Can I Use Red Light Therapy Alongside Minoxidil For Hair Growth?

• 01 What Is Red Light Therapy?
• 02 What Is Minoxidil?
• 03 Benefits of Using Red Light Therapy on the Scalp
• 04 Does Red Light Therapy Help Hair Regrowth?
• 05 Can I Use Minoxidil With Red Light Therapy?
• 06 How to Use Red Light Therapy and Minoxidil Together
• 07 Frequently Asked Questions

Red light therapy and topical minoxidil can be used together as an effective treatment for hair growth as they complement each other. However, there are a few considerations to take into account to ensure you’re able to manage expectations and get as good results as possible.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is a form of photobiomodulation that delivers powerful wavelengths of light to the skin, or in this case, the scalp to stimulate our cells. It’s a non-invasive treatment and uses specific wavelengths to ensure the light penetrates the skin, but doesn’t cause any damage.

What Is Minoxidil?

Minoxidil is a topical medication that is used for both men and women to treat certain types of hair loss and promote hair growth. It’s one of the most widely recognised treatments for hair loss due to its success rate [1] and relatively affordable cost.

It was discovered as many medications are, by accident for hair loss, when it was found that in studies used to treat blood pressure, it helped promote hair growth.

It’s commonly used for people diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia, which is also known as male or female pattern hair loss. Although it’s not understood exactly how minoxidil works, it’s thought that it stimulates hair follicles through increased blood flow and dormant follicles, plus extending the hair growth phase. One of the downsides of minoxidil is that its effects stop as soon as you stop using it, so patients are advised to use it daily and sometimes twice daily, which can make it a commitment for some.

Benefits of Using Red Light Therapy on the Scalp

There are a few reasons red light therapy is beneficial for use on the scalp. The first is that, just as minoxidil, it helps to stimulate hair follicles and overall energy to the cells through encouraging the mitochondria to produce more cellular energy (known as ATP). This boost in energy can help to stimulate growth by encouraging hair follicles to be thicker and healthier. Red light used on the scalp can also help to reduce inflammation, which can have a detrimental impact on hair health. It’s believed that too much inflammation can cause disruption to hair growth cycles by pushing hair into the shedding phase too quickly and even causing follicle miniaturisation (shrinking) [2]

Does Red Light Therapy Help Hair Regrowth?

It’s difficult to definitely say whether red light therapy helps hair regrowth because individual circumstances differ so greatly. Comparing one person’s stress levels, lifestyle and hair routine to others is and definitively citing one aspect as the reason for the regrowth is almost impossible. However, the evidence suggests that using red light therapy alongside a hair growth routine (more on that later), is a fantastic way of supporting healthy hair. And after all, hair growth means hair health.

That’s why using a combination of treatments is widely recommended by experts. As well as using these treatments consistently for months and even years. Both red light therapy and minoxidil are not quick fixes; they require consistency to see the benefits of long-term scalp health. Trust us though, it’s well worth the effort.

Can I Use Minoxidil With Red Light Therapy?

Yes, you can absolutely use minoxidil with red light therapy. Studies have shown that using both in combination can help with hair density [3], which, in a lot of cases, gives a noticeable difference in how thick the hair looks in real life.

How to Use Red Light Therapy and Minoxidil Together

To get the most out of your red light therapy and minoxidil together, you’ve got to be committed to using them consistently so getting a good routine in place is super important.

It’s important to always follow the guide for your devices and minoxidil, however, you can use this as a guide to a hair growth routine using light therapy and minoxidil.

1. Ensure your scalp is clean and dry

For the best results with minoxidil, starting with a dry and clean scalp is important. This is tricky if you have long hair, but it ensures that the treatments make better contact with the scalp and things like oils and product buildup don’t get in the way of the treatments reaching those all-important hair follicles.

2. Start your LED session

Now for those few minutes of relaxation. Start your Project E red light therapy device and use it for the number of minutes the directions recommend, this can be anything from 3 to 10 minutes. There’s no need to use it any longer than recommended; this won’t make your results better — it may actually hinder them. Ensure the device is covering the areas of hair loss you’d like to address most.

3. Apply your minoxidil

Once your relaxing red light therapy session is over, you can move on to applying your topical minoxidil. Follow the instructions for the amount of minoxidil to apply. Most come in a foam formula and recommend applying into the cap of the bottle and applying with your fingers or a brush to the areas of hair loss. Make sure you’re applying it directly to the scalp versus the hair. The reason for doing red light therapy first is to make sure that the red light isn’t obstructed by the minoxidil formula. That way, you’re getting the best of both treatments.

The Project E Alora LED Light Panel is a great product if you’re looking for a panel that targets multiple areas but is also compact that is easily stored away. Otherwise, the Project E LED Dome is ideal because it doubles as a scalp treatment and relaxing session in an otherwise busy day. You can also use these for your face and body, so you can think of it as all-in-one maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are There Side Effects When Combining Red Light Therapy and Minoxidil?

Using these two treatments together doesn’t typically result in any additional or unique side effects. Since both methods work by boosting circulation to the hair follicles, most users find that any issues they encounter are related to the topical minoxidil itself, which can occasionally cause itching, flaking, or dryness in the application area.

Should I apply Minoxidil before or after Red Light Therapy?

Always use red light therapy before applying Minoxidil. Applying Minoxidil first leaves a liquid or foam barrier on your scalp that can reflect, scatter, or block the LED wavelengths. For maximum light penetration and optimal drug absorption, use your red light device on a clean, dry scalp first.

How long after Red Light Therapy can I apply Minoxidil?

You can apply Minoxidil immediately after your red light therapy session ends. Because red light therapy increases blood flow and microcirculation to your hair follicles, applying your topical Minoxidil right afterward allows your scalp to absorb the treatment even more efficiently.

LED Panel

LumaLux Dome | Face & Body LED Red Light Therapy Device

8 wavelength full body LED light therapy device for skin rejuvenation, fine lines, acne, muscle recovery and mood boost

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LED Panel

Alora | Age Renewal LED Light Therapy Panel

Target up to 5 skin layers with advanced blue, infrared and red light therapy contour panel

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