Why Commercial “Detox Shampoos” Don’t Remove Drug Metabolites

Commercial detox shampoos—including “Aloe Rid style” products and knock-offs—do not chemically destroy drug metabolites in hair. Most claims rely on outdated marketing myths rather than real chemistry or laboratory science.

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The Reality of Hair Drug Metabolites

Hair drug tests work because drug metabolites become embedded inside the hair shaft as hair grows. Once incorporated, these compounds are difficult to remove without specific chemical treatments designed for the metabolite involved.

This is why a standard cosmetic shampoo—even one marketed as a detox product—cannot reliably remove metabolites from inside the hair structure.

Many detox shampoos are simply commercial cosmetic products marketed with exaggerated claims rather than scientifically supported treatment processes.

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The Propylene Glycol Myth

One of the longest-running marketing myths in the detox shampoo industry involves Propylene Glycol.

Some sellers claim that:

• “Old formulas” contained higher levels of propylene glycol

• Propylene glycol helps remove drug metabolites

• Their shampoo replicates this supposed formula

These claims are misleading.

In reality, propylene glycol is simply a wetting agent and solvent used in many cosmetic products. Its role is to help ingredients spread through hair and skin, not to break down drug metabolites.

It does not chemically destroy or remove drug metabolites from hair.

When a seller heavily promotes propylene glycol as the key ingredient, it usually indicates marketing rather than chemistry.

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“Old Formula” Marketing Tricks

Another common tactic is claiming to sell an “old formula” detox shampoo.

This claim is often tied to the propylene glycol myth and is designed to make buyers believe the product is similar to earlier versions of detox shampoos such as Nexxus Aloe Rid.

However, if the product is not actually that shampoo, the claim of an “old formula” is usually just a marketing narrative used to create credibility.

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Different Drugs Require Different Chemistry

Another major problem with detox shampoo claims is that different drugs behave differently in hair.

For example:

• **Methamphetamine metabolites bind differently in hair than

• **THC metabolites

• **Oxycodone metabolites behave differently again

Because of these differences:

• Each metabolite may require different chemical processes

• Treatment effectiveness can vary based on drug type

• Usage history and dosage also matter

• Multiple treatments may be necessary depending on contamination level

A single generic shampoo cannot realistically address all drug metabolites.

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Why Many “Success Stories” Are Misleading

Another issue with detox shampoo claims is the lack of pre-testing.

People often claim they passed a hair drug test using a shampoo or method, but they rarely confirm whether they were actually positive beforehand.

This frequently occurs with low-level cannabis users, because:

• **THC transfers into hair less efficiently than many drugs

• Occasional users may already be below testing cutoffs

• Thin or highly active individuals may show lower metabolite levels

In these cases, someone may believe a shampoo worked when they were never likely to test positive in the first place.

This situation is very different from individuals using heavier drugs or higher doses.

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Real Consultation Example

Below is a real consultation example showing that commercial shampoo use did not prevent a positive result.

“Oxycodone 30 mg almost every day for the first 2 months, most recent month 60–90 mg a week.
Recently took a hair follicle test after using an aloe shampoo (old formula) purchased from an Aloe Rid style seller for 7 days, twice daily prior to the test, plus **Zydot Ultra Clean on test day.
I had been clean for 15 days before the test and still tested positive for **Oxycodone with a level of 975 pg/mg.”

Despite multiple shampoo treatments, the metabolite level remained well within the positive range.

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Key Takeaway

Most detox shampoos rely on marketing myths rather than chemistry. Removing drug metabolites from hair is complex and depends on the specific drug, exposure level, and chemical treatment method—not simply washing with a commercial shampoo.

 

What im posting here is going to be a ongoing place for readers to post how they got scammed by various aloe shampoo peddlers .

 9-3-2021 PEOPLE STILL BEING TRICKED TO THINK THEY ARE BUYING ALOE RID 

 

EXAMPLE RECENT EMAIL PEOPLE STILL FALLING FOR MARKETED CONFUSION  

 I have attached a copy of my order confirmation from test clear.  I spent over $200 on aloe rid and it did not work.    I failed it.  

I saw something on your website that you would make a deal if someone can prove that we tried aloe rid.

Please see attached document.  I’m trying to get as much money together so I can order a half set, so any deal or discount I can get would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Jacey  

NOTICE HOW THIS PERSON SAID I ORDERED ALOE RID ?  THIS IS WHAT I MEAN THAT COMPANY DOES NOT SELL ALOE RID NOT THAT IT MATTERS ALOE RID IS JUST COMMERCIAL SHAMPOO

This company is deceiving you making you believe you are buying aloe rid by nexxus well,... nexxus stopped making aloe rid in 2005 !  you can sue these people for that damage of the deception  

they are trying to su me for exposing them   and they are going to fail  just like tier bullshit scampoo

 

ENFORCEMENT AND RECOVERY OF FEES AND COSTS

"As noted by the case referenced above, action can be taken by a person who believes they have been a victim of deceptive trade practices.   Those actions include bringing a claim which states that an action may be brought by any person who is a victim of consumer fraud, including a “deceptive trade practice as defined ...

 provides that if the claimant is the prevailing party the Court shall award any damages the claimant has sustained, any equitable relief that the court deems appropriate, and the claimant’s costs in the action, including reasonable attorney’s fees.

