What is the best detox shampoo for drug test

Last Updated on August 2022

Are you taking a drug test soon? If it’s a urine, saliva, or blood test, passing is as simple as not using any drugs eight hours before the test. But if it’s going to be a hair test, you could be in trouble.

Why?

A hair test can detect drug use in the last 90 days (about three months). If you can’t stand the thought of going cold turkey for three months to pass a drug test, you need the best hair follicle detox shampoo.

That said, finding the best product for the job can be tricky. There are hair detox shampoos of many different qualities on the market. Using a lower quality one could lead to positive test results that cost you a dream job, or worse. Just as important, you don’t want a shampoo that detoxifies your hair but also ruins it.

The Best Hair Detox Shampoos

We’ve put together a list of the best hair follicle detox shampoos from various brands. These products have consistently delivered great results and can be relied on to get you clean for a hair test.

Starting with our number one pick, here are our top contenders:

1. Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid: Top Pick

The product was originally called Nexxus Aloe Rid, but the maker decided to do a bit of rebranding, leading to its present and more appealing name.

Why do we love Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid? It’s a super potent hair detoxifier, but just as important, it’s great for your hair’s health. That’s because it contains aloe vera, which prevents your hair from becoming dry and brittle. It’s also great for your scalp.

Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid is such a potent hair detoxifier because of its active ingredient— propylene glycol. When you use the product, your hair absorbs the propylene glycol, which eliminates any toxins within your hair follicles.

The product is also shampoo-rich, and its aloe and conditioner content will hydrate and protect your hair. For the best results, we recommend using Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid (Full Review) for at least three days before the actual test.

Also, when using it, make sure all parts of your hair and scalp get a liberal dose. It’s also important you give the shampoo a few minutes to soak in before thoroughly rinsing it out.

At over $200, Old Style isn’t the cheapest best hair follicle detox shampoo you can find. It’s nonetheless one of the more cost-effective since it comes in a 5-ounce bottle and doesn’t require purchasing any accompanying products.

2. Zydot Ultra Clean Detox Shampoo

The ingredients in Zydot Ultra Clean detox shampoo eliminate not just styling products, but also toxins and other impurities from your hair. It accomplishes this by penetrating deep into each hair shaft to dissolve concentrations of drug metabolites.

A Zydot Ultra Clean Detox pack comes with a shampoo, conditioner, and purifier. That makes it one of the trickier hair detoxifiers to use since several steps are involved. Combine this with the fact that you may need to use it alongside another detoxifier for 100% results, and you might be in the bathroom for a while.

Follow these steps if you’re just using the Zydot pack to detoxify:

• Thoroughly wash your hair with half the bottle of shampoo.
• Rinse it out, then apply the purifier.
• Rinse it out before washing again with the remaining shampoo.
• Apply some conditioner afterward to protect your hair.

According to the average customer review, the conditioner that comes with the product can be inadequate, which means you might have to buy a separate conditioner.

To avoid buying a counterfeit product, we recommend buying your batch of Zydot Ultra Clear from the official store. The product itself might cost less than $40, but using it costs more since you need to use it with other products for the best results.

3. Rescue Hair Detox Shampoo

The Rescue Detox brand has been in the detoxifying market for years. Its detoxifying shampoo comes in a 2-ounce bottle, and its effects become apparent an hour after using it.

What’s even more impressive is the detoxifying effects of this shampoo can last for 24 hours. If you use it on the morning of your test day, you don’t have to worry about running out of time before delivering your sample, especially if there’s traffic or other delays.

To get the best results, we recommend using Rescue Hair Detox to wash your hair thoroughly for five minutes before washing it out. Do that one more time and avoid applying any sprays or gels to your hair afterward.

If you are on a tight budget, the product’s low price will work in your favor.

4. Clear Choice Hair Follicle Detox Shampoo

The product makers also have a reputation for creating artificial urine and detoxifiers for acing urine tests. That makes Clear Choice your one-stop-brand for a range of detoxifying products.

