5 Quick Facts about the Hair Follicle Drug Test

Think fast! What do you want to know about hair drug testing?

1. It goes back 90 days. The standard detection period for hair drug testing is set by the lab. This goes for businesses sending in employees to be tested, and consumers sending in samples from their home hair drug test kits. Both labs used by Home Health Testing go back 90 days.

The subject to be tested

The subject to be tested

2. Yes, it works. Studies have shown that compared to urine drug testing, hair drug testing finds between 4 to 8 times the amount of users, in part because the detection period is so much longer.

3. It won’t make you bald.. While 100-120 strands of hair are required, that really only amounts to the diameter of a pencil.

4. But you can’t just supply one hair. A hair drug testing lab needs a sufficient sample in order to wash, liquidate, and analyze the hair effectively.

5. You can’t cheat them. Shampoos aren’t going to help you – the inside of the hair is analyzed, not the outside. This means external contamination is near impossible too.

See anything on this list something you want to know but do not (yet)? Just send us an email (cs at homehealthtesting.com). We will be glad to answer your questions! And you can check out our hair follicle drug test page here.

134 comments

  1. Linda says:

    Am I understanding that Adderall will not show up on a hair follicle test? but amphetamine will?

  2. Kyle says:

    I took about 4 10mg adderall the last week of august and have a hair drug test in the beginning of October. This week I got a buzz cut and my hair grows fast. Will the adderall be out of my system completely by then?

  3. Silvia says:

    Hi I was wondering weather you could help me on something.I have been told by the courts that I have to take a drugs test hair follicole test.Now I’m prescribed morphine,diazepam,temazapine and olanzapine.But my main worry is that I have been using heroin. Will they be able to tell between the morphine and the heroin? and can they tell exactly when you have used the drugs.I also smoke grass and have done for months.Will they be able to tell exactly when I have used all of these drugs….like to the week or is it to the month or day? really would appreciate a quick response because I see my solicitor next week on wednesday!! need the info quick time please:)

  4. Armando Flores says:

    If someone used cocaine six weeks ago and took a hair sample test will it come out positive?

  5. Armando says:

    If I used cocaine once in mid september and took a hair test ion 10 Nov will it be defected. Haven’t used before that for about 6 years.

  6. Taylor says:

    If someone only took a couple of lorazapam 2 months ago, will it show up on a hair follicle test?

  7. Can a hair test determine difference between hydrocodone and hydromorphone?

  8. Ben says:

    I haven’t smoked since end of July.
    I have a follicle test in 2 days.
    My hair is 1.5″ long…will I pass?

  9. Tiffany says:

    I took addie and valume the mid of last month (nov.) and I have a drug assessment on the 14 of this month (dec.) also I have been smoking… How can I pass my tests? Help please I am desperate

  10. Rob says:

    I I have a hair follicle test in a few weeks, I have not smoked grass sense November 18th. Will I pass the test?

  11. Lindsay Shaw says:

    Will alcohol show up on a hair follicle test?

  12. Missy says:

    Due to depression I had been drinking nearly everyday in the past year. I have been drinking occassionally for a couple of months. Most recently I have been drinking about once every three weeks but not in the amounts I used to. My question is if I were to follow this pattern of drinking would hair analysis show that I was an excessive drinker. How long does it take for Cocaine to not show in hair analysis. Ty.

  13. jozi says:

    i have not used oxycodone in 7 months and its stil showing up in my hair test.. how can this be if it only goes back 90 days? dont seem right! and i know i have not used!

  14. admin says:

    No alcohol is not on the hair tests.

  15. Brian says:

    What kind of foods or overthecounter medicines will show up as illegal drugs? For example, eating bagels that have the poppy seeds will show up as opiates or heroin. Will allergy medicine show up as meth?

  16. jimi says:

    Hi,

    About a month ago I went on a oxycodone beinge I was about 3 every other night for a little over a week. I want to get this one job how long should I wait? Also I cut my hair frequently

  17. Ron says:

    If I smoke 1 cig of pot (total) between 3/1/12 and 3/5/12 will this show up in a hair test?

