Hair Health Blood Test
Why would I need this test?
Why take a Hair Health Test?
Your hair often reflects your overall nutritional status and can reveal early signs of deficiencies. Healthy hair growth relies on adequate levels of vital vitamins and minerals. This test measures key nutrients scientifically linked to hair health — from iron, crucial for oxygen transport in the body, to B vitamins that support cellular metabolism. Deficiencies in these nutrients may contribute to hair thinning, brittleness, or other hair concerns in some individuals.
What will my sample be tested for?
Ferritin
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron and releases it when your body needs it. Low levels can indicate that you have iron deficient anaemia, high levels can indicate that you are storing too much iron. Inflammation, infection and liver disease can all also cause high levels of ferritin. Your ferritin levels can drop if your diet is low in iron – vegan and vegetarian diets are sometimes low in iron; or you suffer from a gastrointestinal disease. In females, heavy period or blood loss during childbirth can cause low levels. Most common symptoms of low ferritin are extreme tiredness, dizziness, headaches, unexplained weakness, ringing in your ears, irritability, leg pains and shortness of breath. Symptoms of high ferritin levels may include tiredness, stomach pain, hear palpitations, chest pain, unexplained weakness or joint pain.
Iron
Iron is a mineral that you get from your diet. It is an important part of haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. Haemoglobin helps to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
Transferrin saturation
Transferrin is a protein that transports iron around the body. A transferrin saturation test measures the amount of iron bound to transferrin. This helps check for iron deficiency or iron overload.
Total iron-binding capacity
A total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) test measures your blood’s capacity to bind and transport iron. It can help check for iron deficiency or iron overload.
Unsaturated iron binding capacity
An unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC) test measures the amount of transferrin (transfers iron around your body) that’s not bound to iron. This helps check for iron deficiency or iron overload.
B12 (Total)
Total B12 is the total amount of vitamin B12 in your blood. Vitamin B12 plays a really important role in red blood cell production and helps your nervous system to function properly
Folate (B9)
Folate, also called vitamin B9 or folic acid is needed for a healthy liver, skin, hair and eyes
Thyroid Profile
Assessing the function of your thyroid gland which produces hormones to help control your metabolism. This test checks for Free thyroxine (FT4) and Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
Vitamin D
Vitamin D supports your long-term health, particularly bone health and your immune system.
Information about preparing for your test
Fasting: You do NOT need to fast for this test
Appointment: Your appointment will be 20 minutes, as you don’t need to fast for the appointment you can make it for anytime of the day.
Cost: This blood test costs £99
How to Book: Follow the link to the Book Now portal and under Blood Tests select Superdrug Blood Test
Weekends: We don’t offer blood test appointments at weekends, this is to ensure they reach the laboratory as quickly as possible
Sample Return: After your appointment you will be asked to post your sample in a Royal Mail post box, it will be delivered to our lab the next working day.
Restrictions: This test is suitable for patients aged 18 years and over.
For more information about our tests please look at our Frequently Asked Questions here.
Information about your results
Time for Results: Results are usually available in 2-5 days
Results: We work with a company called Thriva to deliver your blood test results. During your appointment an account will be set up for you and your test will be registered against this. When your results are ready you will be contacted by Thriva to go into your account and view your results. You will need an email address to complete this registration.
Sometimes not all results will be available, because there may have been a delay in receiving your sample or another reason. This is nothing to worry about. You will be contacted by either the Superdrug or the Thriva Customer teams who will advise on what we need to do. If you have any concerns please contact SD.Bloodtests@superdrug.com.