Infrared Hair Growth Cap - 180 LEDs

The cap asks very little of you: connect it, put it on, choose a setting and let the timer run out.

1. Connect the cap to the inline controller and its cable.
2. Put the cap on and adjust the strap until it sits flat against the head. It fits a circumference of roughly 56-63 cm (22.05-24.80 inches).
3. Choose one of the five light modes and one of the five brightness levels on the controller.
4. Set the timer to 5, 10, 15, 25 or 30 minutes and carry on with whatever you were doing. The cap switches itself off at the end.

How often to use it is set out in the instructions in the gift box, and we would rather point you at the manufacturer's routine than invent a schedule of our own. The timer settings exist so that a session ends on its own; running it for longer than the setting you chose is not something we would encourage.

Two practical notes:

• Because it is hands-free, pair the session with something you were going to do anyway. That is the only reliable way to be consistent with a device like this.
• If you already use minoxidil, keep using it. This cap is not a replacement for it and is not meant to be one.

If you are photosensitive, taking photosensitising medication, or being treated for a scalp condition, speak to a doctor before your first session. For external use on the head only. Do not look directly into the LEDs. Keep the cap and its cable out of reach of children.

There is no ingredient list here, because there is nothing to absorb. This is a device rather than a formula: nothing is applied to the scalp, nothing is left behind, and there is no INCI panel to read.

What it does emit: light at three wavelengths, 660 nm in the visible red range plus 850 nm and 940 nm in the infrared range, from 180 LED beads set into the lining. Output is adjusted with five light modes and five brightness levels on the inline controller, and each session is bounded by the auto timer.

Care and safety take the place of an ingredient list on a product like this. Keep the cap and its cable together in the box it came in, and read the instructions before the first session. If you are photosensitive, take photosensitising medication, or are being treated for a scalp condition, ask a doctor before you use it, and never look directly into the LEDs.

Will this cap regrow my hair?

We are not going to tell you a light cap will regrow your hair. There is published research on red light and hair, and there is also a lot of marketing; if you want a licensed over-the-counter treatment for hereditary hair loss, that is minoxidil, not this. What you are buying is a consumer wellness device: 180 LEDs, five modes and a timer.

Can I use it alongside minoxidil?

Nothing about the cap asks you to stop anything you already do, and it is not a substitute for minoxidil. We make no claim that the two used together do more than the minoxidil on its own.

How long is a session, and do I have to time it myself?

No. The auto timer has 5, 10, 15, 25 and 30 minute settings and the cap switches itself off at the end. The routine the manufacturer suggests comes in the box with the controller and cable.

Will it fit my head?

It has an adjustable strap and fits a head circumference of roughly 56-63 cm (22.05-24.80 inches). It is unisex. If your measurement falls outside that range it will not sit properly against the head, and we would rather you did not buy it.

Is there anyone who should not use it?

Yes. If you are photosensitive, take photosensitising medication, or are being treated for a scalp condition, ask a doctor before using it. Nobody should look directly into the LEDs, and that applies to anyone else in the room as well.

I have the budget for one thing. Should it be this?

Probably not. If you are early in hereditary hair loss, put the money into the minoxidil lotion first, since that is the licensed treatment and this is not. Buy the cap once the basics are covered and you want a hands-free device to add, not as your first move.

• Product Type: LED scalp device, cap format
• Light Sources: 180 LED beads, 660 nm red plus 850 nm and 940 nm infrared
• Settings: 5 light modes, 5 brightness levels, inline controller
• Timer: Auto shut-off at 5, 10, 15, 25 or 30 minutes
• Fit and Contents: Adjustable strap, roughly 56-63 cm, unisex; gift box with controller and cable