Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) Test

Modern life tends to be a busy life. Stress abounds, and people normalize it. Pesticides like glyphosate, toxins like endocrine disruptors, and other chemicals burden our detox pathways. Highly processed foods make up too large a part of our diet. It makes sense then that nutrient deficiencies and impaired nutrient utilization occurs frequently. This is where hair tissue mineral analysis comes in.

What is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)?

Hair tissue mineral analysis test, or HTMA test, measures the mineral content of the hair. We use the Trace Elements test which tests for levels of macrominerals, microminerals, and heavy metals. The levels of these minerals in the hair give us clues as to the levels of minerals in the rest of the body.

Why test the hair instead of the blood?

Hair tissue is ideal tissue for sampling and testing, and it’s non-invasive. Hair tissue mineral analysis reveals a unique metabolic world: intracellular activity, which cannot be seen through most other tests. Trace minerals are essential in countless metabolic functions in all phases of the life process.

Hair testing reveals the mineral status in the hair for the last 90 days, rather than short-term (perhaps just 24 hours) changes that the blood (serum) often shows. We want this longer-term view of your health status to actually understand what’s going on. HTMA also tests the intracellular (inside the cell) environment, rather than what’s going on outside the cell. What’s inside the cell matters – that’s what your body is actually using!

Is the HTMA Test Worth It?

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis is worth doing because a surprising number of people diagnosed with chronic health conditions actually turn out to have mineral deficiencies, and sometimes even heavy metal overload.

Deficiencies can be corrected with gradual repletion of the right nutrients. Keep in mind that the levels of specific minerals will impact the levels and functionality of other minerals as well as vitamins. So the repletion process needs to be done thoughtfully and with a functional nutrition approach in mind.

Heavy metal issues can be corrected with a safe detoxification program through dietary changes and supplementation. You can see more benefits to this test here.

**Expert interpretation of the patterns of mineral levels on the test can reveal individual needs for how to support and heal metabolic pathways in the body that are dysfunctional. Ideally, we also review bloodwork, as both HTMA and bloodwork together can give us a fuller picture of your health.

Other Benefits of the HTMA Test

• Easy & painless
• More affordable than many other functional lab tests (see below)
• DIY test done at home

What does the HTMA test for?

• Levels of the Macro minerals: calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium
• Levels of the Supporting minerals: copper, zinc, phosphorus, iron, manganese, chromium, selenium, boron, cobalt, molybdenum, sulfur
• Toxic elements, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and aluminum
• Significant ratio of essential minerals
• Metabolic Type: fast vs slow metabolism, and types 1-4. This can also tell us how far along in the stress adaptation cycle we are in. (I also discussed this concept in a reel on my Instagram)
• Iron metabolism: differentiate between iron overload / dysfunctional iron metabolism vs. true iron deficiency (best to interpret along with bloodwork (CBC, full iron panel), as well).

What Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) Can Tell Us

With all of these results of mineral levels, what does it all tell us about your health? As discussed above, since minerals are needed in every process of the body, their absence or excessive levels will have an impact on critical functions and body systems. Minerals are often called the “spark plugs” of the body, enabling processes to work well. I like to think of minerals, as well as vitamins, as the “firestarters”, whereas proteins, fats, and carbs are the “logs” on a fire that actually burn. The micronutrients- vitamins and minerals– are needed to get the fire started in the first place.

The HTMA results can give us insight into:

• Thyroid function
• Digestion
• Stress response
• Adrenal function
• Nervous system
• Blood sugar balance
• And more!

Who Should Do an HTMA test?

As functional nutritionists, we run the HTMA test to better understand the nutritional profile of people with any of the following conditions (but not limited to these):

• fatigue
• hormone imbalances
• gut dysbiosis
• anxiety
• digestion issues
• infertility
• muscle weakness
• frequent illness or recurring infections
• hypothyroidism

These conditions and more often involve mineral imbalances.

