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Hair Follicle Drug Test Timeline: See How Long Each Drug Shows Up

Hair Follicle Drug Test Timeline

Your very livelihood may depend on knowing how to pass a hair follicle drug test.

This is not an exaggeration. Millions of people will take a drug test with hopes of acquiring or keeping a job, staying in school, or even staying out of prison. Can you pass a hair follicle drug test?

Knowing the hair follicle drug test timeline can mean the difference between passing and failing. Let's take a look.

How Is It Done?

The technician will remove a small amount of hair, about 1.5 inches long, from whoever is to be tested and analyzed from traces of drugs. This can occur under professional supervision in a laboratory or a hospital. Or, sometimes the hair sample can be sent to a lab from home or a workplace.

Enzyme-linked immunoassay, better known as ELISA, is the analytical screening method of choice. A method known as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for short, can confirm a positive result.

What Drugs Can Be Detected Using Hair Samples?

Routinely used drug tests can detect:

  • Cannabis
  • Opioids
  • Cocaine
  • Amphetamine/methamphetamine/ecstasy
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)

What is the Hair Follicle Drug Test Timeline?

The amount of time in which drugs are detectable in the hair follicle drug test varies from that of different methods. For example, cannabis can be detected in urine one to three months after last use, depending on how heavy of a smoker you are and your metabolism. But, opioids and cocaine only last days because of their water solubility.

The hair follicle drug test is different. Drug metabolites are able to remain intact in your hair for very long periods of time.

It takes about five to seven days for the drug to be detectable in your hair. The standard method of sampling 1.5 inches of hair can detect a drug metabolite 90 days after last use.

Hair grows about 0.5 inches per month. So, if you have long hair you may be walking around with a year or more of drug use history.

For example, if you do not cut your hair it may be possible to detect cocaine for several years. The water solubility of the drug is not as important as it is for urine drug tests.

How Can You Pass a Hair Follicle Drug Test?

The most surefire method is to abstain from drugs altogether. However, drug metabolites can last a long time in your hair so it is hard to gauge how much time it needs to pass.

You may think that you can fool the system by shaving your head. Unfortunately, body hair from your armpits, legs, and arms can be used as samples. Shaving your entire body like a baby does make it impossible to take a sample until your hair has grown back.

Surely, there must be an easier way.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to pass a hair follicle drug test naturally. However, there is a time-tested system known as the Macujo Method.

The Macujo Method

This consists of applying several different products to your hair over three to five days that will increase the permeability of the hair shaft, allowing the trapped drug metabolites to be washed away.

Remember that it will be necessary to refrain from using any drugs for a least a few days before beginning and during the procedure. Otherwise, this method will not work.

Phase One

The first step is to wet the hair with warm water. Then, apply Heinz vinegar followed by a salicylic acid-containing shampoo such as Clean and Clear pink to the hair and scalp. Lather and sit for 30 minutes with your head wrapped with a bath towel to prevent exposing your eyes and skin to the salicylic acid.

The salicylic acid works with the acetic acid found in vinegar to create microscopic openings in the hair cuticle.

Phase Two

The second part consists of washing out the aforementioned mixture with Nexxus Aloe Rid Gentle Clarifying Shampoo followed by another wash using Tide liquid laundry detergent.

Again, take care not to get the detergent in your eyes.

For Best Results

  • Repeat this process at least five times over at least three days
  • Apply the Nexxus Aloe Rid shampoo to your scalp and the first 1.5 inches of hair from the root
  • Wash your hair on the day of the test with Zydot Ultra Clean Shampoo
  • Buy a new brush since the one you will become contaminated with potentially irritating substances

Final Thoughts

Over the years, the methods of both drug testing and passing drug tests evolved to become more sophisticated.

There are numerous ways to pass a urine test. There are products you can buy to alter your sample, you could substitute your urine with someone else's, or you can simply stop using drugs for little while depending on the substance.

However, the hair follicle drug test timeline is extremely long in comparison. The lab technician or whoever is applying the exam will remove the hair directly from your head, making using another person's hair next to impossible. 

Some people might not able to put off taking a drug test for the minimum of 90 days it takes for the drug metabolites to leave their hair. Others may simply have no desire to stop using for that much time.

Fortunately, researchers developed the Macujo Method to help people pass hair sample drug tests. It is easy to apply and only takes, at most, five days to work. 

Don't be fooled into thinking you can't pass a hair follicle drug test or any other type of test. We have everything you need in one convenient place! Contact us to learn more.