Buying Your First LED Device: A Guide

The Four-Step Checklist

1. Measured irradiance: third-party mW/cm² data (the dose window).
2. Bands: red/blue/yellow/NIR coverage and switching.
3. Array area: full-face versus partial (capacity and scenarios).
4. Scenario match: repair adjunct / standalone courses / scalp line (the repair program, scalp program).

Acceptance Points

• Irradiance uniformity across the treatment field.
• Peak-wavelength verification.

FAQ

Why do LED prices vary so much?

Diode quality, drivers and optics set irradiance and lifespan — read measurements, not LED counts (the same logic as the home-device myths).

Negotiation and Pairing Points

• Irradiance-degradation warranty: written commitment that output stays above X% of initial after N years (the dose basis).
• Do you need every band? A repair-only program can run red+NIR only — spend the savings on scheduling software.
• Bundled justification: LED purchases usually justify inside a device-program package (the adjunct logic).

Common Errors

1. Counting LEDs instead of reading irradiance.
2. Array size mismatched to the bed (full-face should cover in one pass).
3. No timers or dose logging — dose management without data.

Related Terms

• Adjunct Slots
• Red vs Blue
• Salon Starter