How to Pass a Hair Drug Test: Tips and Strategies

It’s no secret that hair follicle tests are more intimidating than other drug tests. While urine and blood tests can only detect drug use within a few days, hair drug tests can trace substance abuse patterns for up to 90 days or even longer.

With that in mind, you may wonder how to pass a hair drug test. We’ll admit it’s quite tricky, but it’s not impossible. In this guide, we’ll explore a few challenges you might face in passing this test and which strategies to use in such cases.

Whether it’s for employment purposes or personal reasons, our guide will offer tips to help you pass this high-stakes drug test. One of them – is to discover the power of detoxification with the Old Style Aloe Rid Shampoo Review. Dive deep into the effectiveness of this acclaimed shampoo, your ultimate solution for removing toxins from your hair https://www.hairarchives.com/review/old-style-aloe-rid.htm.
Hair Drug Test

Understanding the Hair Drug Test

The term “12-panel hair follicle drug test” is often misunderstood as it implies your hair follicles will be tested. But that’s not true at all! Instead, the test focuses on the hair shaft, where the drug metabolites accumulate as the hair grows.

Here’s a breakdown of how the hair follicle drug test works:

Metabolite Deposition: When you use drugs, substances enter your bloodstream along with their metabolites. These metabolites eventually reach your growing hair shafts, so the hair drug tests analyze the shaft instead of the follicle.
Extended Detection Window: Unlike other tests, hair follicle drug tests can detect drug use over an extended period, even 90 days or more. That makes it more efficient than urine and blood tests.
Sample Collection: The test begins with a professional taking a strand of hair, typically from the back of your head. Then, they send it to a laboratory for expert analysis.
Laboratory Analysis: Professionals wash and pulverize the hair strands in the lab. Then, they perform various chemical processes on the strand to extract and identify any drug metabolites present.
Interpretation: Finally, you’ll receive a comprehensive report detailing if any substances were present. If any, it’ll also specify their concentrations and when they were used.

Before a drug test, you may have questions like: how long does weed stay in a hair follicle? And, more importantly, how long does it take weed to get out of your hair? Here’s a breakdown of how long the substances are detectable after infrequent, regular, or heavy use.

Level of Weed Exposure	Detection Duration in Hair Follicles
Infrequent Use (1-2 times per month)	Up to 90 days or more
Moderate Use (1-2 times per week)	Up to 90 days or more
Regular Use (3-4 times per week)	Up to 90 days or more
Heavy Use (Daily or near-daily)	Up to 90 days or more

You’ll notice that the detection duration is quite consistent regardless of the frequency of use. Still, certain factors can influence how long weed stays in your hair, such as hair growth rate, hair type, and the drug’s potency.

What the Hair Drug Test Examines

The hair follicle list is designed to test a long list of drugs, including:

Marijuana (THC)
Cocaine
Opiates
Amphetamines
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines
Methadone
Propoxyphene
Synthetic Cannabinoids

Here are the cutoff levels for a few of these drug types.

Drug or Substance	ELISA Test Cutoff (pg/mg hair)	GC-MS Cutoff (pg/mg hair)
Marijuana (THC)	1	0.30
Cocaine (COC)	300	300
Amphetamines (AMP)	500	500
Methamphetamine (METH)	500	500
Opiates (morphine, codeine)	300	300

These cutoff levels represent the typical thresholds used in hair follicle tests for each drug class. The initial screening is called the ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test, followed by a confirmatory GC-MS test. The latter is only used when accurate and specific results are needed.

You may be subjected to a hair drug test in three common situations: employment screening, custody battle, and athlete testing. Here’s what each scenario can look like.

Employment Screening

For example, you have an upcoming job interview at a prestigious company in your field of interest. The company requires all potential employees to take a hair follicle drug test. You may have used marijuana recreationally in the past few months but are not a regular user.

In this case, a proactive strategy works best. You can use specialized shampoos and maintain a healthy lifestyle to cleanse your hair and body.

Custody Battle and Risk Assessment

Let’s suppose you’re caught in a bitter custody battle for your children. Your ex-spouse says you have a history of substance abuse, including marijuana use. The court will determine your suitability as a parent depending on whether you pass a hair follicle drug test.

In this scenario, you have used marijuana in the past but stopped several months ago. You may be worried that traces might still show up during the test. Your main worry is: how long is marijuana detected in a hair follicle drug test?

The best course of action is to consult an attorney specializing in family law and drug testing issues. The attorney will gather evidence like counseling attendance, a drug-free environment for your children, or anything that suggests a positive lifestyle change.

Professional Athlete Testing

In another scenario, you may be a professional athlete competing at the highest level of your sport. The governing body is strict regarding fair competition, so you must take a hair drug test. While you’ve never taken performance-enhancing drugs before, you may be worried about the possibility of accidental contamination or exposure to banned substances.

