How to Pass a Hair Follicle Drug Test

Author Info

Last Updated: July 15, 2023 Fact Checked

A drug test is sometimes the one roadblock that prevents otherwise sane and healthy people from succeeding. It can keep a qualified candidate from getting a job or complicate existing legal issues. If you are expecting a hair follicle test, don't panic. With this information at your disposal, you stand a chance of dodging the dreaded "positive."

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Determining your Odds

Download Article

1
Know when you'll have to take a drug test. Drug testing laws vary by state and country. Job applicants are commonly drug tested as part of the hiring process, especially for low or entry-level jobs. In the United States, federal agencies that require drug testing adhere to testing procedures set by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Private employers generally have more freedom in their drug testing procedure. However, laws vary from state to state.
- In the United States, companies that hire commercial drivers are required to have a drug testing program in place.^{[1]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
  Go to source}
- Certain employers might require you to be drug tested even after you are hired. Random drug-testing may be part of the terms of employment, or you may be required to undergo a test if you are involved in a workplace accident. Make sure you understand a company's drug testing policy before accepting a job offer.
- Research your local laws if you are unsure whether certain activities or jobs require drug testing.
2
Know which drugs are most commonly tested for. In the United States, employers that follow SAMHSA testing guidelines generally test for five specific classes of drugs. These drugs are:
- Amphetamines (methamphetamine, amphetamines, ecstasy(MDMA))
- Cocaine (Powder and "crack" forms)
- THC (marijuana, hash, edible cannabis products)
- Opiates (heroin, opium, codeine, morphine)
- Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust)
- Alcohol is occasionally tested for in addition to the above drugs.
Advertisement
3
Know which drugs employers may also choose to screen for. Private employers are not required to perform the basic SAMHSA test. Many opt for an expanded test that screens for additional drugs. The most common additions are:
- Barbiturates (phenobarbital, butalbital, secobarbital, downers)
- Benzodiazepines (Valium, Librium, Xanax)
- Methaqualone (Quaaludes)
- Methadone (a drug used to treat heroin addiction)
- Propoxyphene (Darvon compounds)
- Nicotine (and nicotine by-product, cotinine)
4
Know which drugs aren't usually screened for. The following drugs are detectable in a hair test, but are only rarely tested for.
- Hallucinogens (LSD, mushrooms, mescaline, peyote)
- Inhalants
- Anabolic Steroids
- Hydrocodone (Oxycodone, Vicodin)
After you consume any drug, the active chemicals in the drug will circulate through your body. These chemicals, or certain other chemicals produced when your body processes the drug (called metabolites), can accumulate in your hair follicles. As a strand of hair grows, its follicle will deposit these chemicals in it. Hair tests look for these chemicals in a small sample of your hair.
6
Understand how your hair is processed. Hair tests cut a small sample of your hair (usually 1-3 clumps of about 50 strands each^{[2]
X
Research source}). Most cuts are taken from the back of the head so as not to ruin your haircut.
- The standard detection window for the hair test is 90 days. Because hair grows about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in 90 days, hairs with a length of about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) are targeted for cutting. Longer hairs will give a longer window of detection.For instance, a 6-inch long strand of hair can potentially reveal drug use from a year ago. However, 90 days is the most common testing window, so, generally, long strands of hair are cut to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) before being tested.
- Depending on the drug and the specifics of the testing process, a hair test may or may not be able to detect whether or not use has been discontinued. For instance, opiates bind tightly to the shaft of hair, while cocaine can migrate along the hair shaft. In this case, certain tests can detect the approximate date of the opiate use based upon its position in the hair shaft, while this is impossible for cocaine.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
- If no hair is available on your head (you're bald or have a shaved head), hair from other parts of your body can be tested.^{[4]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
  Go to source}
- Note: Because it can take up to a week for drug-affected hair to grow above the scalp, hair tests can miss very recent drug use. ^{[5]
  X
  Research source} For this reason, some employers will also require a urine test, which can detect most drug use within the last few days. Know which tests you will have to take.
As soon as you know you'll have to undergo a drug test, stop taking drugs. If possible, cease all drug use before you even begin looking for jobs. Hair tests can detect the use of some drugs, like cannabis, up to 90 days after it's occurred.^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source

MedlinePlus
Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine

Go to source} Because of this, it may be best to stop drug use up to three months before you think you'll be in the job market.
If you've used drugs often within the last 90 days and you have a hair test at the end of the week, you may consider using a commercially-available product or a DIY home-method to improve your chances of passing your test. These methods have not been proven to work in a scientific setting. They are supported only by individual, unverified stories of success.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Vinegar Rinse Home Remedy

