So you want to try red light therapy?
You asked me to just tell you which one to buy, so here it is. Three masks, three caps and three panels: one budget, one mid-range and one premium for each.
My advice: which one do you actually need?
- Just your face (wrinkles, skin texture): get a mask
- Thinning hair: get a cap or helmet
- More than one area: get a panel
My 3-step check
Nothing made this list just because it looks good on Instagram. Every device went through the same quick check from the video:
- It tells you the wavelengths. Actual numbers, like 630, 660 or 850 nm, not just “red light”.
- It tells you how strong the light is, and how far away that was measured.
- It does the boring stuff right. Clear instructions, a decent warranty, and a company that’ll still be around.
You’ll notice Hooga come up a lot. That’s because they actually publish their wavelengths and power numbers, the panels come with a 3-year warranty, and they’re well regarded in the red light community. I do have an affiliate deal with them, but if they didn’t pass the check, they wouldn’t be here.
My top picks for your face: masks
For your face, these are my three picks, one for each budget.
-
Budget
Hooga Red Light Therapy Face Mask
My lower-cost pick
If you just want to get started on your face, this is where I’d begin.
- Red at 630 and 660 nm, plus 850 nm near-infrared
- Hands-free, with a built-in timer
- 1-year warranty
-
Mid-range
Hooga Luma LED Face Mask
My pick for wireless convenience
No cable, so you can use it anywhere in the house.
- 280 LEDs and five modes
- Red (630 nm) and near-infrared (850 nm)
- 1-year warranty
-
Premium
Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask
My pick for built-in under-eye cooling
The big-brand option, with a few extras built in.
- Under-eye cooling built in
- Red, blue and infrared light, with pre-set routines
- FDA cleared, 2-year warranty
My top picks for thinning hair: caps
Hair was top of my tier list, but be real with yourself: it takes months of consistent use, and when you stop, the effect stops too.
-
Budget
Hooga Red Light Therapy Hat
My lower-cost pick
A sensible way to start without spending a fortune.
- 150 LEDs at 660 and 850 nm
- 10-minute timer
- 2-year warranty
-
Mid-range
Hooga Laser Helmet
My pick for lasers at a mid-range price
Steps up from LEDs to lasers, without the premium price.
- 96 lasers at 650 nm
- 10-minute sessions
- Rechargeable, so no cable
-
Premium
Capillus PRO
My pick for the most proven cap
The priciest pick, because it’s the most proven cap I found. This one isn’t an affiliate link, I just rate it.
- 272 lasers at 650 nm
- FDA cleared, only 6 minutes a day
- 3-year warranty
My top picks for your whole body: panels
Your face, your back, your legs, pretty much your whole body. It’s a bigger investment and you’ll need the space, but it’s the most versatile of the three.
-
Budget
Hooga ULTRA360
My pick for your face or one area at a time
The easiest way into panels.
- 630, 660, 810 and 850 nm
- 132 mW/cm² at 6 inches
- 3-year warranty
-
Mid-range
Hooga ULTRA750
My pick for covering more of your body
Same light as the 360, in a bigger panel.
- 630, 660, 810 and 850 nm
- 161 mW/cm² at 6 inches
- 3-year warranty
-
Premium
Hooga ULTRA1500
My pick for the most coverage in one go
The big brother of the two above, with twice the LEDs of the 750.
- 630, 660, 810 and 850 nm
- 300 LEDs and a taller panel
- Touchscreen controls, 3-year warranty
“If you know you’ll use it twice and stick it in a drawer, save your money.”
My honest advice before you buy
- Be consistent. We’re talking weeks, sometimes months.
- More power isn’t better. Too much light or too long a session and the benefit can drop off. Stick to the instructions.
- Prices and stock change fast. I’ll keep this list updated.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody paid me to make the video, and if a device can’t pass the check, it doesn’t go on the list.