It is similar to what red light is face masks work. These masks are usually worn for about 10 minutes and always have a light wavelength level in the 600-nm range (usually 630 to 660), like the HigherDose hat, but you can also find masks with a higher level of infrared-light that promises healing and reducing inflammation. The cap delivers only the primary red-light level of therapy and has 120 medical-grade LED bulbs arranged in a semicircle for easy wear on your head.

Technology is FDA-clearedwhich means that the FDA has determined that this device is equivalent to an existing legally marketed device. HigherDose specifically says the cap uses “FDA-cleared technology known to stimulate hair growth and improve skin health,” but that’s not the same as FDA-approved, which is subject to more rigorous testing. FDA-cleared is the only status we’ve actually seen on red-light devices, though, and it’s the same status you’ll see on our Red light mask recommendations.

Photo: Nena Farrell

It’s funny that the HigherDose hat looks like an actual hat. There are other devices that we try to directly look at a Star Wars X-Wingbut I can easily wear the HigherDose hat in public and get no looks or questions. You can barely tell it’s lit while I’m wearing it; the only giveaway is the small battery pack on the back of the hat. You can also remove the battery pack easily if you want to wear the hat without tip-off that it’s a gadget. There is an adjustment strap on the back and even a cutout that I can put in a ponytail while the battery pack is attached. This is a legitimate baseball cap that hides 120 light bulbs inside.

Using this hat also reminds me of using an infrared brush. Infrared brushes lock in moisture, so the few days I wear this hat, my hair feels a little oily afterwards (mostly because I procrastinate on wash day). I always try to put this cap on before showering, because it locks in more moisture, and my hair leans towards the oily part of the roots. However, depending on your hair texture and oil level, it may not come off.

Growth Chart

Photo: Nena Farrell

I took a quick, rough photo of my first week of using the HigherDose cap. You can see a scraggly regrowth section on my part line, along with a healing scab that is an obvious irritation spot that points to my urge to pull. That photo is from September. Compared to the photos I took in January, you can easily see a difference. Thicker roots, smaller patches, and a messy short patch grew nicely during my weeks wearing the hat. My scalp looks better, and the overall texture of my hair looks smoother.