What is a hair cortisol test?

Posted on 15/5/2025

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Discover what Cortigenix’s hair cortisol test can tell you about your health and how it is different from other tests.
Hair cortisol testing is a method used to measure your long-term chronic cortisol levels over several months. Based on decades of peer-reviewed scientific research and used by scientists at leading universities worldwide including University of Oxford, Harvard University and King’s College London — hair cortisol testing can provide a precise timeline of cortisol levels over time.
Unlike regular blood, saliva and urine cortisol tests, which only provide a short-term measure of cortisol, hair cortisol testing provides unique long-term insights into chronic stress, long-term health optimisation, and longevity.

Different types of cortisol tests

There are different types of cortisol tests, each providing a different level of information on your short-term and long-term health. Here’s what you need to know.

Blood, saliva and urine tests

Blood, saliva and urine cortisol tests are short-term or ‘acute’ cortisol tests. These kinds of tests only provide an indication of cortisol levels over minutes to hours.
Acute cortisol tests cannot tell whether a high result is due to a temporary spike or if cortisol levels are consistently raised over time. Cortisol fluctuates minute-to-minute and day-to-day and is influenced by many factors — including the time of day the sample is taken. Therefore, blood, saliva, and urine tests are not accurate indicators of long-term cortisol levels.

Why is hair cortisol testing better than blood, saliva and urine?

Unlike short-term tests, Cortigenix’s hair cortisol test measures your average cortisol level over the past 3 months.

Key differences:

• Long-term measurement: Hair cortisol testing provides a multi-month view of cortisol trends, unlike blood, saliva and urine tests that only offer momentary snapshots.
• Chronic stress detection: Hair testing offers insight into chronic stress levels that short-term testing may miss due to natural daily variability.
• Accuracy: Hair cortisol is less affected by factors like exercise, medication, or short-term stressors, providing a more stable, accurate result.
• Less invasive: Collecting a hair sample is simple and painless, unlike blood tests that can be uncomfortable.

What can a Hair Cortisol Test tell me?

Whatever your health goal or reason for testing, a hair cortisol test can tell you a lot about your health. It can indicate chronic stress, detect adrenal disorders such as Addison’s or Cushing’s, and offer early warning signs of future health risks including:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Fertility issues
• Alzheimer’s and dementia

Cortigenix’s hair cortisol test provides insights into:

• Stress
• Immunity
• Fertility
• Brain Health
• Longevity
• Weight Management
• Skin problems
• Underlying adrenal conditions

By taking the Cortigenix hair cortisol test you can get the biological data you need to manage your lifestyle and optimise your health — reducing your risk of long-term illness and helping you live a longer, healthier life!

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