDose device comes in a sleek, discreet baseball cap. Not only is it cordless, the red lights are also undetectable under the hat—yes, even when powered on). While I personally didn’t wear the hat out in public during my testing period, I’d say you can easily do so if you want to without receiving a ton of strange looks (although, I will say that the battery pack attached to the back of the hat is the one deficiency in the discreet design).
Additionally, the hat is comfortable to wear; when I tried it on for the first time, I was impressed with how much it just felt like a normal hat—it didn’t feel as heavy or clunky as expected, despite the lights on the interior and the battery pack attached to it, although it is a bit bulkier than a regular hat. I also appreciated that it came with an adjustable strap at the back like any other hat, which allowed me to adjust it for a comfortable fit on my head.
Most of all, though, I was impressed with how easy and convenient the device was to use. Not only was it a breeze to set up, I found that using it daily wasn’t much of a hassle as I expected it to be. On the contrary, it was actually very effortless and didn’t take time out of my daily schedule at all: All I had to do was slip it on like a regular hat and wear it for 10 minutes each day, then I could move on with my day as normal. So quick and easy!
Hannah Jeon
Hannah Jeon
What I didn’t like
Obviously, the biggest drawback of the HigherDose hat is the high price tag; at $449, it’s not exactly a budget-friendly buy. That being said, it is a high-tech beauty device that’s well-constructed and high-quality—plus, I’d imagine that getting a similar treatment at a clinic, medical spa, or wellness center can rack up a much, much higher cost. With this device, you can undergo these sessions more easily and consistently at the convenience of your home and at a one-time cost, which can make it worth the investment.
Another caveat, however, is that using the hat can potentially come with side effects. Personally, I did feel like I experienced a bit of a tingling sensation and minor scalp sensitivity after some sessions—but it was mild and temporary, and I never experienced any major or significant irritation. Overall, red light therapy hats are considered low risk and well-tolerated, according to Dr. Garshick. “Most people experience little to no side effects, though some may notice mild scalp warmth, tingling, or temporary redness,” she notes.
Still, devices like the HigherDose hat should be used “exactly as directed, as overuse does not improve results and may increase irritation,” Dr. Garshick advises. “It is always best to first discuss with a board-certified dermatologist prior to incorporating into your hair loss treatment regimen.”
The bottom line
After about three months of testing, I would say that I’m happy with the results from the HigherDose Red Light Hat. Though my hair is longer than when I first started using the hat, I made the mistake of not measuring how long my hair grew in three months before adding in the hat. Therefore, I can’t definitively say whether that’s just my natural hair growth or an increased result from the hat, however, I can say my hair feels stronger, and I’ve noticed less hair shedding and breakage than before both in the shower and during brushing—which is definitely a win.
While I’m not sure how well the HigherDose hat would work on someone with significant hair loss or thinning hair, I would definitely say it’s worth the try. Obviously, it’s not a miracle device—as with other many beauty treatments, you shouldn’t expect immediate, drastic results overnight—but the key to these kinds of treatments is consistency, and the HigherDose hat definitely makes it super easy to stay consistent with red light therapy sessions, as it’s comfortable, easy to use, and convenient to wear. It really doesn’t require any extra time or energy out of your regular daily routine—sessions only take 10 minutes each day, which is already easy enough, but it’s made even more convenient by the fact that you can just wear the hat and undergo the sessions while going about your day as normal.
All in all, I would recommend the HigherDose Red Light Hat to anyone trying to achieve fuller, healthier hair or dealing with hair loss and shedding. Sure, it’s a big investment, but I’d say that given the high-tech design and convenience of this device, it may be very well-worth the splurge.
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Hannah Jeon is an Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention, where she covers expert-driven commerce content for all things health, beauty, and wellness. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Good Housekeeping, she earned her bachelor’s degree in creative writing and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. When she’s not on the hunt for all the best products online, you can often find her trying out new food spots in New York City or clicking away behind a camera.
