Hairline Starting to Recede? These Dermatologist-Approved Laser Hair Growth Devices Could Be Your Answer. (2025)

THERE COMES A time in every man’s life—sans the few genetically gifted—when he must face hair loss. It hits sooner than many expect, as the American Hair Loss Association notes 85 percent of men will face hair loss by age 50. There are then two options: lean into it and join the Stanley Tucci Gang, or invest in equipment to regrow hair. For the latter, the best tools to reverse balding at home are laser hair growth devices.

Best Laser Hair Growth Devices

The majority of men lose their hair due to male pattern baldness (also known as androgenetic alopecia), a condition caused by genetic predisposition and hormonal influences, wherein testosterone is declining and dihydrotestosterone (aka DHT) is surging. This process is characterized by the classic receding hairline look, along with thinning around the crown.

Laser hair growth devices are best at treating this cause of hair loss, explains dermatologist and founder of Remedy, Dr. Muneeb Shah, MD. Other common factors like stress, illness, medications, nutritional deficiencies, and autoimmune diseases, will be less responsive to laser therapies, as hair follicles are often damaged or inactive from these issues and less willing to be rebooted from light treatment.

Laser hair growth devices work by using low-level laser therapy, or LLLT, to stimulate weakened or dormant hair follicles, says hair restoration physician and creator of the Bauman Turbo LaserCap, Dr. Alan Bauman, MD. The process is known as photobiomodulation, and it involves exposing tissues to light in the red and near-infrared spectrum, which can improve cell metabolism and blood flow, reduce inflammation, and stimulate hair follicles to re-enter and maintain the growth phase.

Generally, LLLT does not include LED, instead, it uses laser diodes. However, some devices will combine both for added effectiveness or to reduce the intensity of laser diodes. “In simpler terms, laser therapy supercharges the environment for healthy hair growth by restoring energy to sluggish follicles and optimizing scalp conditions,” Dr. Bauman says.

Laser hair growth devices are rarely cheap (you won’t find an effective one below $400), so you want to make sure you’re getting the right option for you before making the investment. After chatting with the pros, keep these details top of mind when choosing which laser hair growth device to purchase.

What to Consider

Light Type

Wavelength

For both LED and laser diode options, the therapeutic wavelength is crucial. Dr. Shah recommends wavelengths between 630 and 680 nanometers to successfully penetrate the scalp and stimulate hair follicle growth. If you have sensitive skin or are new to these tools, take it slow and work your way to the top level to limit irritation.

Dr. Bauman says that the 650-nanometer range is key, as it is the optimal wavelength absorbed by mitochondria for energy production to support hair follicle function. This process boosts cellular energy, as hair follicles are highly active structures that need a lot of energy to support the hair growth cycle. The end result is reduced inflammation, improved blood flow, and extended growth.

Treatment Length

FDA Clearance

Whenever you’re dealing with new technology, rely on reputable organizations to first approve it for use. Both Dr. Shah and Dr. Bauman advise only looking to laser hair growth devices that have been accepted by the FDA for the safest, most effective experience. However, there are different levels to FDA acceptance. FDA-listed or FDA-registered simply means that the manufacturer has informed the FDA, but doesn’t imply approval or authorization. FDA clearance, on the other hand, means the device is substantially equivalent to a product already on the market.

FDA approved is the ideal, as this means the device has successfully been through extensive testing and clinical trials to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. But to date, there have been no LED or laser diode devices for hair growth that are FDA-approved, so look for FDA-cleared options.

How We Selected

As someone whose hairline is still going strong after 32 years (and a ton of preventive hair thinning products), I leaned heavily on the counsel of hair loss professionals for these selections. I conferred with dermatologist Dr. Shah and hair restoration physician Dr. Bauman on what to look for in an effective laser hair growth device and which they recommend. I also consulted with fellow Men’s Health writers and editors who have battled hair loss on their experience, based on ease of use, effectiveness, and long-term results. Following this research and testing, we nailed down these tools as the six best laser hair growth devices for men in 2025.

This FDA-cleared device provides solid diode coverage, with 272 medical-grade lasers. For comparison, the stellar and affordable Hairmax Ultima Lase Comb only has 12 medical-grade lasers. Plus, it’s all packed into a simple hat design that’s easy to incorporate into your routine, as it allows you to perform other tasks while you wear it for its six-minute treatments. Not to mention, it’s about as comfortable to wear as your go-to baseball cap. That being said, this is by far the most expensive option on this list at about $1,360. But if you can swing the pricetag, the results and ease of use are worth it.

Not everybody has the budget (or desire) to drop several thousand on a hair growth device. Maybe you’re on the fence about these tools, or the prospect of regrowing your hair in general. For these folks, Hairmax will be your best option, as it’s the least expensive tool on the market that’s still effective. Featuring 12 medical-grade laser diodes in a comb-style tool, you gently brush this device through your hair and across your dome to stimulate hair growth. The sessions are listed at eight minutes, however, it often takes longer for the best results, given the manual nature of the device and the smaller surface it covers at once. Still, you won’t find a cheaper FDA-approved model.

At first glance, the Hairmax LaserBand 82 looks like a nuisance to use. Rather than a cap design like HigherDose and Capillus, helmet like iRestore and Current Body, or Hairmax’s comb, the LaserBand resembles a mini MRI machine. But unlike those devices, this tool only needs to be used for a couple of minutes to see results, three times a week. The brand boasts that sessions need only be 90 seconds, but Dr. Bauman warns it’ll take a bit longer for full coverage—like two or three minutes. Still, that’s by far the quickest treatment on this list. Plus, Dr. Bauman says it features a quality diode count (246 lasers), even if you may need to reposition after 90 seconds for full coverage.