Hairmax Laser comb for restoring hair, is this for real?

geepondy · Feb 18, 2007

http://www.lasercomb.net/default.aspx

I thought it was just another gimmick but I first heard about it from CNN, not from an info commericial. You only have to use it a few times a week. Unfortunately it costs $545. From the website they show a before and after picture of a guys hair and there is a big difference. If I was convinced the hairmax was responsible for the difference I'd try to budget the money for the device.

Anybody hear of this and know whether there is solid unbiased research behind this product?

PhotonWrangler · Feb 18, 2007

Somewhere on TV I saw a theory stated that it causes the follicles or hair shafts to heat up and swell, thus producing more growth. I don't quite believe this as it seems to me that one could have the same effect from a hot shower.

Of course it must be true 'cause I saw it on the teevee.

cobb · Feb 18, 2007

I was reading reviews on amazon that they sell it adn it works. Seems one reviewer suggests that when you get hair replacement surgery, they use it as part of the healing process. All the reviewers seem to agree that if you stop using it, the results go away. Not sure any guy can comb their hair for 15 minutes or scalp for that matter.

James S · Feb 18, 2007

why does it work? what is the mechanism? Does it actually grow hair or just make the hair you've got look better? It seems that laser hair therapy is used to improve the texture and fullness of hair. In "european" treatments... So it has some effect on the hair already on your head? But it also grows new hair?

Sorry, not buying it. Their whole schtick seems to be that is is widely used in europe and this:

harnesses the energizing and nourishing effects of Laser PhotoThereapy to make hair look healthy and vibrant. Light is energy. Living cells thrive in light and your hair is no different. The end result is that the appearance of your hair will improve

my hair is not made up of living cells, and while light definitely is energy my cells lack the green pigmentation necessary to convert it to useful energy that they can use directly...

Also the claim that it has no side effects at all should make one question it. Anything that has any effect, also has side effects. This is true of every active chemical or process you can take part in. Anything that says differently isn't actually doing anything.

Sigman · Feb 18, 2007

"As Seen on TV"!! It MUST WORK!! :ohgeez:

moeman · Feb 18, 2007

It was on TV, and CNN on top of that: it must be real!

geepondy · Feb 18, 2007

When I saw it on CNN, they were interviewing the president of Hair Club For Men, I forget his name. He said the Hairmax might work a little but only in early stages of hair loss. But then again, I think Hair Club For Men makes their living on transplants so perhaps he might not be inclined to give a positive endorsement. However I thought it was interesting that he did not totally dismiss it. He said other then preventive measures such as Rogaine and Propecia, there were no cure for hair loss possibilities in the foreseeable future.

drizzle · Feb 18, 2007

As one of the follically challenged, I'm interested but I'm going to take a wait and see attitude.

Their big headline is that they received FDA "clearance". Note, not FDA approval. The wording of the FDA clearance is odd:

We have reviewed your...device...and have determined the device is substantially equivalent...to legally marketed predicate devices ...that do not require approval of a premarket approval application (PMA).

I don't quite understand it completely but it sounds like someone was marketing something like this before so they got "grand-fathered in" and can market it with the same claims. Here's the whole FDA Document.

PhotonWrangler · Feb 18, 2007

There have been other "light therapy" gizmos marketed including one that claimed to reduce pain. I think it used blinking red LEDs.

It sounds like the FDA is clearing it without stating anything about it's efficacy because it's just a reasonably harmless light-emitting device. If it really used red laser diodes then they're likely less than 5mw, maybe even less than 1mw.

geepondy · Feb 18, 2007

In my work I deal with medical products that have to be FDA approved. I think it basically just means that the device is safe, it won't hurt you.

drizzle · Feb 18, 2007

geepondy,
The basics I know about FDA approval are that to get it a product has to be "safe and effective". What I don't know is if this FDA clearance they are talking about is the same thing.

