How to - htma

Written By Brianne Campbell

The kit that you receive includes:

  1. An order form, which doubles as an envelope to send your sample to the lab.

  2. A “balance” for measuring the right weight for your hair sample.

  3. A small envelope for your hair sample to go into.

Do NOT use any Shampoo that contains:

  • Zinc (eg Heads and Shoulders, Anti-dandruff Shampoo)

  • Selenium (eg Selsum Blue)

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.

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

  • 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 2 weeks before sampling.

  • 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. 

Cut off any hair that exceeds 1 inch long and retain the sample closest to the root.

Place cut hair together on the scale - when the scale tips, you have provided enough hair for the lab.

Brianne Campbell