Will a Perm Pass a Hair Follicle Test? What Perm Chemistry Does to Drug Levels in Hair

Updated 18 Oct 2026 · By the DrugTestAnswers editorial team

The perm trick shows up in TikTok clips and old answer-site threads: get a perm a few days before a hair follicle test and the chemicals will wipe the drugs out. A perm can lower the amount of some drugs measured in hair, but research shows the drop is unpredictable, often small, and nowhere near a reliable way to get under a lab cutoff. It also adds real damage to hair you may be about to treat with other products. Here is what a perm actually does to the strand, what the evidence says, and what makes more sense to do first. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links.

Short answer

No one can promise a perm will get you through a hair test. Perming changes the protein bonds inside the hair, and lab experiments have measured lower drug concentrations in some permed samples. But the amount of loss swings widely by drug, by hair type and by how strong the process was. Someone who used often enough to be well above the cutoff will usually still be above it after a perm. The only sure way to pass a hair test is not using during the window it covers, which is roughly 90 days for a standard 1.5 inch head hair sample.

What happens to your hair during a perm

Hair gets its shape from keratin, a protein held together by sulfur-to-sulfur links called disulfide bonds. A permanent wave works in two chemical stages:

1. The waving lotion. Most home and salon perms use a thioglycolate solution (often ammonium thioglycolate, sometimes glyceryl thioglycolate in acid perms). It is alkaline, swells the cuticle open and breaks a large share of the disulfide bonds so the hair takes the shape of the rod it is wrapped around.
2. The neutralizer. A mild oxidizer, usually hydrogen peroxide, is applied to rebuild bonds in the new position and lock the curl in place.

So for 15 to 30 minutes the inside of the strand is opened up and chemically rearranged. That is the part people hope will flush drugs out. Some drug molecules trapped in the cortex can be damaged or leach out while the structure is swollen. Others are bound tightly to melanin, the pigment, and are much harder to dislodge.

What lab studies have found

Forensic toxicologists have studied cosmetic treatments because they matter when interpreting results. The general findings, across bleaching, dyeing, relaxing and perming, are fairly consistent:

• Levels can drop. Experiments on hair exposed to perm solutions have reported reduced concentrations of drugs such as cocaine, opiates and cannabinoids compared with untreated portions of the same hair.
• The drop is variable. Results range from barely noticeable to large, depending on the drug, the starting concentration and the treatment strength. There is no number you can count on.
• Oxidizing treatments tend to do more. Bleach, which uses stronger peroxide and persulfate boosters, generally shows bigger reductions than a perm or semi-permanent color. Even then, studies don't show it reliably producing negative results in regular users.
• Labs know about it. Testing guidelines from groups like the Society of Hair Testing discuss cosmetic treatment as a factor when reading results, and collectors often note visibly treated hair.

A forum post that says someone permed and passed leaves out everything that matters: how much they used, when they stopped, what the cutoff was, and whether they would have been negative anyway. Light or one-time use can come back negative with no treatment at all.

Why a perm is a weak plan

The damage side nobody mentions in the clips

Perming is one of the harder things you can do to hair. Breaking and rebuilding bonds weakens the strand, and some bonds never re-form. Common results include dryness, frizz, split ends and breakage, especially on hair that is already colored or bleached. Stylists usually recommend waiting about two weeks between chemical services and never perming bleached hair at home.

The real risk comes from stacking. People who perm for a test often follow it with daily clarifying shampoos, vinegar and salicylic acid rinses (the Macujo method), or even bleach. Each one is harsh on its own. Back to back on freshly permed hair, they can leave the scalp raw and the hair snapping off. Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or any other cleaner or acid; those combinations can release toxic gases. Our page on Macujo method hair damage explains what that kind of routine does to the strand.

Perm vs other treatments people try

For more on color and bleach specifically, see can you pass a hair follicle test with hair dye.

Where Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid comes in

Most people asking about perms are really asking what can help before a hair test. The product most hair-test guides name is Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid from TestClear. Here is the honest picture:

• What TestClear says it is: a deep-cleansing shampoo meant to remove buildup, residue and impurities from hair.
• Maker's directions in short: wash with a regular shampoo, then work Aloe Toxin Rid into damp hair and scalp, leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse, repeating daily or several times a day over the days before a test.
• What is not proven: there is no independent published study showing it gets anyone past a hair follicle test. Reviews are anecdotes.
• On permed hair: follow the label, condition the ends, and stop if your scalp burns or the hair starts breaking.

You can check Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid at TestClear. Our full Aloe Toxin Rid shampoo review and how-to guide walks through directions, schedules and what is and isn't known.

Do this before anything chemical: test your own hair

A home hair follicle test kit lets you cut a sample, mail it to a lab and see a result before the real collection. If you're already negative, you can skip the perm, the shampoos and the stress. If you're positive, you know how far out of range you might be and whether time is on your side. Our guide to the best hair follicle drug test kits compares options, and how long it takes to pass a hair follicle test explains the growth math.

If you already have a perm

Having permed hair doesn't cause a positive and isn't a problem by itself. Plenty of people have perms for style. Treat the hair gently in the run-up to a test, use a moisturizing conditioner on the lengths, and avoid adding another chemical service right before the appointment. If the collector asks about treatments, answer honestly.

Our sourcing

Perm chemistry comes from cosmetic chemistry references on thioglycolate waving and peroxide neutralizers. Findings on cosmetic treatments and drug levels in hair come from published forensic toxicology research and Society of Hair Testing guidance. Aloe Toxin Rid claims and directions come from TestClear's product page. We don't run lab tests or publish testimonials; see our editorial methodology.

Tests this page doesn't cover

Don't use a perm, shampoo or any product mentioned here to try to affect a DOT-regulated test (CDL drivers, rail, transit, pipeline, maritime), FAA aviation testing, federal employee programs, military testing, or court, probation and parole testing. Tampering with those can count as a refusal and may be illegal.

Disclaimer and help

Informational only, not medical or legal advice. Tampering with a drug test may be illegal and can count as a refusal or failed test. The only guaranteed way to pass is abstinence. For free, confidential support 24/7, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. If you're in crisis, call or text 988.