The hair sampling procedure is very important for accurate Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) readings - sending in a high-quality sample cannot be over-emphasised.
However, many people often ask us how to cut a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis properly.

Ideally, collection of the hair sample should be done under professional supervision, or by someone trained in proper collection procedures within a clean environment.

Below are the four steps for the best way to cut a hair sample for the most accurate results.

Please be sure to read the whole document prior to cutting your hair!

WITH A HAIR KIT

When someone purchases a Mineral Balancing Program, we usually ship out a hair testing kit to their address. This does delay the process somewhat, by approximately 2-3 weeks but we highly recommend that you use a kit as it ensures that the hair is sent to the lab correctly and is the correct weight.

The kit that you receive includes:

An order form, which doubles as an envelope to send your sample to the lab.
A “balance” for measuring the right weight for your hair sample.
A small envelope for your hair sample to go into.

You will need your own Stainless Steel Scissors.

WITHOUT A HAIR KIT

You can still send a sample without a kit - due to COVID-19, delayed postage times have doubled the amount of time it would normally take, so we are recommending this option for people who are not based in Australia.

You will need:

2 X Paper Envelopes:
- A paper envelope to send your sample to the lab.
- A new and clean paper envelope for your hair sample to go into.
A Dessert spoon to measure your hair sample.
Stainless Steel Scissors.
The Order Form which is included in your purchase email.

The following guidelines should be maintained to ensure the collection of a metabolically representative sample and to avoid the introduction of external contaminants prior to, during and following the collection process.

Note: The only hair source that we recommend for analysis is scalp hair. Pubic and other body hair can be used as a last resort if scalp hair is not available. The reason is that the hair does not grow as quickly and the normal reference ranges were not assigned for areas from various regions of the body, and only for the scalp. We only recommend using other sources of hair for the confirmation of elevated toxic metals that have been found in the scalp hair and/or to rule out external contamination of the scalp hair. If you need to provide a sample for other-than-head, please see below for instructions.

1. Prepare your Sample

We only use a lab which does not wash the hair sample that they receive.

On the day that you plan on taking the sample:

Wash your hair with a simple shampoo to avoid possible environmental contamination.
- Do NOT use any Shampoo that contains:
  - Zinc (eg Heads and Shoulders, Anti-dandruff Shampoo)
  - Selenium (eg Selsum Blue)
  - Lead (found in Colour Darkening shampoo/cream eg Grecian Formula, Restoria)
  - Manganese
  - Apple Cider Vinegar (too harsh and can affect extracellular mineral levels)
  - Or any other mineral as this may skew the results.
Please avoid using conditioners or other products on your hair after you wash it.
The hair should also be free of all gels, oils and hair creams prior to sample collection.
Hair samples must be taken from dry clean hair, between 4 - 12 hours after washing your hair.

Do not sending dirty, sweaty or greasy hair. This will not produce results that are accurate to your body chemistry.

The portion of hair to be collected should be untreated.
This means that the sample can NOT be permed, dyed or bleached. If all of the hair has been chemically treated, wait at least 6 - 8 weeks until sufficient new virgin growth has emerged for collection.

If you are exposed environmentally and/or occupationally to external contaminants, such as welding, mining, etc, special care should be taken to limit exposure between the time from of washing the hair and the collection of the hair for analysis.

2. Cut the hair sample

It is always recommended to have someone else cut your hair sample for you. Ask a friend or the person who regularly cuts your hair.

Use high-grade stainless-steel scissors or thinning shears.
Take the hair sample from as close to the scalp as possible. See Fig. 1
Most samples are taken from the nape of the Neck or from the base of the skull, however anywhere on the head is acceptable. (More info below)
Cut in thin lines from various locations of the scalp, to avoid obvious bald spots.

For Shaved Head: If you shave your head, then cut with an electric razor what you can and save it in a paper envelope. The next week or so, razor cut it again and repeat until you fill a tablespoon with hair or tip the scale if you have a paper scale to weigh hair.

Next, cut off any hair that exceeds 1 inch (about 2 cm) long and retain the sample closest to the root. See Fig. 2
This portion reflects the most recent activity, ie 1 Month = Approx 1 Centimeter of hair growth.)
The length of the collected hair should not exceed one and one-half inches (4cm). Fig. 3

Weigh With Kit:

Place samples together on the scale - when the balance, or scale, tips, you have provided enough hair for the lab to perform the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis.

Measure Without Kit:

Otherwise, please completely fill a regular dessert spoon* with hair.

The lab requires 125 mg of hair, but it’s recommended to provide about 500 mg. If you have a paper scale, it must tip for you to have enough.

The recommended areas for collection are the nape of the neck, posterior vertex and posterior temporal regions. (See Fig 2, above.)

(*The big spoon that comes with your cutlery set. If in doubt you can use a heaping teaspoon, this will provide more than enough hair.)

