{"id":605043949874,"title":"iRestore Review: Are Hair Regrowth Helmets a Scam?","created_at":"2023-03-10T17:32:20-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"iRestore Review: Are Hair Regrowth Helmets a Scam?\",\n \"keywords\": \"irestore, irestore review, irestore reviews, irestore before and after, irestore professional, irestore laser, irestore laser hair growth system, irestore hair growth, irestore helmet, does irestore work\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews medical studies on red light therapy for hair loss to give our take on whether it's a scam or if it's likely to be effective. we feature real, unsponsored iRestore user reviews and explain which retailer sells iRestore for the cheapest price.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/irestore-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Brian Moore\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.D.\",\n \"F.A.A.D\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/brian-moore\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/brian-moore-md-faad-2b1b77a2\/\",\n \"https:\/\/www.apexskin.com\/our-team\/dr-brian-moore-md\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Dermatology Advisor\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"dermatology, skincare, pigmented lesions, anti-aging, medical research, clinical trials, sunscreen, moisturizer, wrinkles, makeup, shampoo, soap\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"Columbia University\",\n \"University of Toledo\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/iRestore_Thumbnail.png?v=1678487742\",\n\"width\": \"3362\",\n\"height\": \"3362\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24078483\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/capillus-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6737896\/\",\n\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007%2Fs10103-015-1818-2\",\n\"https:\/\/www.irestorelaser.com\/products\/laser-hair-growth-system-essential?variant=12185784065\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22517595\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"red light therapy\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Capillus\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"wavelength\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"power\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Dr Dray\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Dr. Tommy Martin\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-03-10\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/iRestore_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1678487396\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003ei\u003c\/span\u003eRestore is a hair growth system that uses red light lasers on the inside of a helmet to stimulate hair regrowth. The brand claims that their system is “clinically proven” and is “the most trusted laser device brand.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut is red light therapy actually proven in medical studies to cause hair regrowth or are these just marketing claims? Has the iRestore device specifically been tested? Are there any risks or side effects associated with this type of therapy? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of iRestore?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review medical research on red light therapy to give our take on whether it’s likely to be effective or if it’s a waste of money. We’ll also explain whether the iRestore device is proven to work.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll overview potential side effects of this type of therapy and feature real, unsponsored iRestore customer reviews.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCan Red Lights Regrow Hair?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eRed light therapy, which uses red wavelengths of light for health and cosmetic benefits, has actually been studied in clinical trials.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA 2013 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24078483\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e tested the effects of red light therapy on men with pattern baldness. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe treatment “significantly improved” hair counts by 61% after 16 weeks of treatment.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eRed light therapy has also been clinically shown to be effective for women. As we documented in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/capillus-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCapillus reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e article on another red light therapy device, a follow-up trial to the previously cited trial found similar results. Women experienced significant hair count increases.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6737896\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eClinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eanalyzed data on red light therapy for hair loss and suggested it may be more effective for women than men\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, because women have less of a hormone called DHT which has inflammatory effects on hair follicles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall we consider red light therapy to be potentially effective for hair regrowth. The studies are early-stage, but are promising. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut just because red light therapy is clinically shown to be effective, it doesn’t necessarily follow that the iRestore device will work. Is the iRestore specifically proven to work? We’ll analyze in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs the iRestore Clinically Proven to Work?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhether or not any specific red light therapy device is likely to work depends on a few factors: if it’s been studied and proven to work in clinical research, if it uses an appropriate red light wavelength and if it uses an appropriate power value.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe can’t find any evidence that iRestore has been clinically proven to work. We can’t even find any clinical studies on the device. This makes their “clinically proven” claim on the brand’s homepage questionable in our opinion. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eJust because the underlying technology is clinically shown to work, that does not necessarily mean that iRestore will work.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe good news is that the iRestore device uses a red light wavelength that appears effective. The wavelength on iRestore helmets is 650 nanometers (nm). The effective wavelength range based on the clinical trials cited in the previous section appears to be around 620 nm to 700 nm, so iRestore falls right within this range.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe total power output of iRestore Professional is 1,410 megawatts (mW) and the device has 282 lasers, which equals a power level of 5 mW per laser.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007%2Fs10103-015-1818-2\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eLasers in Medical Science\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal on red light for hair loss concluded that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e“low-level light...at low powers of 5 mW, can enhance hair growth.