Is there an age restriction to take this test?

The test is available to people of all ages.

How much hair does the test require, and of what length?

The required amount is 0.1 g, about 50 strands, of hair. You should cut a sample about 3 cm, or 1.2 inches, from the scalp (or pull it up from the roots). As long as the hair provided meets the required amount, the test can examine the hair shorter than the required length. If your hair is longer than the requirement, make sure to collect hair close to the root, rather than the end. The amount of hair is more important than the length. If the weight amount is too low, new samples will need to be collected. Please refer to the instructions enclosed in the test kit.

Why does the sample have to be cut from the roots and not the ends of hair?

Hair grows an average of about one centimeter a month. The mineral information contained in the ends of long hair may be quite old, making it impossible to determine the most recent mineral dynamics. Additionally, long hair is more likely to be damaged from brushing or heat styling, and the metals contained in hair products can easily penetrate damaged hair. Therefore, those metals may affect the values of test results.

Can dyed hair be used as a sample for this test? What about bleached or permed hair?

All of them can be tested. The enclosed questionnaire has items to be checked: coloring, bleached, and permanent wave. However, you may want to avoid cutting the hair sample until two weeks after these procedures because they may strongly affect the results. If you perform those procedures at home using commercial products, please write the product name in the questionnaire’s margin.

Can gray hair be used as a sample for this test? Will the test results come out differently compared to black hair samples?

Gray hair is not a problem for this test. It is said that in gray hair the value of calcium, one of the essential minerals, tends to be higher than in black hair.

Are there any tips for cutting the hair sample by myself or with the help of a family member? Is it okay to have a hair salon cut it for me?

When collecting the sample, the hair should be cut little by little from several places on the back of the head. You can also ask a beauty specialist or barber to cut it for you. In this case, you should ask them to cut hair from within 3 cm from the root and not from the end. Please do not collect hair from the floor, because it may come mixed with others’ hair.

Is it okay if I collect and send hair lost by brushing?

Yes, you may send hair that falls out naturally from brushing. When you do so, please make sure the hairs are from within 3 cm from the root, cut off the hair roots, and collect the required amount (0.1 g). Then, please send them to us. If the hair sample is old, however, its mineral information may be outdated, and the test results may not be accurate.

May I use body hair as the sample for this test rather than scalp (head) hair?

Yes, the test can be performed with body hair. The enclosed questionnaire has a box to write the place from which you have taken the sample. If your sample is not scalp hair, please provide the location.

Should I wash the hair sample?

There is no need to wash before or after cutting. Please send the sample as it is.

Does the test reveal vitamin excess or deficiency?

The test will not measure the values of vitamins. However, the test measures cobalt, a component of vitamin B12. You can therefore use the cobalt test result to estimate imbalances of vitamin B12.

Do the results provide information regarding uptake of contamination, such as agricultural pesticide or environmental hormone?

The test does not measure the content of toxic chemical compounds in your body, except for six toxic metals.

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