How to Pass a Hair Drug Test - Process, Recommendations, and Top Products

Are you facing an upcoming hair drug test and need guidance on how to pass a hair drug test? Then you have come to get the right guide for yourself.

Hair drug testing is gaining favor for its accuracy in detecting drug consumption. It is trusted by law enforcement, school officials, and recovery centers. A hair drug test uncovers both illegal and abused substances.

The intention here is to equip you with key insights for a hair drug test pass. We’ll dissect hair follicle test processes and tell you how long weed takes to get out of your hair.

Understanding the Hair Follicle Test Process

The hair follicle exam involves snipping a hair sample and testing it. Thereafter, the sample is tested for signs of drug use approximately 90 days prior to the test. Drug presence within the hair follicle is what’s being assessed.

Ecstasy
Amphetamine
Marijuana
PCP
Cocaine
Methamphetamine
Opioids

Here is a step-by-step explanation of how the hair drug test is performed.

Sample Collection

A part of the hair, usually 1.5 inches from the scalp, is collected. In cases an individual has little or no hair on their head, the lab is going to collect body hair.

Analysis

Thereafter, the sample is sent for washing. This removes the external contaminants before testing. Then the hair sample is dissolved in a solution that will break it down into component parts. This, in turn, helps with the detection process. Following this, the enzyme immunoassay will detect the metabolites.

Further Detection

In case there are any drug metabolites in the hair, the hair sample will be subjected to chromatography. This is to determine the accurate quantities of the drug.

Results

In case a particular substance produces a positive result in the initial step, the hair sample is retested for confirmation. This is to rule out false positives. If you’re curious how long it takes for a hair follicle drug test to come back, understand that it typically returns results in 3 to 5 days.

The Cut off Levels for Drug-Tested Substances

Drug	Screen Cutoff Level	Confirmation Cutoff Level
Opiates	500pg/mg	500pg/mg
Cocaine	300pg/mg	300pg/mg
Amphetemines/Methamphetemines	300pg/mg	300pg/mg
PCP (Phencyclidine)	300pg/mg	300pg/mg
Marijuana	1pg/mg	0.1pg/mg

Situations Requiring to Pass a Hair Follicle Drug Testing

Hair tests for THC and other substances serve various functions. Consider the common scenarios:

Drug Testing for Employment

You may need to undergo a drug test as requested by employers in certain cases. These situations are random or periodic drug detection of drug use by employees, while screening job applicants, or after a workplace accident. Even though urine drug tests are more common, hair drug tests might be used by many employers.

Legal Proceedings

There are many reasons why drug testing might be needed for legal purposes. It includes investigating cases of child endangerment or child abuse, collecting possible evidence of a crime, and determining if an individual is under the influence of drugs.

Medical Testing

Even though doctors rarely analyze hair samples to evaluate the health of a person, there are situations in which hair drug tests can provide helpful information to doctors. For instance, hair drug testing helps in post-mortem evaluation of long-term drug misuse or use.

Athletic Testing

Often, professional athletes have to take drug tests to screen for drugs that are considered performance-enhancers.

Drug Rehabilitation Programs

Hair drug testing amight be used along with medicine to detect chronic drug misuse or use. It also helps understand the abstinence period.

Top Hair Drug Testing Procedures

There are three main procedures to conduct a hair follicle drug test.

Laboratory Testing

In a laboratory hair follicle test, a professional will collect your hair sample. Then the sample is sent to a certified laboratory for analysis. It is one of the most accurate methods for drug tests.

Home Hair Drug Testing Kits

A few employers provide hair drug test kits, which employees can use at home or in a controlled environment. You just have to collect a hair sample as per the given instructions and send it to the designated laboratory for testing. It provides privacy for the testers. Also, they are easy to use since you can collect hair samples at your convenience.

Online Hair Drug Testing

You can buy test kits online. So, you can collect their hair samples whenever it’s convenient for you. Thereafter, you take them to the partnering lab for testing. Usually, the results are delivered electronically.

Interpreting Your Hair Drug Test Result

After the hair follicle test, you will either be detected as negative or positive. Here is how you can interpret these results for your hair drug test.

Negative

Your test result can be negative if no traces of the drug above the specific drug threshold have been found in the hair follicle. It means you have passed the hair follicle drug test.

