What you received in the mail:
Considerations:
- Hair should be free of dye, bleach, and/or hair products. If you have recently dyed your hair, please wait a minimum of 3 weeks before collection or make sure hair has been washed at least 8-10 times. It is ideal to wait until the root has grown out and the hair sample is only untreated hair.
- If you use Head and Shoulders, Selsun Blue, or any other anti-dandruff shampoo, please discontinue for 2 weeks prior to collection and note this on your submission form. If it is impossible to temporarily stop, please make sure to indicate use on the submission form.
- Please avoid the use of public pools for at least one week prior to collection.
- Scalp hair should be used whenever possible.
- If you are bald, you may use armpit, chest, or beard hair. Please notify your practitioner if you will be using something other than scalp hair and follow the directions below closely to avoid contamination from sweat.
- Ask a friend or family member to help take your hair sample, do not try to do it alone!
Day of Collection:
- Shampoo and condition hair preferably using a clarifying shampoo, but normal shampoo is fine.
- While still in the shower, rinse hair thoroughly with distilled or filtered water.
- Collect hair sample 4-6 hours after washing, preferably air dried.
- Please ensure you do not sweat at all after washing your hair and prior to taking the hair sample.
- Take very small sections of hair from 3-4 locations at the base of the skull and cut as close to the scalp as possible.
- Trim the hair sample to only include 1 inch from the root. Discard the remainder of the hair.
- Fold edges on the paper scale and add hair to the high side of the scale.
- Continue to add hair to the scale until it tips like a teeter-totter. Bunching the hair together can help! When the scale tips, you have collected enough hair!
Mailing Your Sample:
- Add hair sample to small white envelope and seal it. Fill out your name and shampoo.
- Fill out the HTMA Submittal Form with your personal details. See the image below to see what sections you need to fill out.
- Put the completed form and small envelope inside the pre-stamped envelope addressed to Trace Elements Lab.
- Notify your HTMA practitioner that you have placed your sample in the mail! The typical turnaround time is 2-3 weeks from when the lab receives your sample.
Mail To:
- Trace Elements Inc
- PO BOX 514
- Addison, TX 75001-0514
- If mailing from outside of the United States, be sure to use an international stamp!
- If you have any questions, please email our team: [email protected]
- or contact the Trace Elements Lab at 972-250-6410
