Do Capillus laser caps really work? This is the big question that needs to be answered before you spend $1k or more on some hat that is supposed to re-grow your hair.
Or... are these caps a scam gimmick like the Regrow Hair Protocol? After all, there have been some complaints online claiming such.
Hair loss is a big problem. A 2014 survey by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery found that, in the US, about 1 out of every 5 Americans suffers from hair loss under the age of 30... and of course this statistic largely increases with age.
Capillus is trying to tackle this problem with their laser caps, which offer a very easy and discrete solution... that they claim works.
In this review I'll be going over the features of these laser caps, how they supposedly work, the science behind them, user reviews/complaints and more.
Let's begin...
Overview
- Product: Capillus Laser Caps
- Type: Laser hair re-growth caps
- Manufacturer: Capillus (capillus.com)
- Price: $999 - $2,999
- Refunds Offered?: Yes
What Are Capillus Laser Caps?
Capillus laser caps are exactly what they sound like... they are caps with lasers on the underside for the purpose of hair re-growth, and are said to be able to reverse the process of hair-loss, treat thinning hair and balding, revitalize damaged hair, and nurture fuller and healthier hair.
While the science behind hair re-growth by lasers is lacking to some extent, some people claim to have seen great results with laser treatment such as that offered by these Capillus caps.
The time-frame for results you can expect according to the company is listed as such...
- 0-3 months = no visible difference
- 3-6 months = decrease in hair loss & initial results
- 12 months = visible results & fuller appearance
- 24 months = fuller, healthier hair & continued maintenance
... so it can take a while, but if you only have to put a cap on your head for 6 minutes a day then that certainly doesn't seem too bad.
But... this is IF they actually work.
Are the laser caps offered by Capillus really the solution? After all, we all know that you can't always trust promotional material 100%.
As you'll see in this review, they are far from a sure-fire solution to hair re-growth... as I was expecting. ALTHOUGH THEY MAY WORK FOR SOME!
The Company Behind Them
Capillus is a Florida-based company that was founded in 2012. It received FDA clearance in 2015 and has been manufacturing its laser devices ever since.
The company has a good reputation and makes sure to put out top-quality products. They are even certified through Intertek's MDSAP program that ensures they follow the requirements of medical device regulations in Canada, which seems to be rare for companies of this size.
It's also nice to see that they stand behind their devices, offering warranties and refunds (which I'll go over more later).
Product Features
- Laser Diodes - These are, of course, the main feature of the caps. They are on the underside of the cap, embedded in the material, and emit a certain wavelength of light towards your scalp to stimulate hair follicles. The count and coverage of the diodes differs depending what model you purchase, which I'll go over.
- Silicone Liner - The inside has a soft silicone liner in which the lasers are embedded. This flexible design allows for a good fit (or at least a decent fit) for most head shapes/sizes. Below is picture demonstrating the flexibility of these caps...
[Source: capillus.com]
- Auto-Programming - The daily 6-minute sessions are programmed, so you only need to put on the cap and turn it on. No need to watch the clock.
- Eye-Safety Sensors - We all know that lasers can be harmful to the eyes, which is why Capillus includes sensors to safeguard from this potential problem. Lasers are disabled until the cap is placed on the head.
- Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery - Could you imagine using a device like this daily if it relied on disposable batteries? That would be horrible, which is why Capillus caps feature lithium ion rechargeable batteries, that are said by customers to have really good battery-life.
How They Work
As we know, the lasers are on the underside of the cap, embedded in the material and facing inwards, which will be directed towards one's scalp.
The wavelength used here is that of 650 nm, which is a visible red light band.
Why this wavelength? Well, there still needs to be more research on what is actually optimal, but the reason Capillus uses this wavelength is because it penetrates the hair follicle more and is able to stimulate the root.
Below you can see an illustration of an LED light (left) vs the 650nm red light (right) that Capillus devices use...
[Source: capillus.com]
The LED doesn't penetrate much, whereas the 650 nm laser light is able to penetrate 5mm and stimulate the root of the hair follicle.
