Drug tests have come to stay. These days, they’ve become more popular, especially with workplaces demanding them as an employment requirement. While there are different methods for testing for drug use, the hair follicle test has gained prevalence among employers because of how far it can go to detect substance use, dating back up to several months. Unfortunately for vapers, it’s one of the hardest tests to cheat. But that’s not to say it’s impossible. You just need to know how to prepare yourself for it. If you’re facing this kind of THC test as part of an investigation or a drug testing process, you know for sure there’s so much to lose if you fail. We know how failure can feel and that’s why we’ve provided a detailed guide on how to pass a hair follicle test. This article reviews everything you should know about the test and how to prepare yourself for it, such as using special detox shampoos like and .
Understanding the Hair Follicle Drug Test
Let’s start by explaining what this test is about. As its name implies, it’s a kind of test that examines the hair for the possible presence of marijuana. When drugs are taken, they dissolve in the body, with their byproducts transported through the blood. They then get to the hair root, known as the hair follicle, where they anchor to the hair.
While the name of this test may imply otherwise, it’s important to note that it’s not carried out on the hair follicle. Instead, it’s carried out on your hair strands, which are taken from as close to the scalp as possible. The steps involved in sample collection for this kind of test include:
- The collector uses clean scissors to collect a hair strand of approximately 0.5 cm length from as close to the scalp as possible.
- The hair strand is then fastened to a cupboard using a stapler. Avoid the use of adhesive tape for this stapling.
- An arrow is used to indicate the root of the hair strand before inserting the booklet in a Ziploc-type bag before being transported to the lab.
Please note that the sample can be taken not only from the back of your head. If you’re bald or have very short hair, don’t be surprised if a doctor decides to take hair samples from other parts of your body. Fortuantely, you can detox the hair on your head by usign detox shampoos like and .
Drugs Detectable by a Hair Test
Hair screens are designed to detect several different substances including:
- Marijuana
- Opiates
- Cocaine
- PCP
- Amphetamines.
Each of these drugs has its specific cutoff values measured in picograms (PG) per milligram (MG) of hair. The table below shows the cutoff for each of the substances listed above.
| Drug class | Elisa test cutoff | GC-MS cutoff |
| Marijuana | 1 PG/MG hair | 0.30 PG/MG hair |
| Opiates | 300 PG/MG hair | 300 PG/MG hair |
| Cocaine | 500 PG/MG hair | 500 PG/MG hair |
| PCP | 300 PG/MG hair | 300 PG/MG hair |
| Amphetamines | 500 PG/MG hair | 500 PG/MG hair |
As expected, there are many situations where you may be required to go for a drug screen, and that’s why you must pay attention to learning how to pass a hair drug test. For example, you can use various detox shampoos, such as and . Some of the common situations include:
- Employment testing
- Forensic and legal testing
- Medical testing
- Drug rehabilitation programs
Factors Influencing Toxin Retention
One question we often see in weed-related discussions is “how long does weed stay in the hair follicle?” The first step to explaining this is to review the factors that can influence how long it lasts. Here, let’s look at some of them.
Usage Frequency
Here’s an important factor to always consider. If a person takes too many drugs for too long, it makes them more likely to fail a drug detection test, even if they’ve stopped for many months.
Metabolism Rate
Metabolism rate plays an important role in determining how long any kind of substance stays in your system. Thus, people with faster metabolism rates are more likely to pass their test than people with a slower metabolism rate, even if they took the same substance at the same time.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
This simply refers to a person’s fat or lean ratio. It also affects how long drugs may linger in your body before getting into your hair. Overweight and obese people may have drugs showing up in their system several months after consumption because their fatty tissues store more metabolites that are gradually released into the bloodstream with time..
Hair Growth Rate
Average human hair grows at about 1 cm per month, but it can sometimes vary between 0.5 to 2 cm. So the slower the hair grows, the more likely it’ll contain the traces of substances taken months ago. Regardless of your hair length, you cna use detox shampoos like and to prepare for a hair drug test.
Mode of Drug Usage
Let’s just say people who consume marijuana directly as smoke are more likely to have toxins showing up in their samples in a minimum time. Other usage modes may require proper digestion before metabolism begins.
Hair Follicle Drug Test Procedures
This kind of test can take place in a laboratory or healthcare setting, a workplace, or even at home. Below is how it’ll usually play out in different settings.
- Lab/healthcare: During the process, a lab representative removes a small hair sample from as close to your scalp as possible and sends it to a testing facility or laboratory for overnight testing.
