Welcome to Robb Recommends, a regular series in which our editors and contributors endorse something they’ve tried and loved—and think will change your life for the better.

One of the best ways to keep your hair as thick and full as possible is low-level laser therapy, or LLLT. A preponderance of at-home laser caps has popularized the treatment and made it easier to get those benefits without visiting the hair clinic. And now, there’s a new kid in town with similar hair-stimulating benefits, but no lasers whatsoever. Instead, the German device called Niostem uses LLES: low-level electrical stimulation.

With at-home LLES caps like this, low electrical signals influence hair follicle activity by encouraging those follicles to “shift toward” or “remain” in an active growth phase, rather than slipping into dormancy. In other words, it optimizes hair growth cycles for growth and endurance, so you not only have thicker hair in the long haul, but you express as many as possible at any given time, and have fewer follicles lying dormant between cycles.

I do feel like I need to offer some assurance, too: Electrical and electrostatic stimulation has been studied across medicine for decades, particularly in wound healing and tissue regeneration. In hair research, studies suggest that gentle electrical signals can help influence how hair follicles behave by supporting the cells that control hair growth. Unlike medications, this approach doesn’t change hormones or affect the body system-wide. It works locally, using a physical signal applied to the scalp over time.

Niostem even did its own peer-reviewed six-month pilot study, in which men with androgenetic alopecia used the device daily for 30 minutes. This use demonstrated increases in measured hair density and hair thickness, with no serious adverse events reported. That makes it a compelling alternative to guys concerned about hormonal effects from taking typical hair growth medicines like minoxidil and finasteride.

I’ve been enjoying my regular use with Niostem, but I do have to say: This one is for serious users. It requires 30-minute daily sessions, and to use it, you should first apply the water-based gel included with the helmet on each of the electrodes. This makes it easier for the current to stay consistent during use; using it without the gel means you can disrupt the session if you move too much

With that in mind, I think it’s best reserved for high-intent guys who want to incorporate something profound into their regular hair retention regimen, and who can commit to daily sessions. It is certainly easy to travel with, as it stays relatively flat (albeit curved) and can condense in length since it also adjusts to larger domes. You can even put a little conductive gel in the included travel bottle to tote it with you.

You manage your usage with an app, which also allows you to monitor the electrode connectivity. It will shut off automatically at the end of the session. I do think it’s easier on people with fine or short hair; otherwise, it can be hard to maintain consistent contact with the scalp. (The brand claims it should still work if your hair is longer or fuller, but you should plan to shower afterward to get all of that gel out of your strands.)

I have been doing it at the same time as my nightly Duolingo sessions, or during my nightly TV binges. I don’t actually feel anything up top either. I have used other electrostim devices on my face before, and those sometimes cause momentary twitching during use, but this one is comparatively chill. Sometimes after the session, I feel like my scalp is stimulated, but I’ve never experienced discomfort from using it.

And one buyer’s tip: Since the electrodes need to be replaced with regular use (roughly every month), I suggest adding one extra set with the first purchase, which effectively gives you six months of sessions “in reserve,” so there’s no interruption.

However, I have seen the brand recommend this electrode life-extender as well: Some users do sessions with towel-dry hair right after a shower, and that dampness and flatter hair safely allows the current to conduct, which could extend electrode life to between eight and 12 months. This could minimize gel usage, too.

Again, this is a high-level device. I feel like a high-level user, so it fits right in there with my top-tier laser caps, PRP and exosome sessions, and the hair transplant I got for added coverage. If you’re someone who holds hair retention in high priority and who can commit to a routine, then this device is worth your consideration for having a max expression of hair. If anything, it’s added permission for a nightly TV binge.