The only thing to do is stay vigilant about your surroundings, track all your medications, and be honest with the team’s medical staff. You may ask questions like: When will they take the drug test? How long does it take for a hair follicle drug test to come back?

Hair Follicle Drug Test Procedures

There are three primary types of hair follicle drug tests: lab tests, employer-sent kits, and online hair follicle tests. Here’s how each procedure works.

Laboratory Testing

Laboratory tests are the most reliable for getting accurate hair drug test results. A trained professional will directly collect the hair sample and transfer it to a certified laboratory for analysis. The lab experts will perform various chemical processes on the sample.

That includes washing, pulverization, and specific chemical extractions. They’ll send a comprehensive report once they find drug metabolites in the hair shaft. This type of hair drug test isn’t just reliable; the results are also more detailed than other methods.

Employer-Sent Kits

Instead of calling a professional to the workplace, some employers prefer to use hair follicle drug testing kits. The kit includes instructions, collection materials, and prepaid shipping labels and is sent to the employees’ homes.

Since there’s no professional present during testing, there’s the possibility of adulteration or tampering. So, this isn’t the most reliable option for drug testing. Employers mostly prefer it for its affordability and convenience.

Online Hair Follicle Tests

You can also order hair follicle drug tests online for personal use. They’re typically for self-collection, so you’ll need to perform the test and send it back for lab testing. If you use home hair drug testing kits, make sure to buy from a reputable source.

While online hair follicle tests and employer-sent kits are great as a convenient, last-minute solution, ensuring their accuracy is hard. Supervised testing is the only way to guarantee your results will be accurate. A professional extracts the sample, leaving no room for adulteration or tampering.

While supervised and unsupervised testing can affect the results, there are certain factors that don’t, despite popular belief.

External Exposure: It’s a widespread belief that external exposure can give you a false positive result in a hair drug test. While that’s true for some forms of drug testing, having contact with marijuana smoke or handling drug-contaminated surfaces will not affect your hair follicle test results. This test only looks for drug metabolites embedded in the hair shaft.
Shampoos and Hair Products: Washing your hair with a standard shampoo cannot guarantee a positive hair follicle test result either. These products only clean the outer layers of the hair shaft and can’t get rid of the drug metabolites embedded inside.
Hair Color and Type: Your hair color and type don’t affect your test results either. While coarser hair does hold on to drug metabolites longer, the difference isn’t too significant.

Interpreting Hair Drug Test Results

It’s natural to want to learn more about your hair drug test results before you take it. A common question is: what specifies a negative or positive test result?

Negative test results indicate no detectable levels of drug metabolites in your hair. Of course, it doesn’t mean you’ve never used drugs, just not recently. False negatives can occur due to insufficient drug use, a low drug dose, or issues with the testing process.

Positive test results indicate detectable drug use, even in trace amounts. False positives can occur due to cross-reactivity, contamination, or testing errors. They can be corrected by a confirmation test, which includes:

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Test: GC-MS is the most popular confirmation test, analyzing the substances found in the sample. It differentiates between the drugs and metabolites, confirming their presence.
Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Test: LC-MS/MS is also used to confirm the presence of drug metabolite, but less common than GC-MS.

Factors Influencing Toxin Retention

Before hair drug tests, people often have questions like: will I pass a hair drug test if I smoked once? Will I pass if I used drugs months ago? What makes drugs last longer in my body?

While following a detection duration window can be accurate, certain factors can influence toxin retention in your body.

Body Mass Index (BMI): Believe it or not, your BMI can affect how long drug metabolites stay in your body and hair. A higher BMI causes increased toxin retention since adipose (fat) tissues hold onto the substance and its metabolites.
Gender-Related Differences: Even your gender can affect the toxin retention of certain drugs. For example, women have 6-11% more body fat than men, according to this 2012 study. That means they’ll retain the drug metabolites in the adipose issues much longer.
Genetics and Metabolic Rate: Of course, those with faster metabolisms can process and get rid of the drug metabolites faster. Older people tend to have slower metabolisms, increasing their toxic retention.
Frequency and Mode of Drug Use: Finally, frequent and chronic drug use can also lead to longer toxin retention. These substances build up in your body over time, accumulating in your hair shafts. Smoking and injecting drugs can also cause higher retention compared to other modes of use.

Pre-Test Preparations: What to Avoid

When taking hair follicle drug tests in crucial situations, a simple false positive can cause major issues. Here’s what to avoid before your hair drug test.