- Instant testing kits: This method involves the use of testing kits that provide instant test results. These kits are available in pharmaceutical stores, allowing for an at-home hair follicle test and the collection of hair samples.
- Online testing services: The third and final option involves an online process, where a dedicated center mails hair testing kits to you. The kits are designed for the collection of samples, which you’ll mail back to them for further action. Don’t forget to review the specific instructions attached to each kit.
At-home hair follicle drug testing is becoming more popular these days, but that doesn’t negate the need for supervision. Having supervisors available for sample collection can make the process more seamless, taking away any kind of doubts. It’s important to remember that you can prepare for any kind of hair testing by using and .
Interpreting Drug Test Results
When you submit your sample for hair follicle tests, there are always two possible outcomes. The result is either positive or negative. A positive result means the traces of the drug metabolites being screened for have been detected in your hair sample. On the other hand, a negative result means that no trace was detected. Negative results don’t always mean you haven’t engaged in drug use. It can also mean that the available drug metabolite is not big enough to be noticed.
There are usually two methods used for this kind of test:
- Initial testing
- Confirmatory testing.
While initial testing provides initial results indicating the presence of drugs or not, the confirmatory testing method does a more thorough job. It usually comes after the initial test has confirmed the presence of drugs in your system. Its job is to provide more details on the kind of drugs used and a potential timeline.
Pre-Test Preparation: What to Avoid
While it’s true that you don’t need any special preparations for hair follicle drug tests, you also can’t afford to be careless with it. Thus, one of the best ways to ensure a negative result is to completely abstain from any substance that can potentially implicate you. You also want to stay away from smokers to avoid any possible complications from secondhand smoke. Some research shows that the consumption of poppy seeds can cause a false positive result. While there’s no solid backing to this, you want to avoid poppy seeds and everything that can potentially leave any implicating metabolite in your body. Another option is to learn how to destroy metabolites in the hair. For example, you can use such detox shampoos as and .
If you’ve recently used weight-loss pills, special mouthwash, antidepressants, or CBD oil, you surely need to talk to your doctor about it. They can offer customized advice on how these substances can impact your test. However, it’s possible to avoid all these and still fail if you’ve taken any banned substance before. These substances are notorious for staying stubbornly in your hair and that’s why you must find the answer to “how long does weed stay in your hair follicle?”
Mastering Hair Detoxification
If you’ve read to this point, congratulations. We’re about to offer practical solutions that can help you get through any hair test. One of them is detoxification, which involves using products that help to break down THC metabolites in your hair. While there are many ways to do this, we always recommend the use of detox shampoos. The best hair detox shampoos for drug tests are the ones that prioritize safety and effectiveness. The two most popular options that come to mind are:
- Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid
- Zydot Ultra Clean
Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo Usage Guide
If you’re searching for how to pass a hair follicle asap, you should pay attention to this option. is a scientifically proven shampoo solution known to deeply cleanse and remove medications, chlorine, heavy metals, chemicals, and toxins from your hair. Its key ingredients are specially sourced to help ensure it readies your hair for the hair follicle testing process. The makers of this product typically recommend using it every day, starting from the 10th day before the test. However, if you don’t have that much time, you can use it multiple times daily, ensuring that the shampoo stays lathered on your hair for 10-15 minutes during each wash. Below are the recommended steps for using it:
- Wet your hair and apply regular shampoo to it.
- Rinse out the regular shampoo with enough water
- Apply this product to your already moistened hair.
- Massage it into your hair and scalp, and leave it to rest for up to fifteen minutes
- Rinse with lukewarm water and apply regular conditioner.
Zydot Ultra Clean Shampoo Usage Guide
This one is a more complete deep-cleaning shampoo because of the inclusion of a conditioner and a purifier in its pack. These additional products not only ensure the smooth removal of toxins. They also ensure the maintenance of your real hair color during and after the wash. Fortunately, is a same-day product that’s usable on the day of your analysis. But it also means that it’s not a good option if the screening gets delayed. The usage steps include:
- Wet your hair and apply half of the shampoo to it.
- Massage the shampoo into your hair and leave for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Use lukewarm water to wash off the shampoo
- Massage the purifier into your hair using your fingertip to work it all the way to your scalp
- Using a new comb, comb the purifier into your hair, leave for 10 minutes, and rinse properly with room temperature water.
- Shampoo your hair again with the remaining shampoo. Massage the product into your hair for about 10 minutes before rinsing with plenty of water.
