Hair mineral analysis / Hårmineralanalyse/ tungmetalforgiftning/ Udrensning

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Here you will find answers to the most common questions about our HAIR-Scan analyses. For any other questions, you are welcome to contact us directly.

What is a Hair Mineral Analysis?

A hair mineral analysis is an advanced test that measures the levels of minerals and heavy metals in your hair.

The hair sample you send is analyzed in a certified laboratory, where it undergoes a series of chemical and high-temperature processes.


Using sophisticated equipment and extraction techniques, the test provides accurate and reliable results.

This analysis offers a unique view of your body’s long-term biochemical balance – something traditional blood or urine tests often can’t reveal.

Hair is an ideal tissue for analyzing minerals and toxins — not only because it’s easy and painless to collect, but also because it provides unique and long-term biological insights that blood or urine tests often miss.

A small lock of hair is all it takes, and it can easily be mailed to us using the pre-addressed return envelope included in the kit.

But most importantly:

Hair acts as a biological archive. As it grows, both minerals and heavy metals are deposited into the hair shaft — and remain there. This means a hair analysis can reveal chronic imbalances and exposures over time, while blood only shows short-term circulation.

Where blood is a transport medium, hair is a storage medium.

Studies have shown that hair analysis is especially effective for:

  • Detecting heavy metal accumulation (e.g., mercury, lead, aluminum)
  • Revealing intracellular activity – what’s happening inside your body’s cells
  • Identifying nutritional deficiencies that may not yet appear in blood tests

Chronic heavy metal toxicity often develops through long-term, low-level exposure, with metals stored in organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart, and brain — undetectable through standard blood or urine samples.

A fascinating example of how much hair can reveal is the case of the Egtved Girl, where modern analysis of her ancient hair helped uncover her DNA and lifestyle — more than 3,000 years after her time.

Trace minerals are essential to a wide range of metabolic functions throughout all stages of life. Below are some key examples:

Zinc

Zinc plays a vital role in immune function, stabilizes cell membranes, and supports the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates.

It contributes to muscle growth, regulates insulin production, and is important for the production of keratin, which affects the health of skin, hair, and nails.

Zinc also supports wound healing.

Zinc deficiency may result in:

  • Weakened immune system
  • Growth and metabolic disorders
  • Hair loss and skin irritations
  • Delayed wound healing
  • Altered taste and smell
  • Psychological effects (e.g., anorexia, postpartum depression, memory and concentration issues)

Excessive zinc can cause gastrointestinal issues, anemia, and immune suppression.

Magnesium

Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzyme processes and is critical for metabolic function.

It plays a key role in:

  • Muscle and nerve function
  • Bone and dental health
  • Blood clotting
  • Connective tissue support

Magnesium deficiency may lead to:

  • Dizziness and confusion
  • Muscle cramps and tremors
  • Cardiovascular irregularities
  • Memory and concentration problems
  • Loss of coordination and even fainting

Overdosing on magnesium is generally not harmful in healthy individuals.

Silicon (Silica)

Silicon contributes to the elasticity and strength of blood vessels, and supports hair and nail growth as well as immune function.

Silicon deficiency can lead to:

  • Weakened bone structure
  • Gum disease and cavities
  • Hair loss

There are no known harmful effects from excess silicon in healthy individuals, except in rare cases involving leaking silicone implants.

To ensure accurate and reliable results, it’s important that the hair sample is collected correctly.

  • Always use a clean, sharp pair of scissors
  • Cut the hair from the back of the head, as close to the scalp as possible
  • You’ll need at least 25 grams of hair (roughly one teaspoon)

Place the sample in the original sample bag provided in the test kit, and be sure to clearly label it with your name.

A properly collected sample is essential for the quality of your analysis — take your time and follow the instructions carefully.

There are many factors that can affect your body’s mineral balance. Here are some of the most common:

Stress

Both physical and emotional stress can deplete essential nutrients and impair your body’s ability to absorb them.

Chronic stress puts strain on metabolic processes and can lead to significant imbalances.

Diet

A diet high in processed, refined foods or excessive alcohol consumption can lead to chemical imbalances.

Even a generally healthy diet can cause deficiencies if it’s low in key minerals.