Major causes of mineral imbalance

1. Stress

Physical or emotional stress can deplete the body of many nutrients while also reducing the capability to absorb and utilize many nutrients. This can happen over years, accumulating enough deficiencies that eventually lead to noticeable symptoms and dysfunction. 

2. Diet

Improper diet can lead to a chemical imbalance. Even the nutrient content of what some might consider a “healthy” diet can be still be inadequate. For example, we must understand the right forms of nutrients that we need (like Vitamin A as retinol vs. beta-carotene). And even the soil in which the food was grown or the method in which it was prepared can make a difference.

3. Nutritional Supplements

Taking incorrect supplements or improper amounts of supplements can produce many vitamin and mineral excesses and/or deficiencies, contributing to an overall biochemical imbalance. For example, Vitamin C in its isolated form as ascorbic acid can actually have a potentially negative impact on the body in certain ways. On the other hand, whole food based extracts of Vitamin C come as a Vitamin C Complex made up of naturally occurring bioflavonoids and enzymes have been shown to be more effective (and actually safer) than the isolated ascorbic acid.

4. Pollution

From adolescence through adulthood, the average person is continually exposed to a variety of toxic metal sources such as cigarette smoke (cadmium), hair dyes (lead), hydrogenated oils (nickel), anti-perspirants (aluminum), dental amalgams (mercury and cadmium), copper and aluminum cookware and lead-based cosmetics. These are just a few of the hundreds of sources which can contribute to nutrient imbalances and adverse metabolic effects.

Overview of the HTMA Test Process From Getting a Test to Results

I’ll break down the major steps in getting an HTMA test and then how we would get you started on making changes based on your results.

How to get do the hair tissue mineral analysis test

I have my clients order their own HTMA test kit via Even Better Now website ( I get a very small affiliate commission here).

Take your hair sample

Do your HTMA test at home. Follow the instructions to cut a small sample of hair (see more details further below). Send it back to the lab for analysis.

Review your HTMA results with a functional nutritionist

You will receive an email with your results from the lab about 2-3 weeks after sending in your sample. Forward your results to us, and then we’ll review your results in detail in our next nutrition coaching session.

Follow your HTMA nutrition protocol

In our nutrition coaching call, we will do a full assessment of your health history as well as review your results and discuss what they mean in the overall context of your health & symptoms. We’ll discuss a detailed approach to gradually addressing your mineral needs. Your individualized protocol will likely include a combination of specific recommendations for dietary intake, lifestyle adjustments, and nutritional supplements.

How Do You Do a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Test?

First, make sure hair is “clean”

This is critical for accurate results. “Clean” hair means:

• free of dye, bleach and/ or hair products 
• If you have recently dyed your hair, please wait a minimum of 3 weeks (8 weeks is better) before collection.
• If you use Head and Shoulders, Selsun Blue or any other anti-dandruff shampoo please discontinue for 2 weeks prior to collection and note this on your submission form. If it is impossible to temporarily stop, please make sure to indicate use on the submission form.
• Please avoid the use of public pools for at least one week prior to collection.
• Wait at least 4-6 hours after washing hair to collect your sample.

Cutting your hair sample

Several notes to keep in mind when cutting your hair sample for the HTMA test:

• Scalp hair should be used whenever possible.
• Beard hair and pubic hair can be used when scalp hair is not available but the results will be more difficult to interpret.
• Hair needs to be taken from 3-4 locations at the base of the skull.
• Hair must be cut as close to the scalp as possible. (You can have a family member or friend help you, if needed. Or have your hair stylist do this for you).
• Obtain a total of about 1 tablespoon of hair from the 1 inch closest to the scalp. Use the purple scale provided in your collection kit to easily weigh the sample to make sure you have enough

You can click here for more information on Do’s & Don’t’s for cutting your hair sample.

HTMA test results sample report

Take a look at this hair test results sample report to see what the report will look like. Don’t worry though– we’ll go over your results in detail so that you leave with thorough understanding!

How much does the HTMA Test cost?

The tests costs $110 when ordered through EvenBetterNow.

*Prices are subject to change

Ready to test not Guess?