Laser Combs: How They Work

Laser hair combs work by delivering a cold-beam, low-laser light directly to your scalp, with the purported benefit of combating baldness and thinning hair. Laser comb manufacturers claim that the device stimulates hair growth by increasing blood circulation and the amount of oxygen that reaches your skin and hair bulbs. Laser combs have strong consumer appeal, due to their ease of use and low cost compared to ongoing hair loss treatments. However, medical professionals specializing in hair loss treatment doubt you'll get the results you expect.

First Things First

Only one laser comb brand has received clearance from the FDA as a medical device: the HairMax LaserComb. This device is approved for use only in men with androgenetic alopecia--hereditary balding, also called male pattern balding. Additionally, the device is approved only for men with Norwood Hamilton Classifications of IIa to V and Fitzpatrick Skin Types I to IV. Norwood Hamilton Classification refers to the pattern of balding, coupled with severity. If you have a Norwood Hamilton Classification between IIa and V, you likely have a receding hairline with or without a "monks tonsure"--common patterns of balding that go along with aging, says the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. Fitzpatrick Skin Type classification refers to the color of your skin. The HairMax LaserComb is cleared for use in men whose skin color ranges from pale white to light brown.

What Laser Combs Do

According to the manufacturer, the HairMax LaserComb operates in two ways, first by increasing blood flow and cellular metabolism. Due to the increased blood flow, nutrients are restored to ailing follicles, and dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, a converted form of testosterone that causes male pattern balding, is removed from the scalp. By providing an optimal environment for hair to grow, additional hair loss is prevented and hair regrowth occurs. The HairMax LaserComb purportedly produces more vibrant hair color and can increase hair regrowth by as much as 20 percent within 12 weeks.

Using a Laser Comb

Three weekly treatments that last between 10 and 15 minutes are all that's recommended by the manufacturer of the HairMax LaserComb. First, apply the comb to your scalp at the hairline. After four seconds, the device will beep. Move the comb 1/2 inch toward the crown of your head. Hold it there for another four seconds. Continue to use the laser comb in this manner until you treat all of the head. According to the manufacturer, you need to make more than one pass through the hair when using the comb.

Expert Opinion

Alan S. Feller, M.D., a member of the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons who comes recommended by the American Hair Loss Association, or AHLA, says the lasers in laser combs are similar to those used in grocery store scanners and key chains--and just as effective. A vocal critic of the FDA's decision to approve the HairMax LaserComb, Feller points out that laser therapy promoters are heavily financed and even more heavily marketed, relying on the media to promote its products and services. The AHLA states that laser combs are "questionable" in terms of efficacy and does not advise that you rely on this method of treatment to prevent or treat balding and thinning hair.

FDA Action

The HairMax LaserComb, which sold for around $500 in August 2010, has its share of less-expensive competitors that claim to operate in a similar manner. These devices are not approved by the FDA. Additionally, in May 2008, the FDA issued a warning letter to Lexington International LLC, which manufactures the HairMax LaserComb® Premium and SE models, for misbranding the combs as medical devices, as the company did not have an approved application for premarket approval.