iRestore Review – Do Laser Caps Work Better Than Minoxidil or Finasteride?

Hair loss can be traumatic, especially in cases where thinning happens suddenly, such as with cancer-related hair loss. While there are many options to treat Alopecia – the most common kind of hair loss that typically comes along gradually with age – there are far fewer hair products that work for other kinds of hair loss.

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a leading option for such patients, and to determine if it’s right for you, we have explored the most popular laser caps on the market to understand which is worth investing in.

In this article, we’ll explore one leading brand in particular, iRestore, to see how well their laser caps work for hair regrowth, how much they cost, and which model is the most promising.

After many hours of research, we were impressed with the iRestore Pro – one of the most powerful laser cap devices on the market. There’s a lot more to the story than just that, but cutting to the chase, in our humble opinion, we believe that it’s the very best laser hair cap on the market for the money. This Redditor seems to agree.

As an FDA-approved device for hair loss that’s been scientifically proven to promote regrowth, the only question in our minds is – how can iRestore LLLT technology work in conjunction with other popular hair treatments like Finasteride and Minoxidil? Let’s discuss.

But first, here’s a quick summary of what makes the iRestore Pro unique:

How does iRestore Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) work?

LLLT exposes live scalp tissues to low red light levels. The term “low-level” is used because the light in LLLT has low energy densities compared to other laser therapies used for surgery, cutting, and thermally heating tissue.

What these wavelengths do when used is increase cell energy and ATP production. The light energy stimulates mitochondria (which is the powerhouse of the cell) and increases the energy of the cell to improve metabolism.

Source: iRestore

LLLT also increases blood flow, dispersing more blood to the scalp and hair follicles to combat constriction and create a more vigorous defense against root causes of hair thinning. Finally, LLLT also works to reduce inflammation, promoting a healthier scalp environment by weakening hair growth attackers (such as DHT, a byproduct of testosterone).

Androgenetic Alopecia (AA) is primarily caused by genetic predisposition. However, it also has to do with androgens like DHT in the skin. When testosterone converts into DHT in the scalp, hair follicles go into a resting state that increases hair shedding over time. DHT production also promotes hair follicle miniaturization, so when new follicles grow, they will be smaller follicles that do not support hair growth. Thus, LLLT works effectively to counteract the unfortunate effects of DHT.

What does it feel like to wear the iRestore Pro laser cap? 

When you purchase the iRestore Pro, you will receive a futuristic red and white helmet. It looks a bit like something astronauts wear to launch into space, but that’s because the helmet is specifically designed to reach more areas of thinning, such as the temples – something most alternative LLLT cap models miss.

It is a fully hands-free device, so you can carry on with your daily routine while you wear it. The suggested frequency is three times a week for 25 minutes at a time for best results.

Source: iRestore

The vast majority of users report feeling no sensation whatsoever while wearing their laser cap, even towards the end of each session. One of the best features of LLLT devices in general, including the iRestore Pro, is just how painless and easy to use they are.

Unlike Minoxidil and Finasteride – the most common treatments for Alopecia in both men and women – iRestore laser caps don’t require an everyday application. Just 3 times per week is all, and you can expect results in just a few months. Speaking of results…

LLLT vs Finasteride and Minoxidil: Does iRestore work as well for alopecia?

Generally speaking, LLLT technology works just as well for Alopecia as other, more popular topical and oral treatments. In one study on female pattern hair loss, LLLT performed just as well as Minoxidil for treating hair loss. At the same time, another study demonstrated that LLLT was effective in treating alopecia. And exactly how much hair regrowth are we talking about here?

Finasteride produced a more than 15% increase in hair count while LLLT produced a 35%, while iRestore claims a 43.2% increase. LLLT also offers the best scalp coverage of any treatment. Since Finasteride and Minoxidil have spotty results, combining all three hair treatments will likely yield the best results.

Can you combine LLLT with Minoxidil and Finasteride? 

Depending on the cause of thinning, it can be advantageous to approach hair loss from multiple angles. LLLT can effectively complement pharmaceutical or topical treatments like Finasteride and Minoxidil. Thus, you need not choose between either laser caps or chemical-based treatments, but people often do due to budget constraints.

While many of us don’t have infinite funds to combat hair loss, if you can afford it, it’s both safe and doctor recommended to combine LLLT, Finasteride, and Minoxidil to attack thinning from all angles and increase your odds of the best possible results.

Why choose iRestore’s laser therapy over Finasteride and Minoxidil?

1. Type of hair loss: Finasteride or Minoxidil only helps with male and female pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia), which is the most common type of hair loss in men. LLLT treats pattern baldness but also works its magic in cases of thinning at the temples, excess DHT, a stressful or contaminated environment, or chemotherapy. In addition, unlike some prescription hair loss drugs, laser caps are safe for both men and women.

2. Non-invasive: Laser cap therapy encourages new hair development by simply supporting and amplifying what your body does on its own: healing and rejuvenating itself at all times and shedding old cells to create a way for healthier new ones. As a result, laser caps can be used in conjunction with most other hair growth treatments. Finasteride, on the other hand, can interact (negatively) with other medications and supplements such as rifampin and carbamazepine.

3. Long-term effectiveness: With laser treatment, while you do have to continue use in order to keep your hair, you can drop to a maintenance schedule of once or twice a week after you get to a point where you’re satisfied with your regrowth. Finasteride or Minoxidil, on the other hand, require you to continue the same amount of medication for as long as you want to keep any new hair growth. This saves you money in the long run with 1 purchase rather than continued monthly prescription purchases for the rest of your life.

4. Fewer harmful side effects: Finasteride side effects are frequently related to sexual function, and weight gain and disorientation may accompany decreased sexual ability/desire. LLLT, on the other hand, does not have the same negative side effects as Finasteride and does not interact with other medications.

5. Cost-effective in the long run: You can pay over time with a monthly financing plan with laser caps. And, if you don’t see results in six months, you can get your money back. You can also save a lot of money on Finasteride and Minoxidil treatments, which you can’t ever stop prescriptions for as long as you want to keep your hair.