Environmental Exposure & Pollution

We are continuously exposed to toxins in our everyday environment, including:

  • Cigarettes (cadmium)
  • Hair dyes (lead)
  • Hydrogenated oils (nickel)
  • Deodorants (aluminum)
  • Dental fillings (mercury & cadmium)
  • Cookware (copper and aluminum)
  • Lead-based cosmetics

Acute or long-term exposure to these substances can disrupt your body’s mineral balance and burden your detox systems.

Supplements

While supplements can support your health, incorrect or excessive use may disrupt your natural biochemistry and contribute to imbalances rather than correcting them.

The report you receive from us is comprehensive and includes both the analysis results and a personalized treatment recommendation.

If you choose to work with a practitioner, the test results will be sent directly to them. They will evaluate your results in the context of your personal health history and current symptoms, and go through the report in detail with you.

A practitioner can offer a guided follow-up process, ensuring that your progress is monitored and that your mineral balance is restored effectively and safely.

While a hair mineral analysis does not directly measure vitamin levels, it can provide valuable insights into your vitamin status based on the complex interactions between minerals and vitamins.

Minerals do not work in isolation — they interact with vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Just as minerals influence these nutrients, they are also affected by them.

Minerals function as enzyme activators, while vitamins act as coenzymes. It is extremely rare for a mineral imbalance to occur without a corresponding imbalance in its synergistic vitamin(s). Similarly, disturbances in vitamin activity or utilization almost always affect associated mineral levels.

For example:

  • Vitamin C enhances iron absorption and reduces copper retention
  • Boron and iron influence vitamin B2 status
  • Vitamin B2 affects the calcium-to-magnesium ratio
  • Vitamin B1 supports sodium retention
  • Vitamin B12 improves absorption of iron and cobalt
  • Vitamin A enhances zinc utilization
  • Vitamins D and E may antagonize zinc

Additionally, protein intake affects zinc status, among other minerals.

Because of these relationships, mineral patterns in hair can offer strong indicators of potential vitamin imbalances or needs. Ongoing research in trace element science continues to uncover the many synergistic and antagonistic interactions between minerals and vitamins.

Yes – hair mineral analysis is a recognized and well-documented method for assessing the body’s mineral balance and heavy metal burden.

Hair mineral analysis is used to:

  • Identify long-term imbalances that may not appear in standard blood or urine tests
  • Detect accumulation of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium
  • Support healthcare practitioners in developing a personalized treatment plan

Hair acts as a biological record, reflecting the body’s mineral status and toxic exposure over time. This makes hair mineral analysis a valuable supplement to traditional diagnostic methods.

Plenty of research has been done in this field. Below are some articles that can be found online:

• Afridi HI, Kazi TG, Jamali MK, et al. Analysis of Heavy Metals in Scalp Hair Samples of Hypertensive Patients by Conventional and Microwave Digestion Methods. Spectroscopy Letters. 2006;39(2):203-214.

• Alabdali A, Al-Ayadhi L, El-Ansary A. A key role for an impaired detoxification mechanism in the etiology and severity of autism spectrum disorders. Behavioral and Brain Functions. 2014;10(1):14

• Ashraf, W., Jaffar, M., Mohammed, D., Iqbal, J. Utilization of scalp hair for evaluating epilepsy in male and female groups of the Pakistan population. Sci. Total Environ. 164(1):69-73, 1995.

• Bass DA, Hickock D, Quig D, Urek K.. Trace element analysis in hair: factors determining accuracy, precision, and reliability. Altern Med Rev. Oct;6(5):472-81, 2001.

• Bencze K. Determination of metals in human hair. In: Seiler H G, Sigel A, Sigel H, eds. Handbook on Metals in Clinical and Analytical Chemistry. New York, NY. Dekker, 1994: p. 214

• Blaurock-Busch E., Amin OR, Dessoki HH, Rabah T. Toxic Metals and Essential Elements in Hair and Severity of Symptoms among Children with Autism. Maedica (Buchar). 2012 Jan;7(1):38-48.

• Contiero, E., Folin, M. Trace elements nutritional status. Use of hair as a diagnostic tool. Biol. Trace Elements. 40(2):151-60, 1994.

• Druyan M E, Bass D A, Puchyr R et al. Determination of reference ranges for elements in human scalp hair. Biol Trace Elem Res 1998; 62: 183-197

• Foo, S.C., Khoo, N.Y., Heng, A. et al. Metals in hair as biological indices for exposure. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath (1993) 65(Suppl 1): S83.

