Thinning Hair? There's A LED Light Mask For That

What do you get when you cross an LED face mask with a balding NASA scientist? The Theradome hair growth helmet, an at-home treatment that’s essentially a red light mask… for your scalp.

“I had been experiencing hair loss and was frustrated with the ineffectiveness, high cost, and inconvenience of the available products on the market,” Tamim Hamid, the founder of Theradome, tells The Zoe Report. “As a former NASA engineer at the Kennedy Space Center, I had designed and implemented leading-edge biomedical technologies, including LASER and photonics systems, for the space shuttle program. It was through this work that I developed a deep understanding of the power of lasers to deliver positive biological responses throughout the body.” So, he thought, why not target that tech at his own head?

Hamid’s lightbulb moment led to the rediscovery of a long-forgotten scientific paper from 1965 that explored the connection between laser light and hair regrowth in mice. Four more years of research, design, and testing later, the Theradome helmet — featuring laser technology that relies on follicle-stimulating red light — was born. “We think low level of light boosts energy within active hair cells, promotes growth, increases blood flow, and decreases inflammation, all without producing a damaging level of heat for the hair,” Dr. Caroline Robinson, M.D., a dermatologist and hair expert, tells TZR of laser hair therapy. “This converts resting phase hairs to active growth phase hairs, ultimately leading to hair growth.” Theradome’s specific lasers take that a step further. “What we have discovered is that our very unique laser light keeps the hair as long as possible and reduces hair shedding,” Hamid says. “This results in customers keeping their hair and growing new hair.”

The science behind it may be on the complicated side, but using the scalp mask couldn’t be easier. “The helmets have a lightweight, streamlined design, including hands-free operation, making them convenient to wear at any time,” the founder explains. There are two versions: the EVO has 40 individual lasers and should be used for 20 minutes a day, four days per week; while the PRO has a whopping 80 lasers and only requires two weekly sessions. Wear it while you watch Netflix, scroll through Insta, or cook dinner — you might feel a slight tingling, per Hamid, but that’s it.

Sound too good to be true? It kind of is. Theradome is only proven to be an effective solution for one type of hair loss: androgenetic alopecia, otherwise known as male or female pattern hair loss. (Yup, the Theradome works for all genders — and all hair types, for that matter.) “This is the most common type of hair loss, and occurs when the mitochondria in the cells of the hair follicle base stop working properly, often due to hormones, age, stress, or diet,” Hamid says. “While the causes of hair loss may vary between men and women, our LPT treatment is most effective if started in the early stages, which for women often comes as a surprise after a pregnancy or as they enter peri-menopause in their early 40s.” If your hair loss can be traced back to another cause — maybe a side effect of a new medication or a scalp infection — Dr. Robinson suggests discussing alternate treatment options with a board-certified dermatologist.

For those who are good candidates for Theradome, be warned: It could be awhile before the helmet’s benefits kick in. “While the timing of results will vary by individual and usage, many users start to see results in as little as four weeks,” Hamid says. In most cases, though, new hair growth isn’t noticeable until the 16- to 24-week mark. “You'll experience thin spots starting to fill in, hairlines getting longer, and a reduction in the size of your part,” according to the founder. “In our clinical study, we found that 98 percent of users saw visible hair growth within 24 weeks of use, with an average increase in density of 37 percent.” Once you’ve reached your growth goals, it’s recommended to continue using the Theradome for maintenance.

The FDA has cleared Theradome helmets for both safety and efficacy and Hamid says there are “no known side effects,” but Dr. Robinson notes there are a couple tiny little risks. “There can be an initial increase in shedding, which is likely related to the resting hairs shedding prior to entering the growth phase,” the dermatologist says. “Another side effect is scalp itching.”

Oh, and there’s the $595 and $895 price tags to contend with… A small price to pay for perfect hair (and a pretty cool helmet), no?

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