WIRED Reviewer Reports Significant Hair Regrowth Using GroWell LED Cap
A reviewer with 15 years of baldness used the $550 GroWell device to restore hair density, citing clinical protocols that limit treatment frequency to avoid follicle oversaturation.
A reviewer for WIRED has reported regrowing hair after 15 years of baldness following an eight-week trial of the GroWell LED cap. The individual, who shaved his head in the spring of 2011 at age 30 due to thinning hair, estimates a 30 percent increase in hair density compared to what he would have retained without treatment. The results suggest a return to hair volume comparable to when he was 25 years old, with the reviewer noting that improvements may continue for up to six months.
The GroWell device is priced at $550 and sits in the mid-range of a market that spans from inexpensive, unverified products to high-end units costing up to $2,500, such as the Capillus Spectrum. The device is FDA-cleared and utilises 63 diodes, comprising 24 lasers and 39 LEDs. Unlike full helmet-style caps, GroWell employs an insert attached to a control unit powered by a 1,800 mAh Li-ion battery, a design intended to facilitate portability and consistent usage during travel.
Usage protocols for the device require 25-minute treatments every other day. GroWell advises this frequency to allow the scalp to rest and process cellular stimulation, limiting wattage to avoid oversaturating follicles past the optimal 3 to 4 Joules. The manufacturer cites a 2013 study indicating that more powerful lasers or more frequent use may stunt growth, whereas their every-other-day regimen over 16 weeks resulted in an average 35 percent regrowth for men and 37 percent for women.
The reviewer noted a significant social reaction after six weeks of use, with an acquaintance stating she did not know he had hair. The therapy works by using specific red light wavelengths to stimulate dormant follicles through increased blood flow. However, the source material clarifies that the treatment is unlikely to be effective for individuals with completely smooth scalps, as it requires dormant follicles to be present.
Results are not permanent; the source notes that stopping use causes follicles to return to their previous state. While women are currently the dominant consumer group for LED hair regrowth therapy, often viewing thinning hair as a crisis, men frequently opt to shave their heads. The reviewer plans to continue using the device to maximise density before considering a haircut for the first time since 2011.
