TJTrails

I've read all the posts on the Hair test results page and I'm starting to wonder if all the stress is really worth it. I haven't searched for a real job in almost 7 years and the last one I had for 12 years and now I find they are all doing pre-employment testing. I now live in Las Vegas where a lot of the work is in casinos and they all test. I'm hoping to get called back for a third interview the middle of next week at one that definitely does the hair test.

For the last 29 years or so I was pretty much a daily smoker, except when we couldn't hook up. The last 6 years I've tapered off a little but still smoke frequently. A few times in the last 1 1/2 years I've managed 1 month to 6 weeks without. I've been clean since September 1st with the exception of about 3 pipe hits about 6 weeks ago. Weak will power day. Oh yeah, and a week ago I stuck my face in a bag of green and deeply inhaled. I really, really need this job. I do wonder though if $10 an hour and benefits is really worth all this stress. I'm stressing and I haven't even been offered the job yet.
I'm 5"9 , about 215 lbs., too much body fat though not really obese, have almost shoulder length ash brown hair and an average metabolism. Except for the one slip and one whiff I've been clean roughly 75 days.

First all I found online was the detox sites so I did invest in some three step Test'In program. They said if I used it the results would be permanent as long as I obstained, but since reading this site I'm not so sure. So, I've read and read and just getting more confused. Test'in recommended rubbing a baking soda paste and strong tea in for 3-4 days before using. I did that twice. Then I found this site and I've done the Mac treatment once plus sat in the sun a bit today. This site listed Propylene Glycol as one of the ingredients in the Aloe Rid but not according to my bottle. My upc code is 0559216035 but the Propylene Glycol is not in there. I have read so many things I'm more confused than ever. Please help...

1. Is my Aloe Rid going to work without that stuff? I did find some Biolage Matrix conditioning Balm in my bathroom that lists Propylene Glycol as the second ingredient, right after water. Should I use that at the end of my Mac sessions?

2. If I want to do the baking soda as well, should I do that with the shampooing part?

3. I see swimming is a good thing. We have a pool and it's real hot in Las Vegas in the summer so I spent lots of time in the pool prior to Sept. 1. Will that help? What about it helps exactally? I was actually thinking of doing a Chlorine shock treatment on my hair like I do on the pool. What do you think about the safety of that?

4. When would be best time in the process to use the Test'In product?

5. Money is a super serious issue at this point. I can't affort all the bleaching and redying (even though this seems to be the most foolproof) and I don't really want to do it anyway. I wouldn't mind a body perm but probably can't afford that either.

Any ideas or support would be appreciated. I also struggle with depression so this time without the green and looking for work is really trying. I still have to wonder if a low paying job is really worth it.

lillyfire25

Sounds like you have the Aloe Rid shampoo. You need the treatment, which has the Propylene Glycol. You can get in online! As for the bleach and redye, you can get the stuff yourself at sally's for cheap..... do it yourself! Or recruit a friend. Good Luck!

Yoss

I know it can certainly be stressful, but remember, the worst they can do is not give you the job. And then you'll be at the same place you'd end up by not trying.

With your usage, all your old hair should be contaminated. The first thing I'd do right now is get yourself a haircut to 1.5 inches, the minimum necessary to take a scalp sample. The normal test range is 90 days for 1.5 inches, with some variability based on how fast your hair grows.

Unfortunately they no longer produce the shampoo with propylene glycol. You can try searching for the Aloe Rid Treatment, but it is getting rare. Your better bet is searching for propylene glycol using the search function, and grabbing another one of the many shampoos that have it.

Plain Aloe Rid is nice, but only for swimmer's hair, etc. It will probably not help otherwise. If this other stuff has it, then that's great, but I'm not sure what sort of product it is, can't hurt.

From what I've seen, baking soda is recommended in the instructions for some detox shampoos, as a pre-treatment. Toxin Wash comes with a booklet recommending that you fill a gallon jug 3/4 of the way, then add 4-5 tablespoons of baking soda, shake, and rinse through your hair before using their product. Some users in the results thread appear to have worked it into their regular Mac treatments.

Not sure why it helps, but people seem to think it does. It seems that everything that bleaches your hair, from sunlight, to chlorine, to actual hydrogen peroxide, helps to open up the hair follicle and let toxins out. If you are considering directly applying concentrated chlorine to your hair, please don't. Chemical burns or asphyxiation could be much worse than not getting this job.

Edit: As I understand it: chlorine as used in pools is an acid, as is hydrogen peroxide used in bleach. (The bleach is balanced with ammonia or some other base to open hair follicles.)

Not sure on this one, maybe someone else can chime in. If it is like other shampoos, it is probably best to use it immediately before the test. Try checking the instructions.

MacCujo can be very cheap. Bleaching and redying can get you more peace of mind. You should consider the above poster's suggestion, it's not expensive if you have a good friend do it.

The hair test is beatable. I think everyone posting here has been in your shoes. I currently am. Don't give up, and ask more questions if you need help.

Other than that, read the results thread when you have the time, and use the search function to figure out unfamiliar terms/products.

Good luck.

TJTrails

Thanks Lillyfire and Yoss for the advise. Unfortunately I am female and not willing to cut my hair to 1 1/2" for this job. I may do the bleaching, but really don't want to ruin my hair that way. I may do the perm as that seems a little safer, while not as foolproof. Maybe I'll just do the Mac treatments (a lot) and maybe the Test'In will work better than I hope. I did pick up some PM3 shampoo but in reading the ingredients I'm not sure how this helps. While I was getting that I found some Matrix Biolage hydratherapie shampoo (says nourishes thich, coarse hair). It has both propylene glycol and salicylic acid in it. So I bought some and will wash with that as well. And pray a lot.

I guess if I'm meant to have this job I'll pass and if not, well at least my resume' is all in order now.

Thanks again and good luck to all the others in this same boat.

lillyfire25

I was hesitant to do the bleach/redye myself. I have long dark hair that I color regularly and I was nervous about frying it. What is your hair like now? I did a mac treatment last week, and a bleach/redye yesterday. I recruited my friend who does hair, and we only bleached about 3 inches (roots up). Its the healthiest part of your hair, and will probably tolerate it well. After you redye your hair feels healthy..... Its definitley worth a try. We put the aloe rid treatment on after we rinsed out the bleach, since thats when the cuticle is wide open. Then washed out with PM3. I'm going to Zydot the day of.


I would strongly recommend getting a friend to help you, or going to a salon! But only you can decide if this job is worth all the BS to try and pass this test.

325

I've bleached and redyed my hair twice now, and let me tell you -- it does NOT feel healthy. The hair is probably half as thick as it once was, and you can see my scalp if you're looking down from above whereas you could see only hair before. I figure it will correct itself in a few months once new hair starts to grow in, but bleaching & dying twice will absolutely FRY it. I need to use massive amounts of conditioner every day for it to be manageable.

lillyfire25

I guess it goes to show that everybodys hair is different. I felt like the MAC fried my hair more than the bleach/redye. I only did 1 bleach redye though.... Bleach is definitley hard on your hair, but redying it will fill up the "holes" caused by bleaching and usually make it feel a little better. After I took my test (hopefully I'll hear back this week!) I loaded up on the conditioner myself.... leave it on for at least 10 mins, and maybe wash your hair every other day.