Hair tissue mineral analysis

Find out more about this functional lab service and how it can help you to heal

What is HTMA?

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis is a functional medicine screening test that involves taking a hair sample, about a teaspoon’s worth, and sending it to a lab for testing.

Testing mineral levels in hair is ideal because it gives us a 2-3 month snapshot of what’s been happening in the body versus blood which will only give information on that moment, and often misrepresents your body's situation given blood’s tendency to seek homeostasis.

For instance, you can have adequate levels of calcium in the blood but if it isn’t entering the soft tissues because of heavy metal presence or even a "calcium shell" (the body's attempt to protect itself from harm and trauma by layering the cell membranes with calcium, preventing vital material from entering), then it is not being utilized.

Hair is a soft tissue, just like your brain and other organs, and so it provides a good representation of what’s going on inside the body as well. 

HTMA is a screening test, not a diagnostic test (i.e., it’s not going to tell you that you’re anemic, only that your iron levels in the hair are showing up as low) and by itself isn’t going to give us all the information we need to heal the body, but it’s a logical place to start. 

I am qualified to initiate and interpret HTMA (not perform the actual lab test!) and will then design practical health, diet, and lifestyle programs with the foundational information provided from the test and an assessment form.

Why not just use blood tests?

The results from blood tests are very different than what story the hair will tell. Mineral levels are higher in the hair and will reflect two to three months of accumulations, whereas blood can tell you what is happening in the moment.

Furthermore, blood tissue seeks to maintain homeostasis and does not reflect the intracellular mineral imbalances in the rest of the body. Heavy metals will also not accumulate in the blood. If you swallowed a teaspoon of mercury, your blood would indicate increased levels only for a short time! After about three days, it will be pushed out into the tissues and organs, like the brain and liver, where it can do damage. The hair is tissue where metals will eventually accumulate. It can provide valuable information about heavy metal presence in a very non-invasive way.

Why are minerals important?

In short, minerals are vital cofactors at the cellular level; without a proper balance of minerals in the body, metabolic processes simply aren’t going to function properly--everything from nerve signaling, muscle contraction, electrolyte balance, digestion, pH regulation, blood sugar balance, etc.

Minerals are often referred to as the "spark plugs" of the body because they act as catalysts for thousand of metabolic reactions in your body and are necessary for these reactions.

What about heavy metals?

Heavy metals like mercury, aluminum, arsenic, and uranium have no biological use in the body, and therefore will be excreted or accumulate in the body displacing minerals, and creating imbalance and/or illness. 

Of note, is that heavy metals have a higher atomic weight than minerals, and therefore, when they are present in the body, they will compete with minerals for binding sites in our cells. This makes it extra important to support the body’s mineral balance so it can properly eliminate the heavy metals that don’t belong and will only create problems.

What can HTMA results really tell me?

A surprising amount!

We look for specific patterns and ratios in HTMA results that help inform a lifestyle prescription. For instance, some people can be different degrees of fast or slow metabolizers, and a specific pattern of mineral ratios tells us this.

The calcium to phosphorous ratio gives information about the autonomic nervous system functioning, or rather, if someone is in fight-or-flight (the ratio are too high) or officially depleted (the ratio is too low)

The calcium to magnesium ratios indicates if someone has blood sugar handling issues, the sodium to magnesium ratio gives insight into adrenal functioning, the calcium to potassium ratio is a marker for thyroid functioning, and zinc to copper is indicative of hormone functioning. 

All of this paints the picture of your physical well-being and, when paired with responses on the NAQ (the Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire) parallels to symptoms, stress response, and diet can be clearly drawn. 

Stress is incredibly important to assess and then manage because even the right dietary and supplement choices won’t have any significant impact if stress continues to deplete the body of minerals and nutrients.

Can’t I just take a multi vitamin or mineral blend?

Singular mineral supplementation and even taking vitamins can be ineffective without knowing what minerals are out of balance in the first place. Even if you had a good guess, taking a single mineral supplement has been shown to be ineffective to raise that mineral's level in the tissue.

Some minerals work in tandem, and taking too much of one can place the other one out of balance. Furthermore, without addressing your emotional needs and lifestyle factors, simply supplementing with a mineral may be futile. There's more than meets the eye.

The web of mineral interactions is really complex and individualized and there’s a lot to know, but I now firmly believe that the info HTMA provides is a crucial component to start the physical healing process by also addressing stress, cognitive and other limiting factors that go beyond the physical.

This bridge from the physical into the next domain of emotional and cognitive health, underscores our philosophy of no one physical issue being purely physical since we can agree, the stress response is so very potent and influential on our physical body..

If you work with me and opt for an HTMA test, you’ll get the materials and instructions to take the hair sample in the mail, then we’ll receive the results, I will create a plan for lifestyle changes, and share those with you and have a discussion about how to implement the changes.

I'm sold! How do I do this?

I have several options for HTMA testing, lifestyle programming, and ongoing support.

When you schedule a call with me, we'll discuss the different options so you can decide which path is best for you! After your purchase, the process will work like this:


Step 1: Intake Form

You’ll complete a comprehensive online intake form to share your health history, goals, diet, symptoms, and any current concerns. This helps me gather the background information I need to personalize your plan.

Step 2: Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) Test

I’ll send you all the materials and instructions needed to submit a small hair sample to the lab. The lab I use, Trace Elements, is one of two labs that does not chemically wash the hair before testing. Such chemical exposure alters the results, and we're all pretty befuddled as to why they would do this!

Step 3: Personalized 12-Week Plan

Once I receive your lab results and review your intake form, I’ll record a personalized video where I walk you through your results and recommendations. This includes a customized 12-week plan tailored to your specific priorities, outlining changes or additions in your diet, supplements, and lifestyle.(This is not a day-by-day prescription. The idea is that you follow the recommendations for at least 12 weeks in order to see results)

Follow-Up Support

Depending on which package you choose, each HTMA purchase includes some follow-up support. Results on their own are meaningless without proper interpretation and analysis.

You may choose from:

a detailed report plus tailored dietary, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations

a detailed report, recommendations, and a 30 minute discussion to ask questions and gain clarity

a detailed report, recommendations, a call to discuss the report and plan, and ongoing email support during your 12 week program.

Next Steps

If you’d like to move forward, please click the button below and I’ll put your HTMA test kit in the mail within 24 hours within completion of your intake form.

When you purchase an HTMA testing option, I will send you the materials in the mail for your hair sample collection, directions included.

Preparing for the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Collection

Unlike blood collection, you will not need to abstain from eating, or stop your regular routine in order to collect a sample. But you may have to take extra measures to prepare the hair by:

  • waiting three weeks after dyeing the hair to take a sample

  • suspending use of Head and Shoulders shampoo for 2 weeks before collecting your sample (or we can expect zinc levels to be skewed)

  • washing with a clarifying shampoo

  • rinsing with distilled or filtered water to prevent tap water mineral contamination

  • allowing hair to air dry for 4 to 6 hours and avoiding perspiring

  • collecting a sample with sharp hair scissors as close to the scalp as possible (recruit an assistant!)

  • snipping old growth off leaving only about 1 or 2 inches of new growth

  • using the included scale to make sure you include enough hair (about a teaspoon's worth)

  • placing hair sample in the small envelope, completing the form, and mailing to Trace Elements with the included envelope

  • waiting 2 to 3 weeks for email results

Let your healing journey begin!

As always I welcome questions! Reach out to me at [email protected]