Positive

The detection of drug metabolites or substances above the specific threshold can give a positive test result. The severity of the results of this can vary based on the circumstances.

Factors that Influence Toxin Retention

There are various factors that can influence the retention of THC metabolites. Here we are going to take a look at a few of them,

Body Mass Index

BMI plays an important role when it comes to toxin retention. This is because people with a higher BMI can have more fat tissue where THC or other drug metabolites can be stored. It leads to a longer detection window for drug tests, particularly for fat-soluble substances.

Gender Differences

Gender-related variations can impact toxin retention. It is because of the varying fat contents. Usually, females have a higher percentage of body fat than males. Thus, women might retain drug metabolites for a longer time.

Mode and Frequency of Drug Use

Frequent usage causes higher levels of drug metabolites to be stored in the body’s fat tissue. This can prolong the detection period.

Metabolic Rate and Genetic

Metabolic rate and genetics can considerably impact toxic mitigation. A few individuals have genetic variations, which can have an effect on how effectively their body metabolizes and gets rid of the toxins. If an individual has a slower metabolic rate, they can retain drug metabolites for a longer time.

Factors that Don’t Impact the Results

When you consider tampering with the sample, you should know that nothing might impact the results.

Hair Type: Your hair type doesn’t impact the drug result. This is because drug metabolites get deposited in the hair shafts after drug use.
Hair Color: Hair color doesn’t mask the hair shaft. Thus, drugs can be detected easily in various hair colors.
Time since Your Last Drug Usage: In some cases, the drug metabolites can be found in the hair, regardless of the time or exposure since the last usage. If you are wondering – how long does weed stay in a hair follicle after one usage, you should know that it takes just 1-3 days.

Pre-Test Preparations – Things You Need to Avoid

If you have a 12 panel hair follicle drug test about to come up, here is how you can prepare by avoiding a few things,

Poppy Seeds

Having foods that have poppy seeds, such as bagels or pastries, can lead to false positives. This is because it has traces of substances such as codeine or morphine.

THC Remnants in Hair

After consuming cannabis, THC metabolites can get deposited into the hair shaft over time. These remnants might persist for a longer time, leading to positive results. It can give positive results if cannabis use occurred even weeks or months ago.

Direct Contact with Substances

Even being exposed to passive weed smoking can lead to a positive result in a hair drug test. It is a test that has been designed to detect drug metabolites, which are absorbed internally.

Mastering Hair Detoxification – Using the Best Hair Detox Shampoo for Drug Test

If you want to master hair detox, you need to get the best detox shampoo. The two most popular detox shampoos are Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid and Zydot Ultra Clean.

Guide to Using Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo

The Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo is crafted from pure ingredients. Here are the ingredients that make up the formula.

Ingredients:

Purified water (Aqua) serves as the primary ingredient. Surfactants like sodium laureth and lauryl sulfates ensure foam and cleanliness. Aloe Vera Gel Juice (Aloe Barbadensis) and Propylene Glycol are used to calm and moisturize the hair. It also has natural moisturizers like Avocado Oil (Persea Gratissima) and Soybean Oil (Glycine Soja) to enrich hair’s nourishment.

Specialty Compounds

Serenoa Serrulata (Saw Palmetto) extract to stop hair fall. Ceramide-III aids in cuticle repair and protection. Polyglyceryl-3 ensures consistent mixing of the components. Octinoxate potentially acts as a hair UV shield. Another antioxidant in this shampoo is a-lipoic acid, which is beneficial to hair growth.

How to Apply Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo?

Learn the correct application before using the detox shampoo. Use it no less than 15 times before testing. Here are the steps you have to follow.

Thoroughly wet your hair first.
Then, apply a liberal amount of shampoo to your hair.
Let the shampoo sit for up to 5 minutes before you rinse it off thoroughly with warm water. The shampoo should be removed completely from your hair.
Apply a conditioner, as it will restore your scalp’s pH balance. It will protect your hair from potential damage.
Dry your hair using a towel, then, proceed to style as usual.

A single bottle of Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo is priced at $169.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
It keeps even the internal layer of the hair for being responsible for detection.	Failed results happen when you don’t follow the instructions.
It is highly safe to use since it is plant-based.	Must be used by individuals over 18 years old.
It contains high levels of propylene glycol, which removes drug contaminants.	It is very expensive.