While Clear Choice Hair Follicle Shampoo is potent, it does have the downside of not being very hair-friendly. Plus, using it requires multiple steps, something you might not be enthusiastic about if you are generally lazy about taking care of your hair.

The product comes in two bottles—one’s a shampoo, and the other’s a purifier. You have to apply the purifier after washing your hair with the shampoo. Using both will leave your hair feeling a bit dry, but on the upside, your hair will stay toxin-free for eight hours after each wash. That means you only need to use the product within eight hours before your test.

While Clear Choice Hair Follicle Shampoo impresses with its quick results and under $70 price tag, we must warn you that its detox effects are best for light smokers. If you are a heavy or frequent user, you might need to pair its use with a stronger detoxifying product.

5. Sarken Nutrition Stat Hair Detox Shampoo Kit

Its many organic ingredients are another reason why the Sarken Nutrition Stat Hair Detox Shampoo Kit surpasses its competitors and makes it onto our best hair follicle detox shampoo list.

These natural ingredients come together to create a safe product for you and your hair—no worries about dry or damaged hair or scalp. But, mind you, to get the best results from this product, you have to follow its unique instructions very closely.

Unlike other detox shampoos, this one requires some heat for it to really detoxify. You must:

• Wet your hair before using some of the hair cleanser.
• Thoroughly massage the cleanser throughout your hair.
• Cover your hair with a shower cap or something similar.
• With the shower cap still on, use a hairdryer for about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove the cap, then use warm water to wash your hair.
• Apply the hair rinse and let it soak for five to 10 minutes.
• Thoroughly rinse again with warm water, and you are done.

You don’t have to combine the use of Stat Hair with any other product. Not only does it work great by itself, but its detoxifying effects can also last for hours. But like we said, you have to follow all its instructions accurately. If you skip any of the steps, we can’t promise you’ll be happy with your drug test result.

Our only complaint about the Sarken Nutrition Stat Hair Detox Shampoo Kit is buying it. Yes, it’s affordable, but finding it is tricky. Different sellers offer it on Amazon and eBay. Some at lower prices, but there are no guarantees that what they offer is genuine.

Increase your chances of buying a genuine product by buying only from sellers that have mostly positive reviews.

6. Dr. Greens Wash Away Shampoo

Using it is also straightforward, making it a popular choice among people who are in a rush. Simply wash your hair for five to 10 minutes using half of the shampoo and thoroughly rinse it out with warm water. Once that’s done, repeat the process with the leftover shampoo.

Like the other products on our list, it’s important you accurately follow its instructions, including the part about letting your hair air dry. If you use the product correctly, its detoxifying effects should last for up to eight hours.

The one downside is the product comes in a 1-ounce bottle. If you are blessed with lots of hair, you might need multiple bottles, and each bottle costs around $25.

Buyer’s Guide

How Do Hair Drug Tests Work?

Unlike other drug tests, a hair follicle test requires no body fluids. So, if you are squeamish about giving blood or peeing in a bottle, this should work for you. But if you are a heavy smoker or use other drugs frequently, you might not be so enthusiastic about this test.

Why?

Hair drug tests are super thorough. They can detect residual drug toxins from drugs you used up to three months ago and also identify your pattern of prescription or illicit drug use.

If you plan to beat the test by bringing clean hair from a friend, you are out of luck. Unlike other tests that let you bring samples from home, a hair test involves taking a sample from your head on the spot.

The sample collector will take hairs that are about 1.5 inches in length and take them from close to your scalp. Depending on the company requesting the test, the lab performing the test may screen your sample for the use of:

• Cocaine
• PCP
• Marijuana
• Opiates (prescription or non-prescription)
• Methamphetamine
• Ecstasy

If your drug use is infrequent and light, the test may or may not come back positive. But if you are a medium to heavy user, there’ll be a higher buildup of toxins in your hair follicles. If you don’t have three months to get clean to beat the test, your best bet is detoxifying your hair with the right shampoo using one of the best hair follicle detox shampoos on our list.