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBased on the technical specs of iRestore, we consider the device likely to be effective for hair regrowth. We can’t find any studies on the device specifically that are published in medical journals, but it does appear to be well-constructed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how do real users rate the effects of iRestore? We’ll review in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored iRestore User Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA popular health and beauty influencer and dermatologist named Dr Dray shared her experience after using iRestore for 18 months:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4mk1xlFmHkw\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named Dr. Tommy Martin reviewed iRestore after three months of use and included before and after images:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9nlRZKj9brw\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere to Buy iRestore for the Best Price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eiRestore is sold on the brand’s official website and on Amazon. Here are the prices at the time of publishing this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eiRestore Essential\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: $695 (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.irestorelaser.com\/products\/laser-hair-growth-system-essential?variant=12185784065\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: $695 (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/422MM9W\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eiRestore Professional\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: $1,195 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.irestorelaser.com\/products\/laser-hair-growth-system-professional\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$965\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ywZWyC\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eiRestore Professional is currently 19% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website, and there's currently a coupon for an additional $100 off.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Customers Review iRestore\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. iRestore Essential has been reviewed over 3,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “SS” who claims that after 3.5 months of use it caused hair growth:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Update after 3 1\/2 months: It's working! I got my hair cut. My hair stylist noticed immediately that I had more hair. I've been using the helmet for 3 1\/2 months, and I didn't tell her until after she noticed the difference.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e ‘Amazing’, she said. She found new hairs just over an inch long.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Joy” who found in the device’s manual that it’s not necessarily as effective for people with darker skin tones:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“I was shocked and amazed. This product is only clinically approved for certain skin types. It has nothing to do with your hair. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eAccording to their manual, which you cannot see unless you actually purchase the product, if you have a skin type that doesn't burn in the sun, that gets darker in the sun, e.g. brown or black skin (their words not mine) then this product has not been clinically approved for you.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOur Clean Hair Growth Picks\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Shampoo_Image_68b2ec20-12b3-4908-b591-f0327ee2cc2f.png?v=1691007150\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/track.revoffers.com\/aff_c?offer_id=267\u0026amp;aff_id=7240\u0026amp;url_id=4432\"\u003eHappy Head Topical\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis our top hair growth solution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis formulation uses FDA-approved hair loss ingredients like minoxidil which is\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12196747\/\"\u003eclinically shown\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto increase hair count by 11%.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe brand also publishes the percentage concentration of each active ingredient, which is a sign of quality and transparency.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Happy Head Topical Finasteride \u0026amp; Minoxidil\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/track.revoffers.com\/aff_c?offer_id=267\u0026amp;aff_id=7240\u0026amp;url_id=4432\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the product page on the brand's official website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nutrafol.pxf.io\/JzVKd2\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eNutrafol Hair Serum\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis our top over-the-counter (OTC) hair growth and hair quality promoter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis product contains\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eLactobacillus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eprobiotics\u003c\/strong\u003e which were shown to promote hair growth in a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9738319\/\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epublished in the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eMolecules\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ejournal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNiacinamide\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis included, and a 2021\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8536842\/\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003econcluded that\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eOur data demonstrate that niacinamide could enhance hair growth.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Nutrafol Hair Serum\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nutrafol.pxf.io\/JzVKd2\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the product page on the brand's official website. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros and Cons of iRestore\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere are the pros and cons of iRestore as a brand in our opinion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003ePros:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBacked by good technology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eLikely to work\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUnlikely to cause side effects\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMost online customer reviews are positive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eExpensive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCan’t find clinical studies on iRestore specifically\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eNot as effective on darker skin tones\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe potential benefits of red light therapy for hair loss are promising. This type of therapy may allow consumers to regrow hair without the hormonal side effects of traditional pharmaceutical hair loss therapy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe consider iRestore likely to be effective for hair regrowth because it’s built with technical specs that mirror that of devices proven effective in clinical research. Specifically, iRestore uses lasers with a wavelength of 650 nm and 5 mW power, and both specs are within the effective range.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe can’t find any clinical studies proven that the iRestore device specifically works, but we also haven’t found any studies proving any other specific commercial red light therapy device for hair to be effective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAt the time of publishing this article, iRestore Professional is significantly cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-03-10T17:39:21-05:00","updated_at":"2023-09-30T13:16:23-04:00","summary_html":"We review medical studies on red light therapy for hair loss to give our take on whether it's a scam or if it's likely to be effective. we feature real, unsponsored iRestore user reviews and explain which retailer sells iRestore for the cheapest price.","template_suffix":"","handle":"irestore-review","tags":"_related:hair-growth"}