There are many causes of hair loss, but many of the common causes, such as pattern baldness, are the result of degradation of the hair follicle.
This form of laser treatment, allegedly, improves cellular respiration within the follicle, which increases oxygen and nutrient delivery and promotes healthy growth.
Different Models & Prices
On their website they currently list 3 different models ranging in price from $999 to $2,999.
What's the difference? Let's take a look.
Capillus Ultra - $999
This is their lowest cost model and is probably the most purchased because of this.
It features 82 laser diodes and has a 410 mW output.
Capillus Plus - $1,999
This model costs $1,000 more and features 202 laser diodes, 2.5x as much as that mentioned above.
The output here is 1010 mW.
Capullus Pro - $2,999
If you want to go all in on this hair re-growth solution then this is their top-of-the-line product. Here you have 272 laser diodes (3.3x more than their cheapest model) with an output of 1360 mW.
What's The Difference?
The difference is nothing more than an increasing number of laser diodes for more coverage, and with this an increased power output.
Other than this the caps look the same and function the same.
Are The More Expensive Models Really Any Better?
Are the more expensive options really worth it if they only provide more coverage and power output?
Would it really be worth purchasing more laser diodes or could you simply wear the cheaper version, the Capullus Ultra, for longer periods of time to get the same coverage as a more expensive version?
This is a logical question that isn't made clear, but it seems that this is a possibility.
Concerns About Product Quality
I have stumbled across some complaints from people who have received faulty devices, but overall the quality that Capillus brings to the table is very good. This is a reputable company that certainly doesn't want to tarnish their reputation by selling low quality products.
The laser caps sold are durable, flexible, and seem to provide a comfortable fit for most people (they have a soft inner silicone lining).
What Science Says
Capillus is proud to state that their laser caps have FDA clearance, which sounds pretty good and may even lead one to believe that the FDA has found them effective, but this really doesn't mean much. Basically all this means is that Capillus' devices are "substantially equivalent to another (similar) legally marketed device"... but it certainly doesn't mean that they work.
*Here is the difference between FDA approval and FDA clearance
The problem is that there is a lack of research on these devices, which is why in 2017 the the NAD made a recommendation that Capillus stop advertising their products as being "clinically proven" and "physician recommended".
That said, there is definitely some promise, and a 2018 study in Lasers in Medical Science found that treatment with low-level laser therapy (LLLT which is what these Capillus caps offer) brought about improvement in 10 of 11 trials performed on people with androgenic alopecia (on of the most common forms of hair loss).
But, as mentioned, there is still definitely a lack of research in this area and in the study it was stated that "More research needs to be undertaken to determine the optimal power and wavelength to use".
User Reviews/Complaints
Okay, so there are studies that show laser treatment such as that provided by Capillus laser caps to be effective, at least to some extent, but how well are these caps performing for ordinary people who are purchasing them out of desperation to regrow their hair?
Well, of course on the capillus.com website they show a bunch of amazing reviews (they have a perfect 5/5 star rating as I'm writing this), but it's always best to look for more independent sources of reviews.
Luckily these products are sold on Amazon... which means that buyers can leave reviews on Amazon. Now you certainly can't trust every review you read on this platform 100% either, but generally speaking you can probably get a more truthful and honest view of how well Capillus caps actually work.
As of now they have some pretty decent ratings, with a 3.8 out of 5 stars for the Capillus Ultra model...
This rating isn't that great but it also isn't bad.
But anyways... let's take a look at some things people are saying and complaints that they have.
Let's begin with some overly positive reviews, such as this one shown below where a customer claims that in about 2 months she was able to see growth of "baby hairs" and less scalp showing...
And then there is this person who claims to have experienced increased hair growth around the temples (but I can't really tell based on the pictures provided)...
Complaints
As far as complaints and low ratings go, they are all pretty much the same and claim that the product, simply put, doesn't work.
Here is someone who claims to be using the cap every day for several months with no results...
