HairMax Lasercomb Usage & Questions

[familyguy]

Hi all,

I am a 22 year old male from california who has been dealing with hair loss for the past 2 years or so. I am a very persistent person by nature so when I first noticed my hair falling out I started researching all I could to figure out what I could do to curb this problem. I immediately saw a dermatoligist who said it was simply male pattern baldness and suggested I take propecia as treatment. I have been doing that for the past 2 years, however recently I heard a lot about low level laser therapy (LLLT) and I became curious. I actually stumbled on these forums because of the post about the hairmax lasercomb.

Feeling like I had nothing to lose (since they promise you 12-20 weeks to try out the product and be able to return free of charge), I purchased one of these products (came out to a little over $500). I have been using it for about a month now and some of the results are extremely promising. I have been noticing in the front of my head the quality of my hair is considerably improved. It is not only thicker but on the sides where hair was mostly receding I have actually noticed some regrowth! Also those little hairs that lined all around my hairline are not so little anymore .

But here is the confusing part. As good as all these indications are I have been noticing an opposite trend in the crown of my head. This was actually the first area that I noticed thinning when I first started losing my hair. Previous to my lasercomb usage, this area had a decent amount of hair but it was thin and felt sickly (but still covered the scalp). Recently in my lasercomb usage, though, I noticed some shedding in this region.

My issue is that I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing. There is not much discussion of the lasercomb's restoration process. On one hand I can see, if it is typical to other hair loss treatments, perhaps these small, sickly hairs have to fall out before thicker healthier hair can surface. On the other hand I just don't know enough to say if it is perhaps causing a negative effect on this region of my hair and if I should perhaps stop using it there.

Has anyone using the lasercomb experienced this? I am curious as to other people's reactions to this product as well. If it could just do what it is doing to the front of my hairline all over my head I would be a very happy man.

As a side note - Sam & all other contributors thanks for all the work on this site I'm grateful for the wealth of non-biased information provided here and check back frequently for new developments!

[Jacob]

Have you thought about using a topical or topicals along with the comb? I realize the cost of things and the time involved and the fact that some don't like to use topicals..but I've always thought ppl should use more than one thing when attacking our problem.

Sorry..I haven't used the comb so I'm not much help there.

[HairLossFight.com]

Hi familyguy and welcome!

Damo, one of the members here just made an encouraging post on the lasercomb:

http://www.morphollica.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=575

I personally just placed an order on a used one. Looking forward to using it based on what several of you have said here and what I've read elsewhere.

As for Propecia, I know where you're coming from with your concerns, but I have decided that for me the advantages outweigh the potential risks, which are relatively small in their probability of occuring.

If you are still thinninh in the crown area, that may be because your AGA is still progressing in that area. Sometimes no matter what you do, you'll still continue to lose hair. On the potential positive side, it may be because you're going through a shed that may be replaced by more/better quality hair. I'm hoping it's the latter in your case.

Please keep us posted as to your progress with the lasercomb. I plan on taking before and after pics to track the progress once I get mine.

Regards,
Sam

[familyguy]

Hey guys, thanks for the responses!

Jacob to answer your question first I have thought about using topicals. What discourages me from them is several complaints I've heard about how they leave your hair feeling after you use them (either too oily or too dry). I have just recently started researching all my options so I am trying new things until I am satisfied with the results Should propecia and the lasercomb not be enough, I am thinking my next addition will be some sort of topical treatment. My skin on the other hand is rather sensitive which is another reason I would like to leave this option until last.

Don't get me wrong, I have had very good results with propecia. It has definitely done its job in helping me keep my existing hair and I have not noticed any of the unfortunate but rare side effects, which I am VERY thankful for.

As for the thinning hair in the crown area I think I am going to keep using the lasercomb regardless of this. I am hesitant to believe that this product which has done such a good job on the front of my hair would have different effects on the crown. I will definitely post more information on the status of my crown hair growth as it changes. Lexington (the company which makes the lasercomb) suggests that some people will see results after 5 weeks, and that 90% of people will see results in the first 12 weeks. Since I have hit neither of these benchmarks I cannot say for certain how well it is working and if the thinning in the crown is permanent or even surely caused by the comb.

Thanks again for all the help, I will be posting in the next few weeks on my progress with the lasercomb!

