How Long Does Alcohol Stay In Your Hair?

Updated on April 30, 2021

Alcohol can remain in hair for long after the side effects of alcohol have worn off. Hair alcohol testing can detect alcohol use for anywhere from 90 to 120 days after your last drink, depending on a variety of factors.

At Recovery Guide, our mission is to connect as many individuals struggling with mental health and substance abuse disorders to reputable treatment facilities.

To achieve this goal, we set strict guidelines for our editorial team to follow when writing about facilities and utilize behavioral healthcare experts to review medical content for accuracy.

While we receive compensation in the form of paid advertisements, these advertisements have absolutely no impact on our content due to our editorial independence policy.

Hair testing can detect alcohol use regardless of whether you cut, dye, or style your hair.

Strands of hair submitted for testing can come from the top of the head or another area of the body, such as the armpit.

Detecting Alcohol In Hair

Alcohol can remain detectable in the hair for 90 to 120 days, on average. Due to this long detection window, hair testing can be useful for detecting repeated alcohol use.

What Factors Can Affect How Long Alcohol Stays In Hair?

Not everyone absorbs or metabolizes alcohol at the same rate. The amount of time alcohol stays in the hair can vary based on a variety of factors.

These factors can include:

  • age
  • how much alcohol is consumed
  • history of alcohol abuse and dependence
  • overall health status
  • liver and kidney function

Get Started On The Road To Recovery

Get Confidential Help 24/7. Call Today!

(844) 994-1177

Older people, people with a higher body fat percentage, and people who have impaired liver function may absorb and metabolize alcohol more slowly. This can result in a longer detection window.

Finding Treatment For Alcohol Abuse And Addiction

If you need help to stop drinking, an alcohol detox program may be able to help. After that, a formal treatment program for alcohol abuse may be recommended, depending on your needs.

If you or a loved one is struggling to get sober, call our helpline today to find an alcohol treatment program that’s right for you.

This page does not provide medical advice. See more

Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.

These include peer-reviewed journals, government entities and academic institutions, and leaders in addiction healthcare and advocacy. Learn more about how we safeguard our content by viewing our editorial policy.

  • Was this Helpful?
  • YesNo
Ad

Ashby, Massachusetts

Spring Hill Recovery Center

(217 reviews)

Levels of Care

Detox Residential/Inpatient

Payment Options

Insurance Accepted
View Profile
Ad

Las Vegas, NV

Desert Hope Treatment Center

(466 reviews)

Levels of Care

Detox Residential/Inpatient IOP

Payment Options

Insurance Accepted
View Profile
Ad

Delray Beach, FL

The Recovery Team

(199 reviews)

Levels of Care

Detox Residential/Inpatient

Payment Options

Insurance Accepted
View Profile

For 24/7 Treatment Help Call:

(844) 994-1177
Addiction Resource Logo