Zydot Ultra Clean Shampoo

Zydot Ultra Clean Shampoo offers a cost-effective solution for hair cleansing. It targets chemical residues, THC, medication, and various impurities for clear hair.

Ingredients

The shampoo opens the hair cuticle while removing the external barriers that pile onto the scalp. The top ingredients of the shampoo are:

Aloe Vera: It helps protect the scalp by reducing swelling and redness that chemicals might have caused to the hair.
Tetrasodium EDTA: It helps remove strong chemicals from the hair.

Instructions to Use Zydot Ultra Clean Shampoo

Follow this direction to use the shampoo for a successful hair detox.

Start by applying a substantial volume of shampoo to your hair. Wear gloves to massage the shampoo into your hair. Use circular movements for around 10 minutes, then rinse with water.
Apply the entire pack of shampoo to the scalp. Run a comb through your hair thoroughly to make sure it spreads properly. Leave it for 10 minutes before you wash it off.
Reapply the rest of the shampoo in the packet to your hair, following the steps given above.
Apply the entire packet of the conditioner and massage it into your hair. Comb your hair once more, and rinse it after three minutes.

Zydot Ultra Clean Shampoo is priced at $36.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
It is affordable and easy to use.	It isn’t as effective as Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid.
The shampoo comes in a combination pack, including shampoo, conditioning, and purifier.
It is safe to use.

Strategies to Pass a Hair Drug Test

Here are a few strategies to pass a hair drug test.

The Macujo Method

For this method, you are going to need rubber gloves, salicylic acid, liquid detergent, bathing caps, and a detoxifying shampoo.

Then follow the steps given below:

Wet your hair with lukewarm water.
Apply vinegar to your damp hair while wearing gloves. Make sure it is applied evenly to your hair.
Massage Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing onto your hair. Make sure it is covered completely.
Wrap your hair in a plastic wrap tightly to ensure the product is penetrating. Allow it to sit for about 45 minutes.
Rinse the solution thoroughly from the hair using enough warm water.
Apply a generous amount of the detoxifying shampoo, ensuring coverage of every hair.
Allow the shampoo to sit for 5 minutes, then proceed to rinse it out with Tide Liquid Detergent.

The Jerry G Method

The ingredients for this method are 2 containers of dye and bleach, baking soda, Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo, and Zydot.

Now, you have to follow the steps given below for the Jerry G Method:

Use dye and bleach as per the instructions listed by the manufacturer.
Apply Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo.
In 10 days, repeat these steps again.
Lighten your hair with dye and bleach.
Now, wash it off thoroughly.
Prepare a paste of water and baking soda for applying to your leaves.
Let it sit for 15 minutes before you rinse it off.
Next, apply Zydot shampoo for better results.

Debunking Common Myths

Shaving to pass the test – Avoid shaving, as even two inches of hair on the body can give an accurate result, too.

You use hair from the hairbrush – The test can show inconclusive results if the air isn’t fresh.
Exposure to passive smoking can be fatal – Do not panic if you breathe marijuana or weed smoke passively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I Pass a Hair Drug Test if I Smoked Once?

No, you will not. You’ll likely fail if you’ve smoked weed even once in the last 90 days.

How Long Is Marijuana Detected in the Hair Follicle Drug Test?

The hair test can be positive for up to 90 days after you are exposed to marijuana or any other drug.

Can Drugs Be Detected in Body Hair?

Yes, the drug can even be detected in body hair. It means that the body hair samples can be used for detecting drugs.

How Long Does It Take Weed to Get Out of Your Hair?

It typically takes 1-3 months for marijuana to be eliminated from hair follicles. However, the exact timeframe can vary depending on factors like how much and how often someone uses marijuana, as well as their metabolism and hair properties.

How Long Does It Take for the Hair Follicle Drug Test to Come Back?

The hair follicle drug test can take 3-5 days to come back with results. The process involves taking a hair sample, sending it to a lab for analysis, and then waiting for the lab to run the tests and report back on whether any drug residues were detected in the hair.

Conclusion

To pass a hair drug test with a detox shampoo, consider what you want to achieve with the process. You need to consider if you have an urgent drug test or if you have enough time to complete the detoxification. We have given a detailed instruction on how to detoxify your hair using the best detox shampoos. Use the one that suits you the best.