Poppy Seeds: Poppy seeds contain very small amounts of opiates, which will show up in your test results. Consuming large amounts will result in a false positive. Poppy seeds are found in many baked goods, so be careful what you eat.
Over-the-counter Medications: Certain over-the-counter medications have ingredients that may trigger false positives. That’s especially true for cold and flu medicine. Remember to inform the testing facility if you’ve taken such medication.
Weight-Loss Pills: Weight-loss pills are one of the more suspicious dietary supplements to keep an eye out for. They often contain stimulants or other compounds that could trigger false positives. They may show up as amphetamines or other substances in your test results.
Mouthwash: Some hair drug tests also begin with a breathalyzer test. If you’ve used mouthwash shortly before, it may show a positive result since it contains alcohol.
Antidepressants: Most antidepressants are unlikely to cause false positives on standard drug tests. But if you’re taking tricyclic antidepressants, they may show up as amphetamines or LSD in your hair drug test results.
CBD Oil: CBD oil can also trigger false positives in hair tests for THC. THC remnants can persist in your hair long after cannabis consumption. It metabolizes into THC-COOH (carboxy-THC), which is not psychoactive but a primary metabolite in drug tests. THC-COOH locks into your hair shafts, remaining there even with hair growth.

Debunking Common Myths

There are many myths surrounding drug use and testing. Dispelling these myths is crucial since they can be harmful while preparing for a hair follicle drug test.

Hair Bleaching

Myth: Bleaching your hair will remove all drug metabolites from your hair shafts and help you pass the hair drug test.
Reality: Bleaching only affects the outer layer of your hair; it can’t access the drug metabolites.

Head Shaving

Myth: Shaving your hair will remove all traces of drug metabolites.
Reality: The hair shaft in concern is stored beneath the scalp and can still be extracted for drug testing.

Immediate Drug Cessation

Myth: Stopping drug use right before the test will help you pass.
Reality: While quitting drug use before a test is encouraged, hair follicle tests can detect drug use for 90 days or more.

Still, it’s absolutely vital to practice drug abstinence before a hair follicle test. Hair follicles store a historical record of drug use, making these tests more accurate than others. True drug abstinence for months before the test is the only way to get negative results.

Strategies to Pass Hair Strand Drug Tests

While passing a hair strand drug test isn’t easy with recent drug use, it’s still possible. Here are a few proven methods you could attempt.

The Macujo Method – A Step-by-Step Solution

The Macujo method relies on Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo to get rid of the drug metabolites.

Ingredients Required

Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo
Heinz Vinegar
Clean & Clear Pink
Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent
Shower caps, gloves, and towels

Method Steps and Directions

Wet your hair with warm water.
Massage Heinz Vinegar into your scalp.
Apply Clean & Clear Pink.
Put on a shower cap and leave it for half an hour.
Rinse and shampoo with Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo.
Rinse again and wash with Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent.
Repeat steps 5 and 6 three times.

Timelines for Effective Results

The Macujo method should be performed at least five days before the test.

The Jerry G Method – An Alternative Approach

Invented by Jerry G., this method uses a bleaching agent to get rid of drug metabolites from the hair shaft.

Ingredients Required

Hair bleach containing ammonia
Developer (hydrogen peroxide)
Shampoo
Conditioner
Water

Method Steps and Directions

Mix bleach and developer.
Apply to your scalp.
Leave it on according to the product instructions.
Rinse and wash with shampoo.

Timelines and Considerations

There’s no guarantee of success with the Jerry G method, but it’s recommended for those with limited time before the test.

Mastering Hair Detoxification

Aside from strategies like the Macujo method, you can also cleanse your hair with detoxing shampoos. Here’s what you need to know about the two top picks.

Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid

Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid is considered the best hair detox shampoo for a drug test. Aside from getting rid of drug metabolites, it also removes other impurities from the hair.

How to Use

Apply Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid generously on wet hair.
Massage it into the roots for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse and repeat twice.
Wash your hair with Zydot Ultra Clean once after.

Pros

Reliable reputation
Contains aloe vera
Deep cleans your roots

Cons

Expensive
Hard to find

Zydot Ultra Clean

Zydot Ultra Clean Shampoo is best used alongside other detoxification methods. Most users tend to wash their hair with Zydot once after they’ve already used Old Style.

How to Use

Apply Zydot Ultra Clean to wet hair
Massage thoroughly and leave it on for 10 minutes
Rinse

Pros

Designed to be used with other detox shampoos
Comes with instructions
Widely available

Cons

Not effective on its own

Frequently Asked Questions

Do detox shampoos guarantee a pass in a hair follicle drug test?

No, detox shampoos are not foolproof. Their effectiveness can vary since they’re only one part of the strategy. The best bet is true abstinence from drugs.

How long before a drug test should I start using detox shampoos?

Ideally, you should start using the shampoo as soon as you learn about the test. They require multiple applications over a few days to work.

Is it legal to use detox methods to pass drug tests?

Using detox methods to pass drug tests is a matter of personal choice. As long as you don’t tamper with the sample, it’s legal.

Conclusion

Hair follicle drug tests can expertly detect drug use within 90 days or longer, making them harder to pass. Luckily, there are certain strategies and tips to help you get positive results. Aside from being cautious and using the Macujo method, detox shampoos like Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid and Zydot Ultra Clean can also be quite effective.

Still, while these methods can provide a last-minute lifeline, there’s no solution better than genuine abstinence from drug use.

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