Lifestyle

Experts Share How Low Level Laser Therapy Work

Published

5 years ago

October 30, 2020

Hair loss is a normal part of aging. Whether you’re a man or woman, it’s something that you’ll eventually have to embrace. But there’s a difference between embracing who you are and letting hair loss lead to premature balding. If you want to address the issue, low level laser therapy is one of the most effective options.

What is LLLT?

Low level laser therapy (LLLT), known in scientific circles as photobiomodulation, has been around for decades. However, it’s only just recently become accessible to the masses.

LLLT was first discovered in 1967 by Endre Mester who was working at the Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary. He found that applying laser light to the backs of shaven mice would actually induce hair to grow back more quickly than normal. Furthermore, he found that lasers could be used to treat skin ulcers, wounds, and certain neurological disorders.

“LLLT involves exposing cells or tissue to low levels of red and near infrared (NIR) light, and is referred to as ‘low level’ because of its use of light at energy densities that are low compared to other forms of laser therapy that are used for ablation, cutting, and thermally coagulating tissue,” explains a study published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering. “LLLT is also known as ‘cold laser’ therapy as the power densities used are lower than those needed to produce heating of tissue.”

It was previously thought that LLLT required coherent laser light, but researchers have found that light emitting diodes (LEDs) are equally as effective and less expensive.

And while LLLT is used for dozens of therapeutic techniques, its application for hair loss is among the most prized and highly sought after — particularly since it’s become available as a consumer product.

“Until recently, this technology was available only through expensive procedures performed by physicians. Now, you can have it right in your own home for a more comfortable, more time-efficient method of treating hair loss,” explains Kiierr, one of the leading providers of laser hair growth caps.

In terms of hair regrowth, LLLT irradiates photons into scalp tissues. And as these photons are absorbed by weaker cells, it encourages hair growth. In other words, laser therapy improves cellular respiration, stimulates hair follicles, and jumpstarts the hair growth process.

LLLT technology is FDA approved and has been backed by numerous clinical trials. Here are two of them:

In a 2014 study, low level laser therapy was found to be both safe and effective for hair growth in men and women.
In a separate study of 41 males between the ages of 18 and 48, laser therapy produced a 39 percent increase in hair growth over a 16-week period.

Who Should Try LLLT?

As more consumers learn about LLLT, it’s becoming a favored option for fighting hair loss. So, is it right for you? Here are some instances where it makes sense:

You’re experiencing some sort of rapid or premature hair loss. This could be balding at the crown of the head, thinning, and/or a receding hairline. LLLT will not only slow the rate of hair loss, but it could also allow you to regrow hair in areas where you were previously balding.
You need help regrowing hair, but you don’t want to go through the pain and hassle of a hair transplant procedure. You’d prefer something convenient and discreet that can be done in the comfort of your own home.
You aren’t interested in hair loss medications because of the side effects, mess, and ongoing monthly expense. You’d rather have a cost-effective option with no side effects.

LLLT is for both men and women. Whether your hair loss is caused by hereditary factors, changes in hormones, stress, or unknown factors, laser therapy can help you grow a thicker and fuller scalp of hair.

Other Helpful Tips for Fighting Hair Loss

While it’s certainly one of the most effective methods for fighting hair loss, LLLT is just one option. If you’re going to try it, make sure you’re setting yourself up for success with the lifestyle decisions you make. Diet, nutrition, sleep, and stress reduction are all important factors. Live a healthy life and do what you can to fight back against hair loss!

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.