Written by Brandon Topp

THC edibles offer a more potent form of cannabis consumption compared to smoking cannabis and stay in your system longer than inhaled THC.

When it comes to testing, it's said that urine tests and blood tests have shorter detection windows, while hair follicle tests can detect THC for up to 90 days.

For those who'd like to learn more, how and why does THC from weed edibles stay in your hair for so long?

This guide explores how cannabis edibles impact hair testing, what influences detection times, and whether you can speed up the detox process.

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Table of Contents

• How THC Edibles Enter Hair Follicles

• How Long Edibles Stay in Hair

• Can You Detox Hair Faster?

• How Hair Follicle Drug Tests Work

• Final Thoughts

• FAQ

How THC Edibles Enter Hair Follicles

When a person consumes edibles, they absorb cannabinoids like THC through the digestive system and metabolize them via the liver into 11-hydroxy-THC, a more potent form of the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis products.

This metabolite is reported to have a longer half-life than inhaled THC, leading to extended detection times.

Once THC enters the bloodstream, it is distributed to fat cells, organs, and hair follicles.

Hair captures cannabis metabolites as it grows, trapping evidence of cannabis use in the hair shaft. Since hair is said to grow at an average rate of 0.5 inches per month, a 1.5-inch sample can provide a 90-day history of THC exposure.

How Long Edibles Stay in Hair

THC edibles can stay in your hair for up to 90 days. Unlike urine tests, which detect THC for a shorter period, hair follicle tests look for long-term cannabis consumption.

Since THC is stored in body fat, it is slowly released into the bloodstream over time.

This prolonged-release explains why edibles produce longer-lasting effects and why they remain detectable for months.

Can You Detox Hair Faster?

Disclaimer: We do not recommend trying to detox hair to cheat any tests. If you have a cannabis-detection test, the only true way to pass is to avoid usage for a considerable period leading up to the test. Please refer to a medical professional for reliable advice.

While we're on the subject, this is what we know of hair detoxing and whether or not that can play a role in how long THC can be detected in the hair.

Since THC is embedded in the hair shaft, it remains until the hair is cut or shed, and even then could potentially be detected in follicles. Some people try to reduce detection with:

• Deep Cleansing Shampoos – Some detox shampoos claim to remove THC, but most are reportedly ineffective at breaking down the hair shaft deeply enough.

• Chemical Treatments – Bleaching, dyeing, or perming hair may reduce THC levels but does not guarantee a negative test. Introducing chemicals to your body adds several factors that could potentially be unhealthy or pose new health risks.

• Shaving Head Hair – While this theoretically eliminates THC-contaminated hair, testers may use body hair instead, which has an even longer detection window. And again, testing follicles and the cultural suggestions of shaving your head for a test could be a bad look.

How Hair Follicle Drug Tests Work

Hair follicle drug tests are used to detect THC concentration over an extended period.

These tests are often used by substance abuse programs and employers screening for cannabis addiction or long-term use. Here’s how they work:

1. A 1.5-inch hair sample is taken from the scalp. If head hair is unavailable, body hair may be tested.

2. The sample is analyzed for cannabis metabolites, including THC and its byproducts.

3. Results indicate cannabis use over the past 90 days, regardless of whether the person recently stopped consuming edibles.

Since hair tests detect THC from long-term cannabis consumption, abstaining for a few weeks won’t be enough to pass.

Final Thoughts

THC edibles stay in your hair for up to 90 days, making hair follicle drug tests one of the longest-lasting cannabis detection methods.

Unlike smoking weed, where THC clears faster, edibles produce higher doses of THC metabolites, which get stored in fat cells and hair follicles.

If you need to pass a hair drug test, there’s no guaranteed way to detox quickly. The only reliable method is to avoid THC products for at least three months or remove affected hair.

FAQ

Q: Do THC edibles stay in hair longer than smoking THC?

A: No, whether you inhale cannabis or consume it as a food product, THC remains in hair for up to 90 days. However, edibles produce higher doses of 11-hydroxy-THC, which may be more detectable.

Q: Can secondhand smoke cause THC in hair?

A: No, smoking cannabis around someone shouldn't cause THC to appear in their hair. THC must be metabolized and enter the bloodstream first.

Q: Will cutting my hair remove THC?

A: Yes, but only if you cut off all THC-containing hair. If you shave your head, testers may take body hair, which can reflect cannabis use for even longer than scalp hair.

Q: Can detox shampoos remove THC from hair?

A: Most detox shampoos do not work for hair follicle tests. Since THC is embedded in the hair shaft, deep cleansing treatments only reduce but don’t eliminate THC.

Q: How much THC from edibles can a hair test detect?

A: Hair tests don’t measure exact THC concentration, but they can detect long-term cannabis consumption, regardless of dosage.

Learn More About Cannabis

Read more about cannabis on the Mood Blog today.