Download Article

You will probably gag, but it's worth it! Work the vinegar through your hair slowly, over a 10 minute period to get maximum saturation.
Refrain from rinsing. This gives the vinegar time to sink into the hair and scalp.
Next, soak your hair with a salicylic acid acne treatment. Use a treatment with a 2% salicylic acid concentration. Again, pour slowly and allow liquid to soak into your hair. Leave the vinegar and acne treatment in your hair for about 30 minutes.
Do not rinse the vinegar and acid out of your hair before doing this.
5
Add a dash of water to 1 scoop of powder detergent to make a paste. Scrub this onto your scalp and hair. Let this mixture sit for about 20-30 minutes.
- If possible, concentrate these products on more the back of your head. Samples are most commonly taken from this area.
Do not wash or condition.
Dye your hair using a standard store-bought dying kit. Rinse well. Use the conditioner treatment that usually comes with the hair colour kit.
Instructions for this remedy vary - some recommend repeating once a day in the four or five days leading up to your test, while some recommend only one treatment.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Commercial Solutions

Download Article

1
Shop around for a hair treatment. A quick online search should reveal a variety of commercially-available shampoos and treatments that claim to thwart hair drug tests. These can be expensive, so search for a well-reviewed, reasonably affordable one.
- Beware false reviews and testimonials. It's easy for unscrupulous companies to pay for positive reviews or even fabricate them entirely.
2
Research your product. Don't depend on testimonials on the site that's selling the product - seek out forum posts and other candid online discussions. Often, if a product doesn't work, you'll be able to find irate complaints or rants online.
- Choose a product with a money-back guarantee. It seems obvious, but it bears mentioning. Because these products can be quite expensive, you'll want to protect your investment if you end up losing the job.
Remember that, because these products aren't scientifically verified, you're not guaranteed success.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Work Around the Results of the Test

Download Article

Get a lawyer. It's unlikely you'll be hired if you took the test as part of an application process. However, if you took the test after an accident or for a probation program, you will probably be subject to criminal penalties. A lawyer can help you dispute the results of the test and advise you how to proceed.
2
Try to seek a second test. Dispute the results any way you can in an attempt to get a second chance. One way to do this is to claim that a failed test is the result your consuming something innocent that gives a false positive. Some things that can give false positives are:
- Poppy seeds. Because opiates are derived from the poppy plant, muffins or bagels with poppy seeds can give false positives.
- Adderall/ADHD medication. Medicines prescribed in the treatment of ADHD are usually members of the amphetamine family of drugs.
- Certain cold/flu medications. Over-the-counter cold drugs can contain the active ingredient pseudoephedrine, which is a stimulant used in the manufacture of methamphetamine (meth.)
- Nicotine replacement therapy products, such as gums like Nicorette, patches such as Nicoderm CQ, prescription nicotine inhalers, and other nicotine-based smoking cessation aids will cause a positive result for nicotine and cotinine.
- Heavy exposure to second-hand smoke ('passive smoking') may also cause a positive nicotine/cotinine test, even if you yourself have not used nicotine or tobacco
- More employers are testing employees and job applicants for nicotine/cotinine, and a positive result may result in loss of employment or a refusal to hire, even if you are in a medically prescribed smoking cessation program, and even if you are not a smoker but merely live in a smoking household.
Occasionally, instead of firing an employee who fails a drug test, employers will require the employee to undergo a treatment program or recommend they seek help on their own. Treating an employee can be much less expensive for the employer than a hefty severance package. In this case, don't refuse treatment, even if you're a responsible user - you'll probably be fired and might lose your pension or benefits.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

The term "hair follicle drug test" is a bit of a misnomer. The follicle is not removed or tested - only the part of the hair above the skin. Don't worry about anyone ripping your hair out.

Thanks
Helpful 152 Not Helpful 134
The best way to pass any drug test is, of course, simply to avoid doing drugs.

Thanks
Helpful 143 Not Helpful 346

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

If attempting the vinegar rinse, beware of any allergies you might have to any of the ingredients.

Thanks
Helpful 319 Not Helpful 227
Applying detergents and acne medications to the scalp can dry out your skin. Use caution - if you show up to your test with a visibly irritated scalp, your tester may guess that you're attempting to beat the test.

Thanks
Helpful 304 Not Helpful 249
This bears special repeating: home remedies are not guaranteed to work.

Thanks
Helpful 8 Not Helpful 0

Things You'll Need

2 gallons (7.6 L) of white vinegar
1 box of hair dye
1 scoop of powder laundry detergent
1 capful of liquid detergent
1 bottle of salicylic acid acne treatment; you want the liquid product, like Noxzema, containing 2% salicylic acid.