Frequently asked questions.

Collecting your hair sample is simple. Your kit includes a “hair scale” to ensure you collect the right amount.

You will collect your hair sample from the top and back of the head (draw an imaginary line across your head from the top of the ears to the nape of the neck). This provides a wide area to collect samples.

Using stainless steel scissors merely cut 10 to 15 strands of hair at each location. Use multiple locations until your hair scale tips.

Cut the hair as close to the scalp as possible. Keep the 1.5-inch (or shorter) of the sample closest to the scalp and discard the rest. Place each sample on the hair scale until the scale tips.

Once the scale tips, indicating a sufficient weight of hair, simply place the hair sample into the provided hair sample collection envelope and then place that envelop together with the completed Hair Submission Form into the prepaid return mailing envelop you received from us. For more details, see How to Cut a Hair Sample for Analysis.

Do not pull your hair by the roots!

Yes. You can either cut your own hair sample, have a friend or hairdresser cut it, or you can come to our clinic, and we can cut the sample for you. If you are cutting your own sample, it may be easiest to take it from the sides so that you can see in a mirror where you are cutting. Whether you or someone else cuts your sample be sure to follow the How To Cut A Hair Sample For Analysis instructions carefully. To make an appointment for us to cut your hair sample, call 1 (866) 688-3760, or email appointments@juneva.com.

A hair sample will last months after it is cut as long as it is stored in a clean paper envelope. So, you may cut a sample and then send it to us a month or two later. Ideally, you want to use a sample that has been cut more recently so that the information is more current, but an older hair sample may be used if needed. Some people will have to grow and cut their hair multiple times to get enough hair for the test (such as babies with sparse hair, or those who keep their hair buzzed very short). In such cases, the hair can be collected over multiple trimmings and saved in a paper envelope to be sent in when there is enough.