what is hair tissue mineral analysis (htma)?

Written by Heather Hart | @howtonourish

You’ve probably heard of blood tests, hormone panels, and maybe even stool testing, but Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) often flies under the radar despite being one of the most affordable, accessible, and revealing ways to understand what’s happening inside your body.

HTMA can probably help if...

• you’ve been feeling off but can’t explain why.
• you're postpartum and your body doesn't quite feel like yours.
• traditional labs keep coming back “normal,” but you don’t feel normal and you know something is off.

HTMA is my absolute favorite lab test for most clients. Let’s dive into why.

what is htma?

HTMA stands for Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. It’s a functional test that analyzes a small sample of your hair from your scalp to assess your body’s mineral levels and heavy metal exposures over the past 2–3 months.

Think of it as a solid blueprint of what’s happening inside your body, something blood work often can’t capture. While blood gives you a moment-in-time snapshot of what’s happening in that one minute, HTMA tells the story your body’s been living for the last few months.

why test hair?

Hair is a brilliant tissue to analyze because it grows slowly and reflects stored mineral patterns, since minerals are deposited into the hair when they aren’t needed elsewhere. Minerals are the spark plugs of the body, activating enzymes, supporting hormone production, stabilizing energy, regulating blood sugar, and helping you manage stress. (To name just a few things.)

When your mineral balance is off, it can show up as:

• Fatigue that doesn’t improve with sleep
• Hormonal symptoms (PMS, low libido, irregular cycles)
• Hair loss or thinning
• Mood swings, irritability, anxiety
• Blood sugar imbalances or sugar cravings
• Trouble sleeping
• Brain fog or poor memory
• Digestive distress
• Poor stress tolerance
• Postpartum depletion symptoms
• Or something else! The body is really smart and regulates in the way it needs to continue functioning.

Even if you’re eating a health-minded diet and moving your body, your body might not be absorbing or utilizing nutrients well. HTMA can help us see why that might be happening.

what does htma show?

Without getting into proprietary interpretation since it’s so bio-individual, HTMA offers insight into:

• Major Mineral Status – This includes minerals like calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and more; each one critical to everyday function. These minerals tell us how your body is handling stress, what your energy output looks like, and whether your cells are communicating well.
• Stress & Energy Profile – Are you burning through minerals quickly? Are you stuck in fight-or-flight mode? HTMA shows how your body has been adapting to both internal and external stress over time, something blood labs are unable to measure.
• Metabolic Type – HTMA gives insight into your cellular metabolism. Are you running fast and frantic, or slow and sluggish? This impacts everything from energy to detox to hormone production.
• Toxic Heavy Metals – HTMA can reveal the presence of heavy metals like aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, which can interfere with minerals, hormones, and neurological health.
• Mineral Ratios – Even if your mineral levels are “normal,” the balance between them are where things get interesting. HTMA helps us see how well you’re regulating blood sugar, whether your thyroid might need support, how your adrenals are doing, and how your body is balancing the most important minerals that help your body function optimally.

who is htma for?

While I believe HTMA is beneficial for everyone, it can be especially helpful for people that fall into certain categories.

Postpartum women. Pregnancy together with the postpartum period is one of the most mineral-depleting times in a woman’s life. Between pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and the emotional load of motherhood, your body is giving constantly. HTMA helps us pinpoint exactly what you need to rebuild. No guessing, no trends, just what your body is actually asking for.

Anyone with chronic fatigue, burnout, or anxiety. Minerals play a massive role in how your nervous system functions. If you’ve tried everythinggg and still feel off, mineral depletion or heavy metal overload might be the missing piece.

Women with hormonal imbalances. Because minerals regulate our hormones, HTMA is powerful tool for supporting PMS, fertility, cycle irregularities, mood swings, milk production, and much more.

Children and teens. Kids today are exposed to more environmental toxins, processed food, and stress than ever before. HTMA can help create a customized nourishment plan to support growth, mood, sleep, and development.

why not just take a multivitamin or eat better?

Great question. And here’s the honest truth: even the most nutrient-dense diets can fall short if your gut microbiota is struggling, your stress is high, or your mineral ratios are unbalanced due to stress or lifestyle.

Multivitamins and random supplements don’t always fix the root issue, and sometimes they can even worsen imbalances if you have too much of one micronutrient.HTMA gives us a clear picture of what your body actually needs so you can supplement smarter, eat with intention, and support healing more efficiently.

what does the htma process look like?

The process is incredibly simple:

1. Collect your hair sample. You’ll receive easy-to-follow instructions to cut a small amount of hair from close to your scalp at the back of your head. It only takes about a tablespoon of hair, so not much! I prefer to take 3-4 super small sections from different placements around the head so the new growth isn’t visible.
2. Drop it in the mail. The sample is sent to a certified lab for analysis.
3. Wait for the results. In 2-4 weeks, your lab results are sent directly to me via email. At that point, I will analyze your results and put together a report of findings and a protocol tailored to your specific mineral profile.
4. Results and protocol become yours. Once I have your report and protocol put together, I will present them to you in one of two ways based on your service; either in a one-on-one video chat during a nutritional therapy appointment, or a 45-minute video if you purchased a single session. You will also receive your lab results and your analysis and protocol, both in PDF form.

The best part? The insights you receive are tailored specifically to your bio-individual needs with a protocol that helps your body regulate over time. Retesting 1-3 times per year is enough for the vast majority of women, regardless of your mineral status.

what htma can’t do

HTMA is not a diagnostic test. It cannot diagnose disease or replace medical care. Instead, it provides a functional, whole-body overview that helps guide nutrition and lifestyle support. It's a powerful complement to other forms of care, but not a replacement.

If you have a major health concern or an autoimmune condition, HTMA can help you support your body through it by ensuring nutritional needs are met, but it should never replace care by a trusted medical professional, such as your primary care physician or a specialist.

why i include htma in my practice

As a Nutritional Therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful HTMA is when paired with symptom assessments, food journals, and a therapeutic approach to nutrition. It allows us to move from general recommendations to truly bio-individual support.

I especially love using HTMA in my work with postpartum women, because it answers the question so many are silently asking: “Why do I feel like this?”

Tired, depleted, wired, anxious, craving sugar, sensitive to noise, losing hair, struggling to feel like yourself again…

These aren’t signs of weakness. They’re signs of depletion. And they’re signs your body needs support.

HTMA can help us figure out how to help your body recover and thrive.

htma is a game-changer for holistic health

If you’ve been struggling with symptoms that don’t make sense, or you’re just ready to get more in tune with what your body needs to thrive, HTMA can offer clarity, validation, and direction.

It’s simple. It’s affordable. It’s non-invasive. And it’s one of the most empowering tools I use in practice.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start truly supporting your body’s needs, HTMA might just be your next right step.

Ready to learn more or book your HTMA session? Click the button below to schedule a time to meet with me! I would love to chat with you about your goals or health concerns so we can find the best way to support your body.

The best part? A discovery call is completely free. There is no obligation to purchase a service. :)

want to learn more about working together?

about heather

Hello friend! I'm Heather, Nutritional Therapist and Perinatal Minerals Expert. As a mother of three littles, I am constantly thinking about how I can support my body and mind with healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices. As a practitioner, I would like to pass that knowledge on to you! I love to cook, eat, and teach others all the things I know. I hope you'll stick around and consider me a part of your village. ♥