TLDR Collecting hair for cortisol analysis is possible in low-income mother-toddler pairs.
In a study aimed at advancing stress science research in young children, researchers investigated the feasibility of collecting hair samples for cortisol analysis from mother-toddler dyads living in low-income homes in the U.S. Out of 142 approached mother-toddler pairs, 94 (66%) agreed to participate, with hairstyle being the most common reason for refusal. The process involved cutting approximately 150 hairs from both the mother's and toddler's scalp, demonstrated using a hairstyling doll and rounded-end thinning shears during home visits. The study found that nearly all hair samples collected were of adequate weight for cortisol extraction, indicating that hair sampling in this demographic is feasible for stress research.
4 citations
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February 2019 in “American Journal of Human Biology” Collecting hair from all scalp sections works as well as the standard method for cortisol analysis.
237 citations
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September 2018 in “Clinical Biochemistry” Hair cortisol analysis can help diagnose stress-related conditions but needs more refinement for widespread use.
44 citations
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June 2018 in “Journal of Visualized Experiments” A culturally sensitive method was developed to collect hair samples from African Americans for stress analysis.
122 citations
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October 2013 in “PEDIATRICS” Maternal stress during pregnancy affects a child's stress levels.
501 citations
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October 2008 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Hair cortisol levels can show increased stress during late pregnancy but only for up to six months.
567 citations
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October 2007 in “Clinical and investigative medicine” Hair cortisol can be used to measure long-term stress exposure.
September 2025 in “PubMed” Mechanical stimulation and new therapies show promise for hair regrowth.
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August 2010 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Increased 11β-HSD1 activity in skin may contribute to aging and could be targeted to reduce aging effects.
254 citations
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September 2014 in “Menopause” The NAMS 2014 recommendations guide healthcare providers on treating health issues in midlife women, emphasizing individualized care and informed decision-making.
6 citations
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September 2010 in “Animal” Selecting Angus cattle for earlier puberty lowers prolactin levels but doesn't affect hair growth.
33 citations
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January 2017 in “Conservation physiology” Measuring reproductive hormones in brown bear hair could help identify their sex and reproductive state, but better collection methods or lab techniques are needed.
