Even though recreational or medical marijuana use has become legal in many states, there is still a social stigma that can negatively affect your chances of getting a new job or keeping your existing one. If you’ve got a particularly intolerant employer, you may find that your medical marijuana [1] use can put your job on the line, even if your work is entirely unaffected. To combat this, it is a good idea to discover ways in which you can fool any drug test your employer throws at you.
What is a Hair Follicle Test?
While urine tests are still the most routine method of drug testing, hair follicle tests are gaining in popularity for several reasons. Firstly, a urine test can only detect drug use for about a week or so, while hair follicle tests can detect drug use for as long as 90 days. Secondly, hair follicle tests are more accurate and sensitive, which means that they can detect a much smaller amount of a drug marker than a urine test.
Hair follicle tests can also be used to time drug usage, which means that the lab can determine whether you’ve been clean for the past couple of weeks or not. Since it is unlikely that an employer will care about when you last smoked a joint, it is doubtful that this aspect of the hair follicle test will work in your favor.
How Does the Hair Follicle Test Work?
If you’re wondering how to pass a hair follicle test, your first step should be to understand how the test works. The test relies on the fact that every hair follicle [2] in your body is supplied by a blood vessel that drives hair growth. The blood from this vessel goes into the follicle, and various compounds are deposited into the follicle as well. When you use a drug, some metabolites will go into your blood and are then deposited into your hair follicle. As the hair grows, the compounds will remain in your hair and can be reliably tested for.
The test is usually performed at work, and a technician will come and take a few samples of your hair. Often, they will take around three clumps of hair from the back of the head. This makes it difficult to swap out a prepared hair sample to fool the test. The lab will then run the test and deliver the results within a couple of days. If you’re bald, the hair sample will be taken from other hair on your body.
What Drugs are Tested For?
Hair follicle tests work well for most forms of common drugs, including:
- Weed
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Ecstasy
How to Pass a Hair Follicle Drug Test Naturally
Several methods can be used reliably to get any drug metabolites [3] out of your hair naturally. Hair follicle tests rely on the fact that your hair is not treated with any harsh chemicals, which gives you a bit of a loophole to work with. By completely stripping your hair follicle of natural oils and other compounds, you can flush out any drug-related compounds as well.
Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo
There are many detox shampoos on the market that claim to remove toxins from your hair. One of the only shampoos that have been proven to work is the old-school Aloe Rid Shampoo. It is designed to get rid of atmospheric pollutants, chlorine, and other daily toxins, and it has the nifty side-effect of removing THC and other drug compounds as well. However, it is important to note that just one use won’t be enough to get rid of all the compounds in your hair, especially if you’re a regular, heavy user. You need to use this shampoo regularly and stop all drug use to ensure that your hair is clean.
Other Solutions
The main drawback of using old-style Aloe Rid Shampoo is that it is a commonly known way to pass a hair follicle drug test, which makes it expensive. If you prefer to use a more natural home remedy, some can be used if you’re a light user. Others are aimed at heavy drug users as well.
If you’re a light user, you can get away with using mild household acids, such as vinegar or lemon juice to clean your hair. You can dilute lemon juice in a bucket and use this to wash your hair regularly. You can also apply a double-whammy of salicylic acid and vinegar. Many shampoos contain salicylic acid. First, wash your hair with undiluted vinegar, making sure to massage your scalp and hair. Then, without rinsing, apply the salicylic acid-containing shampoo and let it sit in your hair for half an hour or so. You can then wash it out and repeat the process as necessary.
You may be wondering, will bleaching your hair enable you to pass a hair follicle test, and the short answer is “yes.” Bleach is a potent stripping agent and will remove anything that’s attached to your hair follicle. One of the ways that heavy drug users can pass a hair follicle test is to use a combination of peroxide bleach, Aloe Rid shampoo, baking soda and a hair dye of your natural color that contains ammonia. However, the main drawback of this method is that it will completely and utterly ruin your hair. By stripping your hair follicle, you remove all the essential oils and proteins that keep your hair healthy, as well as any tell-tale signs of drug use. You may want to cut your hair once you’ve passed your test since your hair will have the texture of straw.
Conclusion
The hair follicle test is an accurate test, and it can determine drug use three months into the past. However, if you know about it in advance, it is possible to pass the drug test with some vigorous hair cleaning. How much cleaning you need to do will depend a lot on your drug use habits.
Resources
1. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-follicle
3. https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/clinical-pharmacology/pharmacokinetics/drug-metabolism