[sjm]

I wish the lasercomb was around when I was 22 years old! I am a 53 year old male that has been using the "comb" for almost 16 months. Just like you I have new growth in the temple area. My crown which was thin to begin with may be a little more thin but I am not really sure. What I do know is that without the comb, I would be just about bald. It really works, or at least it has helped me. I now use it 2 or 3 times a week. You should use it at least 3 times a week until about a year. The "sickly' hairs you mention with falling out and having healthier hairs grow is something that I think does happen, it just makes sense. Because of your age, I think if you be consistant, you will be happy with the results months from now. Remember it takes a while for results.

Good luck!

[familyguy]

Hey all,

First off Sam, I feel this thread is out of place, I didn't notice there was a forum board dedicated to lasercomb so if you can move it I wouldn't feel like such an idiot anymore . Anyway, I wanted to post a little update almost 3 weeks after my last post regarding hair shedding and growth progress. Regrowth in the temple areas continues to improve, most notably there seems to be yet more thin hairs starting to show themselves and getting progressively healthier. All along the temples almost to my original hairline I can see hairs starting to come out ranging from 1-5mm. The density of these hairs is not as great as my original hairline but as the company who makes the comb says, hair takes a while to grow and change so results are gradual.

As for the shedding in the crown area this stopped within a few days of my post. I think the density has started returning to normal as I can no longer see much scalp even after I have come out of the shower. Feeling back there seems like the hairs are healthier than the ones originally there which would fit the theory that the old sickly hairs were falling out to make way for better strands.

All in all progress has been good. Along with propecia I really think this is a great course for maintaining and regrowing hair. I have even on 2 seperate instances had others who are experiencing hair loss come up to me and comment on how noticably thicker and healthier my hair is looking. I did not even tell them about the lasercomb because, as you may guess, it is common for people to make fun of you for banking faith in a comb that shoots light at your head in an effort to curb hair loss... But the results speak louder than the silly notion and even one of them ordered his own lasercomb. Whether these results are constant for every person I cannot say. I am also only 22 which my dermatologist said makes me more likely to get stronger results from any solution I choose. I am trying to get a hold of a digital camera in the next week to at least post some pictures to illustrate where exactly in the temple area hairs have grown!

Sam just wondering you posted previously that you placed an order for yours -- have you tried it out yet? How are things looking for you?

[nicam666]

Take a look at the reviews of Laser Comb at .
http://www.folica.com/HairMax_LaserCo_r1249_1.html

[HairLossFight.com]

Familyguy,

Thank you for giving such a great update on your situation. Actually, it's this sort of thing that helps make the site useful to people (me included!).

As for your situation, first of all, I'm happy you're seeing the improvements. I can't wait to get my own hands on a lasercomb to see how it'll work for myself. As for your crown area, my opinion is that it's too soon to tell what's going to happen there, but given that most other treatments tend to precipitate an initial shed (to varying degrees in some people) then it may well be that you're going to see an improvement eventually, and that the shedding and worsening of the situation in your scalp area is temporary. Fingers crossed and please keep us posted!

Regards,
Sam

P.S., you're right, this post should move the the lasercomb forum, but so many people only visit the general discussions area that I tend to only move a good thread to its own forum after a majority of visitors have had a chance to read it. Eventually this thread will find its way to the right place.

[Tricia]

I used minoxidil 5% 1 ml in the morning and 1 ml at night for one year. My biggest fear about using topicals was the grease factor. I thought my hair would look greasy or smell funny. That just hasn't been the case. My biggest complaint about minoxidil is that it does tend to fade my hair color. I dye my hair and I think the alcohol strips out the dye quicker than if I didn't use any topicals.

But, minoxidil has benefited me.

For the last 3 months, I started using 2 ml of minoxidil at night only. I did not experience a shed by switching to night time usage only.

[familyguy]

Wow there are some critics to the lasercomb on that reviews page. I just have a 2 comments regarding what all those people have said about it:

1) Agreed even the lasercomb people say the comb does not work for everyone. That's why they give us up to 20 weeks to try it and see if it gives you any change. They said by then you should be able to see benefits and if not you can simply return it. How complicated the return process is I have no idea, but I was talking to their sales manager when I purchased my comb and this is what she told me.

