One of the most interesting things about “Grow It Back” is that it spends so much time laying foundations. Hamid discusses how hair follicles work, how cellular energy works, and how light can affect these processes. In fact, Hamid frequently talks about light in a very broad sense. He discusses how light has traditionally been used in medicine and how it relates to recovery. This gives a sense of how laser phototherapy sits within a much broader category of regenerative treatments.
The pace of the book is also a reflection of this educational goal. Hamid does not try to hurry the reader to conclusions. He presents information, reviews it again with more information, and reviews key points from another direction. For some readers, this will seem to be taking too long. For others, especially those who wish to understand the “why” before committing to any treatment, this is a clear strength.
Books about hair loss tend to start with a sense of panic. They are written for people who are already frustrated and fed up, and who suspect that they are being sold another false promise. “Grow It Back” is different. It starts with a sense of calmness and methodically builds up a case. This is because, unlike most of those who write about hair loss, Tamim S. Hamid is a former NASA scientist with decades of experience working with lasers and biomedical engineering. As such, he writes from a position of knowledge and expertise. The problem with most books about hair loss, Hamid argues, is that they are written within a world of half-truths, outdated assumptions, and solutions that are never adequately explained. “Grow It Back” sets out to change this.
As Hamid delves into the subject of laser phototherapy, he is remarkably conservative. He describes what LPT can accomplish, how it works at the cellular level, and what studies indicate about its effectiveness. He also describes what it cannot accomplish. For instance, he stresses that hair regrowth is not immediate. Consistency is key. Results vary. Some stages of hair loss are more difficult to reverse than others. This approach lends credibility to the book because this genre is notorious for hyperbole.
One more interesting approach is Hamid’s emphasis on proper use and safety. He describes the distinction between cold laser technology and other light therapy. He stresses why this distinction is important. His discussion of regulations, manufacturing, and misuse adds a level of consumer protection that is not usually seen. His message is not “use lasers,” but “understand what you are using and why.”
The emotional tone of the text is very calm and assuring. While the seriousness of hair loss is recognized, the author has not sensationalized the subject. Instead, he has attempted to present the problem in a way that suggests it can be solved or at least controlled with the right information. This approach may be most appealing to those who feel bombarded by hype and want something down-to-earth.
That said, the book clearly promotes laser phototherapy as the most promising solution currently available. Though Hamid uses statistics and studies to back this assertion, the text always seems to guide readers toward LPT as the logical conclusion to be drawn from the evidence. Readers interested in an overview of all potential solutions for hair loss may find the text too narrow in its focus. However, readers interested in laser-based solutions will probably appreciate the level of detail.
Finally, the writing style in “Grow It Back” is clear, concise, and well-organized. Chapters are clearly delineated, technical terms are clearly defined instead of simply being assumed, and repetition is used for clarity instead of padding the text. The book feels like it’s meant to be read instead of skimmed.
Ultimately, “Grow It Back” isn’t really a book about selling people hope so much as it’s a book about giving people hope back. While readers are certainly presented with the author’s thoughts about hair loss treatments in the final chapters, they are also given the tools to form their own opinions about the subject. Regardless of whether or not readers decide to follow Hamid’s recommendation for laser phototherapy, the book certainly demystifies the subject in a way that’s too often obscured by marketing hype or misinformation.
Readers looking for a serious, science-based explanation of hair loss and the role that laser phototherapy might play in helping to solve the problem will find “Grow It Back” to be a thoughtful, steady, and unusually honest guide.
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