 IM BETTING THERE ARE THOUSANDS WHO SPEND HUNDREDS ON A COUNTERFEIT PRODUCT 

Crating and filing a motion against these people is easy to do you can find the information online , type it up and serve it 

The other day i was doing a Hair Razor Detox consultation  and was told the following statement

.........I'm hurting financially pretty bad I got duped at *******(reviewer censored by editor so as not to hurt aloe rid knockoff promoter  )

Paid for 2 bottles of aloe shampoo  and the zydot and 130.00 for Saturday morning delivery when I didn't realize I could put the test off It NEVER came . He never sent tracking and said he would refund me. It's been a couple weeks with no info from him at all.

Then he emails that he refuses to refund because it's not his fault it got lost. Sounds like he is now scamming people !I had to go through my bank and it'll be a couple weeks before those funds are back in my account :( the guy I believe his name is Daniel but I can double check . 

Oh trust and believe I will be all over every forum complaint board etc

He scammed me out of 700+ dollars , I paid almost 200 of that for delivery alone.

He guaranteed it would be here the next day and then never shipped

He's a terrible human.

Thank you for running such an amazing site and doing consults so people don't waste their time

Sent from my iPhone

 

" Used the Aloe Rid shampoo formula 10 times and Zydot ultra clean once, Still failed hair test . See hair confirm test results below " 

• AnonymousSeptember 26, 2017 at 6:42 PM

We ordered off EBay. It was $110 and had "correct" barcode bla bla bla. It was "eBay insured" so we got our money back. They issued us a fake tracking # and never got a response back from seller when we asked about the status of our order. I then googled "nexus aloe rid barcode scam" and realized we've been scammed, and also found your blog, Blessing in disguise!

ReplyDelete

• 

AnonymousOctober 10, 2017 at 7:26 PM

NO S _ _ T! WTF?

That is what I thought. But I have bought 12 boxes of Ultra Clean Shampoo & Conditioner + Paul Mitchell #3 Shampoo and Neutrogena T/Sal 3%, due to the fact that the research paper which you referenced - Int.l Journal Of Legal Medicine, showed 36% reduction with one use of Ultra Clean. So - 36% reductions each time and wearing a clean skull cap after each wash and then the final few washes also put on latex gloves, only new combs????????

The fail came from Quest Diagnostics - I requested that my prospective employer request the values of the test results and send to me.

I sent Psychemedics a hair sample off the opposite arm and should have been delivered on 10/06/2017 and hope to get the value of these test results soon.

I will share the test values when if I get them.

• 

AnonymousNovember 6, 2017 at 10:39 AM

(OMITTED ASSHOLES ALOE RID SCHAMPOO SELLERS )  should be put out of business. $400+ later in Old Style Aloe Ridd, 2 boxes of Zydot shampoo + treatment, and expedited shipping, I still FAILED my hair follicle test with THC levels of 12 pg/mg, which the Hair Razor consultant says is a lot for THC. I am so disgusted with (OMITTED ASSHOLES ALOE RID SCHAMPOO SELLERS )  MULTIPLE assurances to me that their products would help a heavy user of THC pass a hair test, but I am even more disgusted with myself for thinking Aloe Ridd was the way to go and not researching harder to find Hair Razor with more time to spare before my test. I'm now scrambling to finish enough Hair Razor treatments before my test when I could have had weeks to prepare. (OMITTED ASSHOLES ALOE RID SCHAMPOO SELLERS )  is a complete joke, Aloe Ridd + Zydot is a useless method for heavy THC levels, and I should have known something was up because (OMITTED ASSHOLES ALOE RID SCHAMPOO SELLERS )  only lists 28 reviews for Aloe Ridd on their site as opposed to Hair Razor which lists many more from throughout years. Don't fall for (OMITTED ASSHOLES ALOE RID SCHAMPOO SELLERS )  bullshit like I did.

• 

AnonymousJanuary 4, 2018 at 10:02 AM

Hi just wanted to update you on my hair test.

I failed my first hair follicle test that I had done on 12/4/16 after doing 10
macujo treatments and the zygot right before going to the lab.

Then did the PDT 90 self test after doing 3 jerry G treatments basically mac method thing with
bleaching and re-dye 3x. Also failed for thc.

Then found Hair Razor Detox
did two hair razor detox treatments of the 13 recommended before hair started to melt off ( didnt divulge i used bleach or as they told me later they normally wouldnt sell it to me ) .

Sent 3rd self hair test out after this got results back yesterday passed negative for thc.

I'm thinking it was the razor detox since I failed twice doing the other methods.

Wish I had found this product first before destroying my hair.

Sent from my iPhone

• 

danielleApril 28, 2018 at 5:36 PM

hello I bought the (omitted name of schampoo  )  shampoo and ultra clean, it was expensive even the shipping was costly, did 20 treatments prior to test day. I read all the comments on the (OMITTED ASSHOLES ALOE RID SCHAMPOO SELLERS )  site and had convinced myself id pass, I was a light user with maybe 2 grams a month and clean for week and half. test came back positive for marijuana, testing at 0.6. tried to put review on there site it wont post so I'm not convinced the fake reviews to get others to believe and buy. don't waste your money!