2) I don't believe the lasercomb is going to work well on its own. Since it does nothing for DHT you really need to use it in conjunction with a DHT blocker. That's why i believe combining it with propecia is such a good combo. Propecia has always been good with me at maintaining my old hairs. Now the lasercomb has started making new ones and with the help of propecia the DHT will make sure they stay there!

On a side note I was wondering... are there different strengths of propecia? I currently use 1mg and I am wondering if that is too conservative of a perscription. I really don't get any side effects so if I can use a stronger dose and get more out of it I would be all ears

[nicam666]

I believe from reading about propecia that 1 mg is the amount that will achieve optimum results. Results have been achieved with a far lesser dose, but 1 mg is reckoned to give the best.

I am waiting for Sam to get his Laser Comb and report back on it.

[HairLossFight.com]

Okay guys,

I FINALLY got my hands on a lasercomb. Here are my initial thoughts:

1) I feel funny pointing a laser at my head. It's kind of silly feeling. But I am not letting that deter me because I think it has merit as a treatment modality.

2) Having only used it now for a week, it is WAAAAAY too early to tell if it's doing anything in terms of regrowth. However, I have noticed that my scalp is already less itchy. That may just be the placebo effect however, so we'll have to wait and see.

3) I agree that a DHT blocker is mandatory to get optimal (if any) results from the lasercomb as nimam666 pointed out. I am considering, for the sake of experimentation and being a guinea pig for you guys, stopping Propecia and using ONLY the lasercomb for the next 6 months. If I do this I'll take before and after pics.... I want to see what the lasercomb will do for me all by itself. After 6 months, either way, I'll resume Propecia. I haven't decided yet whether I should do this.... What do you guys think. I don't want to go bald, but I don't mind risking 6 months of hair loss to get an idea of whether this thing works. Even if it works for me (or not) that doesn't mean you'll have luck (or not) with it, but what the hell.

Regards,
Sam

[Tricia]

Sam,

If I were you, I'd continue to use propecia. Take pictures of the Lasercomb progress and see if it is beneficial in conjunction with propecia. You know you are getting a benefit from propecia. I think the possibility of stopping propecia and losing some hair would be devastating.

Good luck. I hope you like the lasercomb.

[familyguy]

Sam, I agree with Tricia. I believe the way the lasercomb works and the areas it most benefits does not cross over to how propecia helps hair loss anyway. A lot of people who do like the lasercomb notice that it makes hair thicker and healthier and grows back hair in the temples whereas propecia claims to do a better job for your crown area. As for the less itchy scalp that was one of the first things I noticed too before my hair started getting considerably better so I think that's a good sign . As I have come to conclude in my own trials, the fighting hair loss is working out best when I use something external like the lasercomb combined with a DHT fighter like propecia. I think your test should shift from "does the lasercomb work" to "what is the advantage of combining the lasercomb with existing treatments"... Let me know how things turn out Sam, the first thing I noticed was very small hairs around the temples starting to form then progressively getting bigger. A lot of these hairs which used to be almost invisible are now at full length to my normal hair!

[HairLossFight.com]

Thanks for the advice Tricia and Familyguy,

You're both right of course. I'll probably stay on the prop. Will think on it some more.

On another note, I keep wanting to use the lasercomb everyday. It's like I've become obsessed with it or something. I have been resisting the urge to do so but I can't help but wonder whether it would help or hinder the effects. Also, I wonder whether too much exposure can be bad for you in anyway, for instance due to radiation exposure from too much laserlight or something...

[nicam666]

My Laser comb arrived today. Going to let my son have use of it with a view to retaining the hair he has which if thining slightly on top. As an independent observer I will be able to tell if there is any difference. One advantage is that combing your hair is natural, so treatment will be easier than Hair Helmet and messing with oils, so more likely to stick with it in the long term.

[familyguy]

I know what you're talking about Sam. When I first got the lasercomb I kept wanting to make the effects come faster by doing it every day. Like the manual says, it doesn't hurt to do it every day, but it doesn't help either. If you're like me eventually you'll get used to having it around and you'll start to perform the 3 times a week schedule they suggest

[HairLossFight.com]

nicam666, I'm glad you finally got your hands on one. I hope it helps your son.

In my own case, I am seeing drastically less inflammation and my itch is getting much less. Fingers still crossed for results as its too soon to tell.

Familyguy, I'm still finding that I want to use it everyday. I've managed to keep it to every other day, but the urge is constantly there.

Cheers,
Sam