HairMax Laser Comb vs Reseen Weave: The Pioneer and the Newcomer

Quick verdict: Choose a HairMax laser comb if you want the most-studied device in the category: FDA clearance since 2007, sham-controlled trials on its combs, and models from $249 with a 6-month money-back guarantee. Choose Reseen Weave if you're drawn to more points of light at the scalp (36 light-guided teeth versus 9 to 18 lasers) and VCSEL laser technology, and you're comfortable waiting for a coming-soon device whose FDA 510(k) clearance is pending and whose routine isn't published yet.

At a glance

HairMax (sometimes searched as "hair max") sells three LaserCombs on hairmax.com. We compare Weave with the Ultima 12, HairMax's mid-range comb, and list the others below.

Info checked: October 2026. Weave's price is planned and provisional.

The HairMax LaserComb line-up:

Per hairmax.com product pages and QVC. All are used three times a week. The Pro 12 wasn't listed on hairmax.com when we checked. HairMax's homepage lists the Actonis 18 at 7 minutes; its product page says 8.

Light delivery: two ways to get past your hair

Every laser comb solves the same problem: hair absorbs and scatters light before it reaches the scalp. Combs use teeth to part the strands.

HairMax uses what it calls patented hair-parting teeth. You place the comb flat so both rows of teeth touch the scalp, then move slowly front to back, pausing about every half inch for four seconds. Leavitt and colleagues' 2009 trial describes the comb teeth parting the hair so light reaches the scalp. HairMax's current product pages don't detail exactly where the lasers sit relative to the teeth, so we won't characterize it further.

Weave's RootReach™ design puts the light inside the teeth. Each of its 36 teeth is a light guide: 660nm laser light travels down the tooth and exits at the tip, which rests on the scalp. The idea is to release light at skin level, with no layer of hair in between. That's a design principle; Reseen hasn't published measurements comparing it with other combs.

Where HairMax wins: a delivery method that has been tested in published randomized trials. RootReach hasn't been.

Lasers and wavelength

Both use deep red light in nearly the same band: 655nm for HairMax, 660nm for Weave. The Actonis 18 adds 635nm, which HairMax says targets the scalp. All HairMax combs are laser-only, Class 3R under 5mW per its Actonis page.

Weave uses VCSEL lasers through VIPE™, Reseen's photonic engine, with a beam angle under 20° and under 5mW per emitter, according to Reseen. A narrow beam suits a light guide because a small tooth only accepts light arriving within a limited range of angles. For more on the wavelength and chip choices, see our LED vs laser guide.

Where HairMax wins: a choice of models, including a dual-wavelength comb.

Routine and ease of use

HairMax publishes a clear routine: 8 to 11 minutes, three days a week, moving the comb in slow passes, with beeps (or vibration on some older models, per a 2021 review in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology) prompting you to move every four seconds. The combs are cordless with a charging cradle, and the teeth are removable and replaceable.

Weave's session time, frequency and battery details are not yet published. Like any comb, it's hands-on: your scalp coverage depends on working section by section. If you'd rather not, a hands-free liner like Halo may suit you better; see Halo vs HairMax.

Evidence and FDA status: does the HairMax laser comb work?

HairMax has the strongest evidence of any laser comb.

FDA. FDA's 510(k) database lists the HairMax LaserComb (K060305) with a January 18, 2007 decision, followed by further LaserComb clearances from 2009 to 2014 and HairMax Dual 12 (K111714) in 2011, all under product code OAP (laser comb, hair). HairMax's Ultima 9 page says "FDA Cleared for Men & Women" for androgenetic alopecia within specific classifications. The Actonis 18 footnote lists indications for women.

Trials. Leavitt and colleagues' 2009 study in Clinical Drug Investigation was randomized, double-blind and sham-controlled: 110 men completed 26 weeks with a 9-beam 655nm comb, and the active group had a significantly greater increase in terminal hair density. It was sponsored by Lexington International, HairMax's maker. Jimenez and colleagues' 2014 study in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology ran four trials with 269 randomized men and women using 7-, 9- and 12-beam combs three times a week for 26 weeks; every device beat sham on terminal hair density. The authors wrote that low-level laser treatment "may be an effective option to treat pattern hair loss." These results apply to the devices studied, not to other combs.

Reseen Weave. FDA 510(k) clearance is pending, and Reseen hasn't published clinical trials on Weave. It's a cosmetic device designed to support scalp health for a healthier-looking scalp and fuller-looking hair.

Where HairMax wins: clearly, on both counts.

Price, warranty and returns

Weave's planned $299 matches the Ultima 12 and sits between the Ultima 9 ($249) and Actonis 18 ($499). HairMax offers a 1-year warranty and a 6-month money-back guarantee on laser devices, with a 20% return shipping and handling fee. For Weave, see Reseen warranty.

Which should you choose?

• Choose Reseen Weave if… you want 36 points of light delivered at the tooth tips, VCSEL lasers, and a planned $299 price, and you're happy to wait for launch details and a pending FDA decision.

• Choose a HairMax laser comb if… FDA clearance, published trials and a known routine matter most, you want the lowest entry price ($249), or you want a dual-wavelength option.

Also comparing combs? See Weave vs Xtrallux, Weave vs Maysama, Weave vs Laduora and Weave vs Solaris.

Frequently asked questions

Does the HairMax laser comb work?

HairMax LaserCombs have been tested in randomized, sham-controlled trials, including Leavitt 2009 and Jimenez 2014, where users had greater terminal hair density gains than sham at 26 weeks. Results vary by person.

What's the difference between the HairMax Ultima 9 and Ultima 12?

Per HairMax, the Ultima 9 has 9 lasers and 11-minute sessions for $249; the Ultima 12 has 12 lasers and 8-minute sessions for $299. Both use 655nm, three times a week.

What is the HairMax Pro 12 laser comb?

It's a 12-laser comb sold through retailers such as QVC, listed with 8-minute sessions three times a week. It wasn't on hairmax.com when we checked.

What should I look for in HairMax laser comb reviews?

Check which model was used, how long and how consistently, and whether the reviewer followed the slow, sectioned technique. Trials ran 26 weeks, so short-term reviews say little.

Is Reseen Weave FDA-cleared?

Not yet. Weave's FDA 510(k) clearance is pending.

Sources

1. HairMax homepage and LaserComb line-up — Lexington International, accessed Oct 2026

2. Ultima 12 Classic LaserComb — Lexington International, accessed Oct 2026

3. Ultima 9 Classic LaserComb — Lexington International, accessed Oct 2026

4. Actonis 18 Dual Action LaserComb — Lexington International, accessed Oct 2026

5. HairMax Pro 12 Hair Growth LaserComb — QVC, accessed Oct 2026

6. FDA 510(k) database: K060305, K110233 and openFDA listing of Lexington International laser comb clearances — U.S. FDA, accessed Oct 2026

7. HairMax LaserComb Laser Phototherapy Device in the Treatment of Male Androgenetic Alopecia — Leavitt M, et al.; Clinical Drug Investigation, 2009

8. Efficacy and Safety of a Low-level Laser Device in the Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss — Jimenez JJ, et al.; American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2014

9. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of US FDA-Approved, Home-use, Low-Level Light/Laser Therapy Devices for Pattern Hair Loss — Lueangarun S, et al.; Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021

Product information for HairMax is based on publicly available sources as of October 2026 and may change; check the manufacturer's site for current details. HairMax is a trademark of its respective owner; Reseen is not affiliated with or endorsed by it. This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Reseen devices are cosmetic devices; individual results vary.