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Xerocool

I'll be taking a drug screening (hair analysis) on May 5th. I've spent the last several days researching and figuring out a schedule. I wouldn't mind getting a little advise on the matter though.

I'm about 5'6" - 5'7" male, average weight (about 155-160lbs), moderate metabolism, somewhat thin dark brown hair thats about 6 - 7" at the longest. The last time I smoked was Mar 29, and before that I was only smoking occasionally, a few times a week at best. My tight money situation (hooray college!) left me unable to afford good quality and large quantity. Looking back now though, that seems to be in my favor.

Anyway...

My plan of action so far has been to do the following

This weekend, I'll cut my hair down to 1.75" - 2". Assuming my hair grows at 1/2" per month, that should effectively eliminate any history of heavier use, or other drug usage, while keeping my hair long enough for testing. (Don't want to go to body hair)

I'd like to bleach and redye my hair at least 2 times before the testing date. I could use some recommendations on bleaches and dyes though. Also, recommendations on the time frame of when to do this would be appreciated. (couldn't find detailed instructions, but a link to some would be awesome)

My current hair shampoo, Herbal Essence, contains PG, but it doesn't specify the amount. I'd like something to wash my hair with twice a day or so to help, but again, a recommendation would be nice. I've heard good things about Neutrogena T-Gel, Paul Mitchell III, and Nexxus Aloe Rid. In addition, is there a good way to use the shampoo in conjunction with the bleach/redye?

I've heard a few people soaking their hair in a baking soda paste, but couldn't find much info on how often or when to do this, or its success rate.

Finally, I'll be purchasing some zydot for the testing day. The company's page says to use it 3 - 5 hours before the test, but does that really matter if I'm abstaining from smoking? could I use it the day before, or even earlier?

Any way, this job is very important to me as far as earing money and advancing my career. I would really appreciate any info you can provide me with. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read this lengthy post.

Jerry - every word that comes out of your mouth is like gold. This forum is an amazing resource helping good people keep their private lives just how they should be... private.

 

Xerocool

Did a little more research and found the following for bleach/redye

Use a bleach with 40 vol peroxide
Wash with shampoo with PG after bleach
Use dye with ammonia and peroxide
wash again with shampoo containing PG

Is this a good Bleach/redye method?

How long should I perform each step for (eg, how long should I leave bleach in)?

Any recommendation on brands of bleach, shampoo, and dye?

Also heard using a relaxer might be a good idea, the chemicals can really do a number on the protein structure of your hair while straitening it (my hair is already very strait for the record.) I was afraid this might be overkill with the bleach redye method though, and reading this scared me a little:
"The hair can be significantly weakened by the physical overlap of successive applications or by a single excessive one, leading to brittleness, breakage, or even widespread alopecia [hairloss]"

My research has still been fruitless for baking soda paste treatment - thoughts?

Xerocool

Well, I got a little anxious and felt like I needed to do something - I was feeling like every day I didn't do anything was a day lost. So, I headed of to my local Walmart to see what I could find.

I'll be doing the following treatment 2x daily (ideally)

1.) Baking soda paste for 20 mins. From what I understand the high Ph opens the hair follicle.
2.) Wash hair with Tide. The tide I purchased has baking soda in it so I figured it should maintain the high Ph.
3.) Scrub with Dermarest Psoriasis Medicated Shampoo with Conditioner (using scrub brush). The shampoo helps to remove and control crusty scalp buildup (which I don't seem to have a problem with.) But it contains PG and 3% salicylic acid, a staple in the "sketchy/voodoo" Mac method - but hopefully it should dissolve the metabolites (I'm no chemist, thats all speculation, but its something to try I suppose).
4) Wash with my normal shampoo which contains PG
5) Condition with my normal conditioner which also contains PG


Any thoughts on this routine?

Also, I looked at hair dyes which were relatively inexpensive to my surprise and delight. I could definitely use a recommendation on a brand , there seems to be thousands.

halfbaked4life

Look for a swimmers shampoo that takes out chlorine. Like Paul Mitchell 3 .

Sec

Bleach twice then redye to your natural color. If you want to do the Tide, baking soda, whatever after that, then go ahead. The dye is mostly to give your hair back it's normal color. The bleach is the part that actually damages the hair shaft so any THC inside can leach out through the cracks and splits.

You can safely cut your hair to 1-1/2 inches without fear of the collector rejecting it for being too short.

Your research has been good, and you are right, the more time that goes by without doing something, is time lost.

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Xerocool

So I ventured out to sally's beauty supply to see what I could find. Picked up some ion chlorine removing swimmer's shampoo, which was loaded with assorted acids and PG, and a packet of ion crystal clarifying treatment.

The person who helped me told me that you make a paste, apply to hair, and let sit for 20mins covered while applying heat. Its supposed to open the hairs' cuticles and remove iron, rust, hard water minerals, perm odor, styling products, chlorine, and swimmer's green. I think I'll apply the packet right after my first bleach, before dying. If that goes ok, I'll probably pick up another pack for after my second bleach.

Revised shampoo method:
1)baking soda/tide paste mixture (20 min soak)
2)swimmer shampoo
3)Dermarest Psoriasis shampoo
4)Normal shampoo (mostly so my head doesn't smell like dog shampoo, but also has PG in it)
5)Normal conditioner (for the love of god, my hair needs it afterward)

I'm trying to do this twice a day except for the baking soda/tide paste (thats once a day for time reasons).

Xerocool

The baking soda/tide paste is really agitating my scalp, forehead, and ears. I assume thats because of the high PH level.

My hair had already slightly changed in texture and lost some manageability. I take this as a good sign.... right?

Xerocool

So, been a while since I've updated. I'll try to fill in everything I did.

First of all, I'm pretty sure I've passed. Took the test 14 days ago and haven't gotten the dreaded call from a lab technitian yet. Some thanks are in order - Jerry G, Sec, the wonderful folks behind this website, and all the others who have gone through this, or were going through it with me.

Now for a little catch up.

I went through with the bleach and redye twice. The second bleach was about a week after the first, and it burned the hell out of my head. I had scabs all over my head and I'm still suffering from terrible dandruff. I did a third redye (without a bleaching) because some of the dye washed out of my head and I nearly went blonde. Also did a ion crystal clarifying treatment treatment between the bleach and redye the first time I went through that. The bleach redye method I used is the same as listed above:

40 vol peroxide bleach fpr 20 mins
wash with swimmers shampoo (contains PG)
Dye (containing amonia) (20 mins)
wash with swimmers shampoo
Dye again if necessary to match color.

I would recomend that if you are bleaching and dyeing yourself, get someone with experience to help you, and talk to someone at a hair care store. The chemicals are pretty potent and if you don't take the proper precautions you could put yourself in a world of pain. Many professional dyes can cause blindness if they come into contact with the eye.

Ordered some toxin wash and followed the instructions inside for the most part. My baking soda soaks had more baking soda than they recommended, and I didn't use distilled water to rinse my hair (didn't see the logic in that). Other than that I was following the instructions to almost a T. I did this a total of 4 times in a period of about 3 or 4 days before the test including once the morning before the test.

I never had the money to buy both the zydot and the toxin wash, but I would recomend you get both. Why take a chance if you don't have to.

Also, do as much research as possible, this website is a great database for this kind of thing. The people here are more than willing to help you, but only if you are helping yourself. Formulate a strategy through research and ask for opinions and try to be an active member. The more you post, the more responces you'll get and the more you'll learn.

Good luck and I hope you're as fortunate with your test results as I was.