Led_Blind · Feb 19, 2007

Its a load of s%#t.

There are only 2 medically proven methods for treatment of hair loss. Both are a medicine, one is applied to the scalp the other is taken in pill form.

What are they?
- Minoxidil as a topical lotion, Finasteride as a pill.

I do have some thinning and after researching my options I went to one of those hair re-growth specialists for a laugh. First up, they use the poor blokes hair loss insecurity to sell a whole range of products like shampoos, special combs, scalp massages, electro treatments and finally their own special mix of Minoxidil and Finasteride.

In the end this fantastic insecurity driven industry takes the poor man for a $9,000 12 month ride. Instead, research Minoxidil and Finasteride and find out what they are marketed as in your area. Price and purchase. You should be up for no more than $500AUD per year for both treatments combined.

One last thing, I used Minoxidil and it works! The disclaimer is it works for thinning heads, not bald. If you have lost a lot of your hair then the Finasteride pill is your baby with Minoxidil to help

chesterqw · Feb 19, 2007

i am gonna wait for someone to overdrive the laser and give us a beam shot

COMMANDR · Feb 19, 2007

Sounds like optical snake oil to me. You know what they say about a fool and his money. Way to much money for what it is. ($600 - 900) OMG

Gary

RadarGreg · Feb 19, 2007

This is a product just begging to be bought and modded! Imagine a modded laser comb; in two weeks, you would look like a Wookie!:laughing:

Sigman · Feb 19, 2007

RadarGreg said:
This is a product just begging to be bought and modded! Imagine a modded laser comb; in two weeks, you would look like a Wookie!:laughing:

...or Jim Carrey's "Fire Marshall Bill"!!

karlthev · Feb 19, 2007

Hmmmm....$545??? I can get a nice light for that.....

Karl

Eric_M · Feb 19, 2007

I built one for around $35 a year ago.

cobb · Feb 19, 2007

I heard an interview by a star on a radio show a few years ago who was going blad, then suddenly started growing hair. Seems he had a lot of stuff glued to his face and head for the character he played and the scrubbing of his bald head to remove the stickie stuff made his hair grow back.

I think I may buy some of that hair stuff and start combing it 15 minutes a day and see what happens.

V8TOYTRUCK · Feb 19, 2007

Led_Blind said:
Its a load of s%#t.

There are only 2 medically proven methods for treatment of hair loss. Both are a medicine, one is applied to the scalp the other is taken in pill form.

What are they?
- Minoxidil as a topical lotion, Finasteride as a pill.

I do have some thinning and after researching my options I went to one of those hair re-growth specialists for a laugh. First up, they use the poor blokes hair loss insecurity to sell a whole range of products like shampoos, special combs, scalp massages, electro treatments and finally their own special mix of Minoxidil and Finasteride.

In the end this fantastic insecurity driven industry takes the poor man for a $9,000 12 month ride. Instead, research Minoxidil and Finasteride and find out what they are marketed as in your area. Price and purchase. You should be up for no more than $500AUD per year for both treatments combined.

One last thing, I used Minoxidil and it works! The disclaimer is it works for thinning heads, not bald. If you have lost a lot of your hair then the Finasteride pill is your baby with Minoxidil to help

Ive been noticing some thinning all around too and from my research only Minox and Finasteride are the only two that are likely to work. Also when using these products you have to have patience as its gonna take a while!

From what I've read if you can get Proscar which is 5mg of Finasteride vs Propecia 1mg you can cut the pills into 4 or 5 sections and save a little bit of money. Propecia is about 2 bucks a day at Costco, I plan on giving it a shot for a good year.

For Minox try the new Rogaine Foam, its about 45 bucks for 4 months so its worth a shot. It goes on quick, the smell is pleasant, much better than the old stuff from what I hear

Browse some of the hairloss forums, you cannot believe the amount of stuff people try to grow their hair back.

Hairmax Laser comb for restoring hair, is this for real?

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