Please read the following instructions VERY carefully.  It’s important to take the sample correctly otherwise the lab may not be able to use your sample, resulting in delays and having to take extra hair for a new sample.

Hair Sample Instructions

Here’s a little more detail on the sampling and testing process so that you can understand why it’s important to be careful when taking your sample.  The aims of the process are:

  • To get an accurate reading of what’s happening inside your body (not what’s on your hair)
  • To test the most recent mineral and metal activity

  • To provide the lab with enough hair, stored in a suitable way

  • To provide the lab with all the information to identify and process your sample correctly

Avoiding Contamination

IMPORTANT – do you use any of the following products?:

  • Medicated or anti-dandruff shampoo
  • Head and Shoulders
  • Selsun Blue
  • Colour darkening shampoo / cream
  • Grecian Formula
  • Restoria
  • Apple cider vinegar

Please omit these products from your routine for two weeks before taking your hair sample (otherwise this will affect the accuracy of your test results).

If you regularly take Epsom salt baths, stop these for at least a week before taking your sample.

If you are exposed to contaminants at work (eg welding, mining), take your hair sample on a day when you don’t need to be at work.

If your hair is coloured, bleached, or permed, you will need to take special precautions. Using coloured, bleached, or permed hair will reduce the accuracy of the results of your test.

If you only treat parts of your hair, you can take the sample any time from the untreated areas.

If you treat all of your hair, the easiest plan is to take the hair sample when you have 3.5cm (1.5 inches) of regrowth (untreated hair) as this will ensure a good result and reduce the amount of hair that you have to cut.

If you prefer to have your hair treated more frequently, you can either ask the hairdresser to leave a patch of regrowth untreated (although the ends – over 3.5cm / 1.5 inches – can be treated), or you can wait for at least three weeks and 4 hair washes after the treatment to take your sample.

If your home has a water softener, rinse the hair 4 times with bottled water or unsoftened tap water before following the remainder of the sampling instructions.

If your hair is coloured, bleached, or permed, you will need to take special precautions. Using coloured, bleached, or permed hair will reduce the accuracy of the results of your test.

If you only treat parts of your hair, you can take the sample any time from the untreated areas.

If you treat all of your hair, the easiest plan is to take the hair sample when you have 3.5cm (1.5 inches) of regrowth (untreated hair) as this will ensure a good result and reduce the amount of hair that you have to cut.

If you prefer to have your hair treated more frequently, you can either ask the hairdresser to leave a patch of regrowth untreated (although the ends – over 3.5cm / 1.5 inches – can be treated), or you can wait for at least three weeks and 4 hair washes after the treatment to take your sample.

If your home has a water softener, rinse the hair 4 times with bottled water or unsoftened tap water before following the remainder of the sampling instructions.

Preparing to Take Your Hair Sample

Sensitive Scales

For anyone that is concerned about taking too much hair for the sample, I highly recommend purchasing a cheap pair of sensitive digital scales to take the sample, something like this. They will need to be sensitive enough to measure the sample accurately at 125mg – it is a small investment for peace of mind.

Sampling With a Hairdresser

Either ensure that you can explain clearly to the stylist how to take the sample, OR print out these instructions and give them to the stylist so they understand how to take the sample correctly.

How to Prepare Your Hair

1

Wash your hair with shampoo, but do not use any conditioner or additional products, not even if you intend to wash them out

2

You can dry your hair naturally or with a hair dryer

3

Do not use any type of products on your hair

4

Take the hair sample between 4-24 hours after it has been washed (if you live in a particularly damp place, please ensure that the hair is completely dry before you take the sample)

Head Hair

Please use head hair wherever possible.

If you have head hair but you just cut it short / shave:

When you’re ready to trim your hair / shave, follow the instructions above for washing your hair and when you’re ready to take the sample, please use a clean pair of hair clippers. If there is not enough hair the first time you trim your hair, keep the hair cuttings in a clean envelope until the next time you want to trim your hair and repeat until you have enough cuttings in the envelope for a full sample.

Body Hair

If you have no head hair growing on your head:

You can use beard or underarm hair, but please only use one type of hair and ensure that it meets the length requirement. Pubic hair is best avoided as it is less accurate, it can only be accepted if there is no other option.

If you are not using head hair, please note this on your HTMA order form and in your questionnaire.

Taking Your Hair Sample

  • You’ll need a clean pair of scissors or hair clippers, a ruler, and a clean paper envelope (not tin foil, cling film, or plastic bag).

  • For hair longer than 3.5cm (1.5 inches), put most of the hair up out of the way. Take the hair sample from the back of the head, low down near the neck, or somewhere where it is less noticeable.

  • Take a section of hair and cut it as close to the scalp as possible. Do not put it down! The lab can only use the most recent hair growth, closest to the scalp. Make sure you know which end this is and cut no more than 3.5cm (1.5 inches) of the most recent hair growth into your envelope. Use the ruler to help you. There’s no need to cut the hair in the sample any smaller than this.

  • Repeat the process until you have 125mg of hair. It’s a good idea to take the samples from a couple of different locations so that the spots are hidden amongst the hair. Some people find it easier to have a friend do this at home, some prefer to get the hairdresser to do it before getting their hair coloured.

  • If you have short or shaved hair, shorter than 3.5cm (1.5 in), use a clean pair of clippers to trim a sample of the hair off the back of the head. Put the hair into your envelope. You can do this yourself or get the hairdresser to do it. For longer hair use the above instructions.

  • If you have a sensitive set of digital scales (recommended), weigh the sample to check it is at least 125mg. The lab will not be able to use samples that are smaller than this.

  • If you don’t have digital scales, use the image of a hair sample shown here to guide you as to how much hair to take.

  • Once you have enough hair in the sample, close the envelope and write on it your full name and your age.

Posting Your Hair Sample

  1. Print the HTMA order form that I attached to your email and complete your details.
  2. Put the form and the envelope containing your hair sample into your envelope.
  3. Post your envelope to this address:

Analytical Research Labs (ARL)
2225 W. Alice Avenue
PO Box 37964
Phoenix, Arizona 85069-7964
USA