  18. Jennifer says:

    My husband just took a hair test for an employer. He takes Hydrocodone for back pain and does have a script for it. They called the other day and asked if he has ever taken Percocet. He did a few months ago take a few Percs that were his Dads. Is it even possible for them to tell that he had both in his system? Or is it just shown as both being opiates? The MRO told him that its illegal to take prescriptions that arent your own. I am assuming that he will probably fail the drug test.

  19. Angel says:

    I know how to pass a test…don’t use! Yes they can tell one drug from another, even if they are the same drug family. If you did any drugs in 90 days they can tell, and if you have long hair, they can also tell the history of drug use through the entire length of the hair.

  20. Jeremy Dov says:

    I am prescribed Adderall 30mg 2x a day, xanax 1mg 2x/day, Oxycodone 30 4x/day , I smoke grass occasionally and had “gone skiing” once a few weeks ago. Have a hair test for a new job in about 3 weeks. I am stopping everything and planning on using a detoxifying shampoo. Has there been any success as far as passing a hair test when using a test clean product or are all the “pass your hair test” products bs??

  21. lad says:

    does a hair test hurt?????

  22. admin says:

    No it does not hurt, just like getting your hair cut. The hair is not pulled out, but cut.

  23. admin says:

    According to one of the largest hair testing labs in the USA – “Hair testing results cannot be significantly altered with shampoos or other external chemicals.”

  24. Brian says:

    Hello robyn.

    Do u by chance know who bnsf railroad uses for their tests? My case is adderall and id be nice to know its not tested for

  25. grock says:

    I was told that Ohio state law only allows an employer to go back 90 days for a drug test. I heard that beyond 90 days the results of the hair follicle test become increasingly unreliable. Any truth to this?

  26. admin says:

    Sorry, we don’t know which tests are used by different employers. Good luck.

  27. Steve says:

    Will spice show on these tests?

  28. Ed says:

    I haven’t smoked weed in a month and I have a hair test in 3 does anybody think it’s worth taking or should i cut my loses and move on. Also I’m prescribed an extremely high amounth of adderol but i have a prescription, (have been forever) but at the same time I don’t want them to know about my extreme ADHD can they test levels of the drugs or is it just positive or negative.

  29. Pixie queen says:

    If my husband accidentally took my 30mg adderall yesterday but has never used it before an they do a hair test using his arm 3/5 days later will he pass??

  30. skee cat says:

    i had a hair test and only had taken 4 hydrocodone 7.5mg and 6 15mg oxycodone 45days later i took the test. 5days went by they called and asked for a prescription for both, so yes they can tell the difference also they can tell if you are taking what is exactly prescribed so if you have a prescription and you take to much you will also fail.

  31. kerri quigley says:

    i was prescibed vicodin for a dental procedure. i had a court ordered 90 day hair follicle test. will it come up as opiate? can they tell the difference between that and heroin?

  32. admin says:

    No vicodin will not show up as an opiate, however there is a separate test they can do to show perscription drugs in addition to illegal drugs. You can see one hair drug test that includes prescriptions here https://www.homehealthtesting.com/hair-follicle-drug-test-illegal-prescription-p-108.html

  33. jd says:

    I have a job interview in a week and i have to take a hair test for it and im freaking out! I have taken adderall about twice a week for the last 3 months. Will it show up on the test or am i.screwed?…. 🙁

  34. TracyLynn says:

    I have a question about second hand meth exposure. I’ve known for a long time that my husband was an alcholic, but in February 2013 I found out that he’s a meth user too & that he’s been using it in our home when I was not home & sometimes late at night when I’m asleep. I don’t know how long he’s been using meth & I’m considering getting a hair drug test done. Can second hand meth show up in the hair drug test & if so can it prove how long he has been exposing me to second hand meth? I’d like to prove how long it has been going on. I’ve never personally done drugs, but I do drink one or two alcoholic drinks once in a blue moon. Can a positive hair drug test tell if my exposure was second hand or will a positive test automatically be said to be from “first hand” use? I know I’ve never used meth, but my husband has! I need real factual information about second hand meth exposure and drug testing. Thx