Depending on the detox shampoo you use, you can get your hair to stay toxin-free for eight to 24 hours after using the shampoo.

Are Hair Drug Tests Legal?

Companies that choose hair follicle tests over blood or urine tests do so because it can detect drug use from up to 90 days earlier. But most companies go for other drug testing methods because they are cheaper than hair tests.

Is it legal for an employer or potential employer to demand a hair follicle test?

Depending on where you live in the US, the answer may be yes or no. In some states, employers can’t test employees randomly. In such states, an employer must first provide evidence that justifies their reason to test you.

For job applicants, potential employees can run tests as long as they follow the applicable laws.

Aside from screening for employment, a hair drug test may also be required for medical or legal purposes. For example, if you are on probation or involved in child custody, adoption, or domestic violence case, a court may demand you undergo drug tests.

But you aren’t entirely powerless. In most cases, you don’t have to undergo a hair follicle test or other drug tests until you provide written consent.

What Are Hair Follicle Detox Shampoos?

When you use a drug, be it weed or cocaine, the drug’s active components get into your bloodstream, which travels throughout your body, including your hair.

How long it takes for the drug’s active components to get to your hair depends on the drug. For instance, THC from weed can take five days or more to reach your hair follicles. But regardless of how long it takes to get there, the compounds can stay in your hair for months.

If you use drugs heavily, this can result in large amounts of the drug’s compounds accumulating in your hair. Regardless of how well you wash your hair, regular shampoo can’t wash these compounds out.

On the other hand, hair detox shampoos are specially designed to rid your hair of drug-related toxins. How well the shampoo works will depend on the unique formula of the brand you are using. But in most cases, the shampoo will open your hair cuticles to penetrate the core of your follicles and wash out all drug traces.

Are There Detoxifying Shampoo Alternatives?

Detox shampoos are specially built for cleansing and detoxifying your hair. Nonetheless, some people claim several other products can do the same job. Let’s check out some of these products and see if they are as effective as claimed.

Clarifying Shampoos

Clarifying shampoos are stronger than regular shampoo. Even so, they aren’t powerful enough to dig into your hair follicles and wash out toxins. That’s because they don’t contain the necessary active ingredients.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar can work wonders for your hair by treating hair breakage and an itchy scalp. It’s also great for eliminating dandruff and fungi and bacteria infections. But the one thing it can’t do is detoxify your hair, regardless of how much you use or how long you soak your hair in it.

Baking Soda

We wouldn’t recommend letting baking soda touch your hair, much less use it for detoxifying. Even though it’s a natural clarifying agent, it’s not powerful enough to detoxify your hair. If you choose to ignore us and experiment, you stand the risk of experiencing hair dryness, breakage, and some serious skin irritation.

Coke

We can’t deny cola drinks are awesome. Aside from being a refreshing soda, you can use it to wash off rust and calcium deposits around the home. But you can’t use it to detoxify your hair. In our opinion, the only benefit of using this product on your hair would be smelling like soda.

You might like that, but you’d also have to deal with the downside of accumulating dirt particles and artificial sweeteners (or sugar) in your hair.

Hair Care After Detoxification

From our above review, you’ll see that even the best hair follicle detox shampoo can lead to dry and brittle hair. Such issues are more likely to occur if you use a hair detoxifying shampoo repeatedly within a short period.

To protect your hair from damage, visit a hairdresser as soon as possible after providing your hair sample. If you aren’t keen about spending time and money at a hairdresser, treat your hair at home with a conditioner that best suits your hair type.

You can also use deep conditioning products and oils to restore your natural luster and prevent dryness.

Conclusion

The best hair follicle detox shampoos on our list are great for preparing for upcoming hair drug tests. We prefer Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid for its quality and effectiveness, and because it does little damage to hair.

If the price of Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid isn’t for you, you can try the less expensive options on our list. Regardless of which product you use, remember to use it according to the instructions that come with it. Doing otherwise may not detoxify your hair enough to ace your upcoming drug test.