• Gellein K, Lierhagen S, Brevik PS, et al. Trace Element Profiles in Single Strands of Human Hair Determined by HR-ICP-MS. Biological Trace Element Research. 2008;123(1-3):250-260.

• Holsbeek, L., Das, H.K. and Joiris, C.R. Mercury in human hair and relation to fish consumption in Bangladesh. Sci. Total Environ. 186(3):181-8, 1996.

• I.D. Capel, M.H. Pinnock, H.M. Dorrell, D.C. Williams and E.C. Grant. Comparison of concentrations of some trace, bulk, and toxic metals in the hair of normal and dyslexic children. Clinical Chemistry. vol. 27 no. 6 879-881, 1981.

• LeClair, J.A. and Quig, D.W. Hair lead and cadmium levels and specific depressive and anxiety-related symptomotology in children. J. Orthomolec. Med. 18(2):97-106, 2003.

• Malm, O., Branches, F.J., Akagi, H., Castro, M.B., Pfeiffer, W.C., Harada, M., Bastos, W.R. and Kata, H. Mercury and methylmercury in fish and human hair from the Tapajos river basin, Brazil. Sci. Total Environ. 175(20):141-50, 1995.

• Maugh T, H 2nd. Hair: a diagnostic tool to complement blood serum and urine. Science 202(22):1271-1273, 1978.

• Minder, B., Das-Smaal, E.A., Brand, E.F., Orlebeke, J.F. Exposure to lead and specific attentional problems in school children. J Learn Disabil, 27(6):393-9, 1994.

• Mohamed FEB, Zaky EA, El-Sayed AB, et al. Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism. Behavioural Neurology. 2015;2015:1-9.

• Olmedo P, Pla A, Hernández A, López-Guarnido O, Rodrigo L, Gil F. Validation of a method to quantify chromium, cadmium, manganese, nickel and lead in human whole blood, urine, saliva and hair samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Analytica Chimica Acta. 2010;659(1-2):60-67.

• Pesch A, Wilhelm M, Rostek U, et al. Mercury concentrations in urine, scalp hair and saliva in children from Germany. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. 2002;12(4):252-258.

• Puchyr R F, Bass D A, Gajewski R. Preparation of hair for measurement of elements by inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Biol Trace Elem Res 1998; 62: 167-182

• Rose, J.: Brain Biochemistry, Neurotoxicity, and Criminal Violence. In: Environmental Toxicology, ed. J. Rose. London and New York, Gordon and Breach Publishers, in press.

• Saghazadeh A, Rezaei N. Systematic review and meta-analysis links autism and toxic metals and highlights the impact of country development status: Higher blood and erythrocyte levels for mercury and lead, and higher hair antimony, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. 2017;79:340-368.

• Salonen, J.T., Seppanen, K., Nyssonen, K., Korpela, H., Kauhanen, J., Kantola, M., Tuomilehto, J., Esterbauer, H., Tatzber, F. and Salonen, R. Intake of mercury from fish, lipid peroxidation, and the risk of myocardial infarction and coronary, cardiovascular, and any death in eastern Finnish men. Circulation 91(3):646-55, 1995.

• Skalny AV, Simashkova NV, Klyushnik TP, et al. Analysis of Hair Trace Elements in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Communication Disorders. Biological Trace Element Research. 2016;177(2):215-223.

• Tabatadze, T., Zhorzholiani, L., Kherkheulidze, M., Kandelaki, E., Ivanashvili T. Hair heavy metal and essential trace element concentration in children with autism spectrum disorder. Georgian Med News. 2015 Nov;(248):77-82.

• Watt, F., Landsberg, J., Powell, J.J., Ede, R.J., Thompson, R.P. and Cargnello, J.A. Analysis of copper and lead in hair using the nuclear microscope; results from normal subjects and patients with Wilson’s disease and lead poisoning. Analyst 120(3):789-9, 1995.

• Yassa HA. Autism: A form of lead and mercury toxicity. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2014;38(3):1016-1024.
• Yasuda H, Yasuda Y, Tsutsui T. Estimation of autistic children by metallomics analysis. Scientific Reports. 2013;3(1).