And here is another low rating from someone who left a very informative review of "Did not work." (joke of course)... offering no information as to how long they tried it for.
Below is another review claiming that "nothing" happened, and this comes from someone who has been using their laser cap for 9 months religiously...
Then there are a few reviews from people claiming that the laser treatment actually led to more hair loss...
*Note: You should also know that increased hair loss in the early stages of using this kind of treatment is actually common, as unhealthy hairs are pushed out by new re-growth.
Results are mixed
As I was expecting to see before doing the research, these laser caps do not work for everyone. The reason for this can be many things, one of the more obvious being that hair-loss isn't all caused by the same thing.
So, just because one person says that these work does not mean they will work for you, and vice versa.
But as mentioned above, the reviews overall are more positive than negative, which is a good sign.
Any Side Effects?
Due to the lack of studies around LLLT (low-level laser therapy) for hair re-growth, there isn't much to talk about here.
LLLT is used as a treatment for a variety of conditions/problems, such as pain management, inflammation, and more. It has been shown to have no adverse side effects for musculoskeletal pain when used as a treatment, and Capillus reports that there are "no reported side-effects" for their caps, but there is likely more research needed in this area.
That said, if there were any major side-effects I'm sure we'd be hearing all about them, and we don't... so this is a good sign.
All things considered, LLLT is regarded as safe.
Warranty & Refunds
The warranty and refund policy are important, especially because these are far from being low-cost products.
If you spend $999 - $2,999 on something you want to make darn sure you are covered if it doesn't work or has a defect.
The warranty varies depending on what model you buy.
- Capillus Ultra comes with a 1-year warranty on the cap device as well as the battery pack and AC adapter.
- Capillus Plus comes with a 2-year warranty on the cap device and a 1-year warranty on the battery pack and AC adapter.
- Capillus Pro comes with a 3-year warranty on the cap device and a 1-year warranty on the battery pack and AC adapter.
So they all come with some pretty good warranties, but the length is increased with the more expensive models, which makes sense.
The warranty covers the device and accessories as long as you are using them as the instructions suggest. If however, you drop your cap in the toilet or smash it with a hammer, it will not be covered.
As stated, the warranty "does not cover damages caused by acts of God, misuse, negligence, accident, or modification of any part".
Note: In order to activate this warranty you need to register your device at www.capillus.com/activatewarranty within 30 days of purchase.
Refunds
In addition to the warranty they also offer refunds, which you can get for any reason, such as if you simply do not like the way the cap fits.
They offer a 365-day satisfaction guarantee where you can request a refund within 365 days of purchasing. However, if you return your purchase after 30 days then there will be a 25% service charge, which means you'll only get back 75% of the initial price.
Customers are also responsible for paying for return shipping.
Pros v Cons
Pros
- Easy to use
- Comfortable fit (for most)
- Good quality and good brand
- Warranty and refunds available
- Scientifically proven to work (to some extent)
- No side-effects reported
Cons
- Expensive
- Won't work for everyone
Conclusion - Worth Buying?
While these laser caps are certainly not guaranteed to work, and appear not to work for everyone, they do seem to be a pretty good non-invasive option for hair regrowth and many users have had success.
But, with all the other laser caps on the market it might be a difficult decision which is the best option.
Other Alternatives:
Capillus is no-doubt one of the better and more reputable brands on the market, but there are cheaper alternatives that may work just as well.
However, with Capillus you aren't just buying a product, you are buying a brand... a brand that offers a warranty, that places safety at the top of their priority list by including nice features such as "eye-safety sensors" so that the lasers won't cause any eye damage, and so on.
Capillus isn't the cheapest option, but is is one of the better options.
So, in conclusion... Do I recommend Capillus? Yes.
Thank you for taking the time to read this review. I hope you found it helpful 🙂
Now it's your turn: Have you had experience with Capillus laser caps or laser caps in general? Leave your comments in the section below...
Was very enlightened from reading your excellent comprehensive review of all the Capillus models.