iRestore Review: Are Hair Regrowth Helmets a Scam?

iRestore Review: Are Hair Regrowth Helmets a Scam?


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iRestore is a hair growth system that uses red light lasers on the inside of a helmet to stimulate hair regrowth. The brand claims that their system is “clinically proven” and is “the most trusted laser device brand.”

But is red light therapy actually proven in medical studies to cause hair regrowth or are these just marketing claims? Has the iRestore device specifically been tested? Are there any risks or side effects associated with this type of therapy? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of iRestore?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review medical research on red light therapy to give our take on whether it’s likely to be effective or if it’s a waste of money. We’ll also explain whether the iRestore device is proven to work.

We’ll overview potential side effects of this type of therapy and feature real, unsponsored iRestore customer reviews.

Can Red Lights Regrow Hair?

Red light therapy, which uses red wavelengths of light for health and cosmetic benefits, has actually been studied in clinical trials.

A 2013 clinical trial tested the effects of red light therapy on men with pattern baldness. The treatment “significantly improved” hair counts by 61% after 16 weeks of treatment.

Red light therapy has also been clinically shown to be effective for women. As we documented in our Capillus reviews article on another red light therapy device, a follow-up trial to the previously cited trial found similar results. Women experienced significant hair count increases.

A medical review published in the Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology journal analyzed data on red light therapy for hair loss and suggested it may be more effective for women than men, because women have less of a hormone called DHT which has inflammatory effects on hair follicles.

Overall we consider red light therapy to be potentially effective for hair regrowth. The studies are early-stage, but are promising. 

But just because red light therapy is clinically shown to be effective, it doesn’t necessarily follow that the iRestore device will work. Is the iRestore specifically proven to work? We’ll analyze in the next section.

Is the iRestore Clinically Proven to Work?

Whether or not any specific red light therapy device is likely to work depends on a few factors: if it’s been studied and proven to work in clinical research, if it uses an appropriate red light wavelength and if it uses an appropriate power value.

We can’t find any evidence that iRestore has been clinically proven to work. We can’t even find any clinical studies on the device. This makes their “clinically proven” claim on the brand’s homepage questionable in our opinion. Just because the underlying technology is clinically shown to work, that does not necessarily mean that iRestore will work.

The good news is that the iRestore device uses a red light wavelength that appears effective. The wavelength on iRestore helmets is 650 nanometers (nm). The effective wavelength range based on the clinical trials cited in the previous section appears to be around 620 nm to 700 nm, so iRestore falls right within this range.

The total power output of iRestore Professional is 1,410 megawatts (mW) and the device has 282 lasers, which equals a power level of 5 mW per laser.

A medical review published in the Lasers in Medical Science journal on red light for hair loss concluded that “low-level light...at low powers of 5 mW, can enhance hair growth.”

Based on the technical specs of iRestore, we consider the device likely to be effective for hair regrowth. We can’t find any studies on the device specifically that are published in medical journals, but it does appear to be well-constructed.

But how do real users rate the effects of iRestore? We’ll review in the next section.

Real, Unsponsored iRestore User Reviews

A popular health and beauty influencer and dermatologist named Dr Dray shared her experience after using iRestore for 18 months:

A YouTube creator named Dr. Tommy Martin reviewed iRestore after three months of use and included before and after images:

Where to Buy iRestore for the Best Price

iRestore is sold on the brand’s official website and on Amazon. Here are the prices at the time of publishing this article:

iRestore Essential

Brand website: $695 (link)

Amazon: $695 (link to official Amazon listing)

iRestore Professional

Brand website: $1,195 (link)

Amazon: $965 (link to official Amazon listing)

iRestore Professional is currently 19% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website, and there's currently a coupon for an additional $100 off.

Real Customers Review iRestore

Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. iRestore Essential has been reviewed over 3,000 times on Amazon with an average review rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “SS” who claims that after 3.5 months of use it caused hair growth:

“Update after 3 1/2 months: It's working! I got my hair cut. My hair stylist noticed immediately that I had more hair. I've been using the helmet for 3 1/2 months, and I didn't tell her until after she noticed the difference. ‘Amazing’, she said. She found new hairs just over an inch long.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Joy” who found in the device’s manual that it’s not necessarily as effective for people with darker skin tones:

“I was shocked and amazed. This product is only clinically approved for certain skin types. It has nothing to do with your hair. According to their manual, which you cannot see unless you actually purchase the product, if you have a skin type that doesn't burn in the sun, that gets darker in the sun, e.g. brown or black skin (their words not mine) then this product has not been clinically approved for you.”

Our Clean Hair Growth Picks

Happy Head Topical is our top hair growth solution.

This formulation uses FDA-approved hair loss ingredients like minoxidil which is clinically shown to increase hair count by 11%.

The brand also publishes the percentage concentration of each active ingredient, which is a sign of quality and transparency.

Interested consumers can check out Happy Head Topical Finasteride & Minoxidil at this link to the product page on the brand's official website.

Nutrafol Hair Serum is our top over-the-counter (OTC) hair growth and hair quality promoter.

This product contains Lactobacillus probiotics which were shown to promote hair growth in a medical review published in the Molecules journal.

Niacinamide is included, and a 2021 clinical trial concluded that "Our data demonstrate that niacinamide could enhance hair growth."

Interested consumers can check out Nutrafol Hair Serum at this link to the product page on the brand's official website. 

Pros and Cons of iRestore

Here are the pros and cons of iRestore as a brand in our opinion:

Pros:

  • Backed by good technology
  • Likely to work
  • Unlikely to cause side effects
  • Most online customer reviews are positive

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Can’t find clinical studies on iRestore specifically
  • Not as effective on darker skin tones
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Conclusion

The potential benefits of red light therapy for hair loss are promising. This type of therapy may allow consumers to regrow hair without the hormonal side effects of traditional pharmaceutical hair loss therapy.

We consider iRestore likely to be effective for hair regrowth because it’s built with technical specs that mirror that of devices proven effective in clinical research. Specifically, iRestore uses lasers with a wavelength of 650 nm and 5 mW power, and both specs are within the effective range.

We can’t find any clinical studies proven that the iRestore device specifically works, but we also haven’t found any studies proving any other specific commercial red light therapy device for hair to be effective.

At the time of publishing this article, iRestore Professional is significantly cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website.




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