These LED Hair Brushes Promise Thicker Hair, So We’ve Put Them to the Test
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken as much about hair health as I have in the past few months. Between prepping for my wedding and suddenly experiencing hair loss at the front of my scalp, I’ve found myself researching all the best shampoos, conditioners, scalp serums and hair tools to keep my strands in tip-top condition. Not to mention reaching out to every single expert I know to ask them what I can do. Everyone who knows me knows I use my LED mask religiously, so when I saw that you could now shop for LED hair brushes to improve hair health, I was immediately intrigued.
That being said, as a beauty editor, I’ve learned to become a bit more skeptical over the years, especially when it comes to beauty tech. These products don’t come cheap, so before falling for all the marketing, I like to test them myself and speak to experts about what these tools can actually do. Below, I asked Anabel Kingsley, trichologist and brand president of Philip Kingsley, whether an LED hair brush was a worthwhile addition to my haircare routine, and I even roped in some more Who What Wear UK team members who were experiencing similar issues with their hair to help put these tools to the test.
What Can an LED Hair Brush Help With?
“Light therapy is thought to prolong the growth phase of the hair growth cycle, as well as encourage resting follicles to re-enter the growth phase,” explains Kingsley. “It may also be anti-inflammatory, and inflammation is present in both male and female pattern hair loss.” That being said, Kingsley tells me that whilst there is evidence that LED can help support hair growth, an LED hairbrush is more suitable for early signs of thinning and is more effective when used alongside other established treatments.
“Devices with teeth that part the hair can be better if you have thicker or denser hair. Consistency of usage is key, so choose a device that you enjoy using,” she adds.
How Often Do You Need to Use an LED Hair Brush?
As mentioned, consistency is key. “Female and male pattern hair loss are progressive hair loss conditions, so any treatment you use needs to be ongoing,” Kingsley explains. “Frequency of use varies between devices, and you should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Usually, this is 3-4 times per week.”
The Best LED Hair Brushes, Tried & Tested
1. Solaris Labs NY Intensive LED Hair Growth Brush
Solaris Labs Ny
Intensive Led Hair Growth Brush
Key features: Combines LED light therapy with gentle vibrations
Treatment time: Customisable
LED light modes: Red and blue
Pros
- Combines blue and red LED light with gentle vibrations
- Quick and easy to use
Cons
- Need to use consistently over a long period of time to see results
- A little more expensive
I was so impressed by this LED hair brush. I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t that excited to test it out, as it felt like another step in my already pretty long beauty routine. However, as mentioned, I’m really focusing on my hair health, and this product couldn’t be easier to use. It might be obvious, but you don’t use it as you would a normal hair brush. Instead, you almost massage the bristles onto the scalp, before combing the lengths. This brush features red and blue LED lights and comes with a gentle vibration setting that feels like a relaxing massage. Although I didn’t use it much on the ends of my hair, I applied my nightly scalp serum and focused the massaging technology and red LED light on the roots. Not only did it feel really nice at the end of a long day, but it felt like an easy way to take my hair routine to the next level. I’ve not been using it long enough to notice a huge difference in terms of hair loss, but I do feel like my scalp and the roots of my hair look and feel a whole lot healthier already.
2. Foreo Luna 4 Hair 2-In-1 Led Scalp Massager
Foreo
Luna 4 Hair 2-In-1 Led Scalp Massager
Key features: Combines LED light therapy with T-Sonic™ massage, comes with an app to guide you through different treatments
Treatment time: Ranges from 1 to 3 minutes on different sections of the head
LED light modes: Red
Pros
- Combines LED light therapy with T-Sonic™ massage
- App guides you through how to use the tool
- Small enough to take with you when travelling
Cons
- Very expensive
- Doesn’t have a handle so can be tricker to hold
This tool from Foreo is a little different, but just as impressive. It focuses more on the scalp, combining red LED light therapy with a gentle massage. It works to improve circulation, prevent oil build-up and encourage the absorption of scalp serums. If you suffer from hair loss or an irritated scalp, it could be a great addition to your daily routine. A few things that stood out to me when testing: the small size is ideal for travelling, and the Foreo app makes using the tool so much easier. I can’t lie, setting up the app was a bit of a pain, but once I got the hang of everything, I loved how efficient it was. When starting the treatment through the app, you can choose your red LED light and massage intensity, and it will guide you through where to place the tool and how long to leave it there. It might take a little more time than the hair brush above, but if your scalp is your main concern, I think it’s truly worth it.
3. Cloud Nine LED Hair Care Brush
Cloud Nine
LED Hair Care Brush
Key features: Combines red and blue LED light therapy with a vibration setting
Treatment time: 1 minute per setting
LED light modes: Red and blue
Pros
- Combines red and blue LED light
- Vibration setting for a gentle massage
- Cordless design is easy to use
Cons
- Doesn’t indicate when the treatment time is up
I wanted to try an LED hairbrush to see if it could help with my scalp psoriasis,” says Who What Wear UK copy editor, Georgia Seago. “Cloud Nine’s LED Hair Care Brush is billed as a ‘breakthrough’ that supports scalp health and helps hair appear thicker and shinier, and whilst I don’t really have any complaints with my hair in these areas, I’ll never say no to more thickness and shine!
“The brush is cordless (it comes with a charger), and is super lightweight, so it has fitted pretty seamlessly into my evening routine. I use it whilst I’m reading in bed, passing it through my hair so I cover my whole scalp. I then go through again, brushing up from the bottom as my scalp is particularly itchy around my ears and the nape of my neck. The brush has three settings: vibrate, red LED and blue LED. Blue LED has been shown to reduce inflammation in mild-to-moderate scalp psoriasis, slowing the turnover of skin cells. Whilst it’s too early to see true results yet, I’ve been using it daily for around three weeks and can report that my scalp feels soothed and a little less itchy with consistent use. My only gripe is that the instructions say to run through the settings for one minute each, but the brush is lacking a built-in timer to indicate when it’s time to switch to the next setting. That said, you can use it for up to 20 minutes at a time, so there’s no danger if you end up running over the recommended time. I’m going to keep using it and monitor for more improvement.”
4. StylPro Root Renew LED Hair Brush
Stylpro
Root Renew LED Hair Brush
Key features: Combines red LED light with soothing vibrations
Treatment time: Minimum 3 minutes, maximum 20 minutes
LED light modes: Red
Pros
- More affordable than other tools on the market
- Combines red LED light therapy with gentle vibrations
Cons
- Can take a while to see results
“I wanted to try an LED hair brush after noticing my hair felt thinner than usual following a recent medication change,” says Who What Wear UK managing editor Poppy Nash. “I have pretty long hair, so even subtle changes are quite easy to spot. Over the last 6-7 months, I’ve felt my hair has lost a little of its thickness, feeling flatter, thinner and more prone to tangling. What appealed to me most about this brush was how low-effort it seemed. I wasn’t looking to add another complicated treatment into my routine (I am super, super lazy), but I did want something that felt like a small, consistent step in the right direction.
“Because it functions as a hair brush, it felt far more approachable and low-lift than a hair oil, scrub or any other device. Using it has been very straightforward, so I’m pleased! It’s lightweight and easy to hold, and the soft bristles move through my hair without snagging or pulling, which is important when your hair already feels a little fragile. It’s important to note that you can’t use this on wet hair or hair with product, and you should also keep it as close to the scalp as possible. Don’t use it like a normal brush! The gentle vibration makes the brush feel relaxing to use, which is a bonus. I’m not sure there has been a huge difference yet, but I will 100% keep using it. At £40, I think it’s well worth trying!”
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including some skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
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