Hair loss is a sensitive topic for many women, especially since it's been mistakenly characterized as a “man’s disease.” While hair products, weaves, and wigs only provide a temporary solution for women, the cure to female baldness may be in wearing a helmet à la Star Wars Stormtrooper. A California firm’s lovechild, Theradome Laser Helmet, claims to stimulate hair growth and development by firing cool lasers at the scalp to target hair follicles, stimulate microcirculation, and improve cells’ metabolism.

Tamim Hamid, former NASA scientist, and founder and chief executive of Theradome, sought to provide a way of preventing his own hair loss at age 32, without the use of medication. This hair restoration device is the first and only Food and Drug Administration over-the-counter-cleared hair growth helmet for home use. Theradome, reportedly, has zero side effects, unlike most hair loss treatments, according to the company’s website.

The new hair-loss solution contains 80 lasers, so that the light can reach 90 square inches of the 111-square-inch average scalp area. These lasers produce virtually no heat, but still allow the maximum amount of light to be delivered to the area. Theradome is meant to be worn for 20 minutes at a time, twice a week.

The first 18 to 24 weeks of use, the headset reverses the shrinking of hair follicles to stop further hair loss, The Huffington Post UK reported. After 28 weeks of regular wear, the helmet then stimulates hair regrowth by increasing blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles. There is a reduction in the effects of protein blocking enzymes, which is responsible for promoting thickness and density. By 52 weeks, the company claims: “the hairs on the top of the head ... will start filling in. After 100 weeks … fuller and thicker hair will result with continued use.”

Before you go out to test this product, health experts suggest to proceed with caution. Dr Bessam Farjo, medical director of the Institute of Trichologists, told the Daily Mail, “'I do believe that laser technology has validity, but I’m skeptical of the specific claims made by Theradome GB that this particular headgear has the ability to increase the hair shaft diameter by 200 per cent. I have not seen any scientific evidence to support this.”

Theradome does cite in their clinical studies, all of their participants have benefitted from using the product by experiencing one or more of the following: 1) Thicker and more manageable hair, 2) Reduced hair loss, and 3) New hair growth after three to four months. However, the technology does warrant more scientific results to back-up the huge claims the company is making. The product may also provide different results for different users.

The average person loses 50 to 100 hairs per day. Those who experience large amounts of hair shedding after combing or brushing, or notice their hair becoming thinner and falling out, should consult a dermatologist. This helmet may help the 40 percent of American women who suffer from hair loss.