3. Place the collected hair sample into a small envelope and post to the Lab.

With Kit:

Before placing the collected sample into the clean hair specimen envelope, please write your name, sex and age on the indicated areas.
After this, place the hair sample into the small white envelope provided and seal the glue flap.

Without Kit:

Write your name, sex and age on a new and clean paper envelope.
Then place place the collected sample into it, seal it, and fold the envelope in half.
Place in another envelope for mailing with the order form that is provided for you in your Client Portal. Do not send hair in plastic bags or aluminium foil.

Please do not use:

staples
paper clips,
adhesive tape,
aluminium foil
other metal and paper material of any kind

to seal, secure or wrap the hair envelope and/or the hair specimen contained within.

When you have obtained a hair sample from the instructions above, please send in an envelope to:

Analytical Research Laboratories, Inc.

2225 West Alice Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85021 USA

If you wish to send the sample to Trace Elements Inc, please let me know by email and I will arrange this for you.

IMPORTANT:

Please make sure that you send Hair Samples DIRECTLY to the Lab. Do not send Hair Samples to John in Australia. The Testing Laboratory is in the USA.

Due to COVID-19, this is the fastest way to receive results.

Other information

+ What to do if you can not provide Head Hair:

This should only be used as a last resort - ultimately all of the current science is based on Head Hair Samples.

Please contact us ASAP to discuss your options. Do not send in a sample that is other than Head Hair, without informing us first.

If you have a serious medical condition and cannot use head hair, these are the options:

The first choice for men is beard hair.
If this is unavailable, the next best location for sampling hair is the underarms (unless you use a aluminium-based deodorant).
Body hair can also be used, if available, though this is not recommended.
Please avoid using Pubic hair, as while it is allowed by many labs, is not as accurate.
Avoid combining hair from different parts of the body in one hair envelope - one location of hair must be taken per sample.

The other option for those unable to provide head hair samples is Fingernails or Toenails. These can work well and are quite accurate. Our main testing lab, Analytical Research Labs, does not accept nail samples.If you wish to request this option, we will have to send it to a different Testing facility - please contact us for details.

Unfortunately vanity will not be accepted as a reason to use Nails as a sample. This is reserved for people with serious health conditions only.

+ Why should the hair be closest to the scalp?

All reference range correlations, dietary recommendations and interpretive report content assumes that the complete hair specimen originated solely from the above defined regions of the scalp. Hair grows on average 1cm per month. Thus, a 2cm sample will provide data from the previous 2-months. If you were to provide a sample of 1cm long, you would be looking at approximately 1-month in the past.

Do not send in long hair samples. If you send in long hair, you will be sending in “old” information. This will not provide an accurate reading of your current metabolic state. However, the hair samples can be shorter, that suggested above. Actually, the shorter, the better. This means they will be more up-to-date.

+ Water Softener

If your home has a water softener, before sampling hair you must shampoo it twice with either unsoftened tap water, or preferably reverse osmosis water from the supermarket.

+ Info regarding Tints and dyes

Some hair dyes affect the hair test, therefore ideally, take a hair sample before dying your hair.

If you want to dye your hair, consider leaving a section of hair un-dyed, in the bottom layers of your hair. We recommend using only a natural hair dye.

+ Permanents or bleach treated hair

These treatments alter the structure of the hair somewhat. Sample the hair before a treatment, or wash the hair three or more times after a bleach or permanent treatment before sampling the hair.

+ Medicated shampoo

Do not use medicated shampoos prior to sampling your hair for analysis. This means at least two hair-washes before taking your sample.
These include: Selsun Blue, Heads N’ Shoulders, Grecian Formula or other brands which include minerals like zinc and magnesium.

+ Hair Salons

If the hair sample will be cut by your hair stylist, hair dresser, or barber, make sure to give them these instructions. Many stylists cut off the ends of long hair, which is incorrect and this will not give accurate results.

+ Animal Hair Samples

A newer recommendation is to cut the hair sample from the head, or as close to the head as possible. This will give more accurate readings. It is different from the recommendations of Analytical Research Labs.

With animal hair, before cutting the hair sample, clean the area with a clean piece of cloth or rag and some rubbing alcohol. This is better than cleaning the fur with water or soap. Once the sample is cut, do not wash the sample in any way, as that can skew the readings. Cut the sample as close as possible to the skin, and throw away any hair or fur that is more than about 2 centimetres long.

To take a horse sample, cut from the lower section of the mane. Take from a similar area for a canine or feline sample. Take sections from above and below the collar, avoiding any area that topical treatments have been applied.

With animals, you must tell the laboratory the species of animal and notify John that this sample is for an animal. We can test dogs, cats and horses (equine) and perhaps others.

How to Cut a Hair Mineral Sample in 4 Easy Steps