- Apply the conditioner again and massage until you’re sure it gets to all parts of your hair before rinsing.
Pros and Cons of Old Style Toxin Rid and Zydot Ultra Clean
| Shampoo | Pros | Cons |
| Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid |
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| Zydot Ultra Clean |
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Strategies to Pass Hair Strand Drug Tests
Passing a cannabis test may not be the easiest of tasks, but it’s achievable, especially if you know what to do. Let’s review two popular methods that always work to prepare your hair for a drug test below.
The Macujo Method
Named after its creator, this method combines natural and artificial hair-cleansing to remove all traces of drugs from your hair. Its high efficiency makes it a popular option for people facing the 12-panel hair follicle drug test. Let’s jump right into how it’s done.
Items Needed
- shampoo
- Warm water
- Heinz’s vinegar
- Detergent
- Clean and Clear shampoo.
Usage Steps
- Pour a generous quantity of lukewarm water on your hair to ensure complete wetness
- With your rubber gloves and goggles well suited, apply vinegar to your hair and massage until it reaches your scalp
- Massage your hair with Clean and Clear and allow it to soak in for about 40 minutes
- Rinse your hair properly with running water
- Apply Old Style Aloe Rid shampoo to your hair and allow to sit for about 7 minutes
- Use the available detergent to wash your hair
- Repeat the process for as many times as you can before your test date.
The Jerry J Method
This method involves using bleach and hair dye to remove drug metabolites from your hair while preparing for a hair follicle drug test. The harsh ingredients typically open the hair to clear any traces of THC.
Items Needed
- Bleach
- Hair dye
- Baking soda
- Zydot Ultra Clean Shampoo
- Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo
- New towels, hair accessories and combs.
Usage Steps
- Abstain from the use of marijuana for up to 10 days before the test
- Use a quality hair dye that contains ammonia to bleach your hair
- Use shampoo to wash your hair well
- On the 10th day, repeat the process. Bleach, dye, use the detox shampoo and rinse properly
- A couple of hours before the test, apply a baking soda paste and apply it to your hair. Allow to sit for a few minutes before washing off
- Apply a quality detox shampoo and wash your hair well after.
Debunking Common Myths
You Can Cheat the System by Shaving Your Head Hair
Shaving your hair is not a way to avoid the test. Instead, it forces them to use your body hair. Unless you’re ready to shave your entire body hair, this isn’t a great option.
Bleaching Your Hair Can Help You Cheat tThis Kind of Test
Indeed, bleaching can help reduce toxins, but it still doesn’t guarantee that you’ll pass the test. Most times, the bleaching effect doesn’t reach the innermost part of your hair shaft that’s also used as part of the sample.
Immediate Drug Cessation Can Help You
We always recommend abstinence as a way to pass any kind of THC test. But that’s not to say you should quit a few days before your appointment. This kind of test has a detection window of up to 90 days, so even if you quit for a few days, it’ll still detect prior usage. We recommend abstaining from any banned substance for a long time before your appointment, even if you’re using any of the methods reviewed so far, such as or .
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I Pass a Hair Drug Test if I Smoked Once?
This kind of drug analysis works, irrespective of the amount of times you smoked. Frequency doesn’t affect results. Instead, it is the time of usage that determines the outcome.
How Long Does It Take for a Daily Smoker to Become Clean?
Typically, THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, stays in the hair for up to 90 days. So being naturally clean requires complete abstinence for up to 90 days.
Can I Use Detox Shampoos with Other Products?
As we’ve pointed out in another section of this article, you can use detox shampoos, including or , with conditioners and purifiers. In fact, some brands are even more effective when paired with the right products.
How Often Should I Use Detox Shampoos?
Usage frequency should depend on individual needs and frequency. However, note that overuse can strip the hair of natural oil. So experts typically recommend not using it more than once in a month.
How Long Does It Take for a Hair Follicle Drug Test to Come Back?
Simply put, the results for this type of test are usually available within three to five working days, although factors like sample collection method may affect the wait time.
Conclusion
So that’s it, a detailed review of one of the most popular kinds of THC tests available today. Although hard to pass, this type of test is becoming a mainstay in many employment processes. If your workplace requires you to undergo this test , don’t fret. You can always use the information provided in this article to prepare yourself. Fortunately, we’ve also reviewed how to pass hair follicles with home remedies, so you don’t have to be stranded. Remember, the and Shampoo remain the best for hair detoxification, but you can always do your own research to find what works best for you.
