Labour Weekend is behind us, the evenings are getting longer and barbecue season is on its way. If that time of year leaves you bloated, tired or foggy after meals, you may have come across hair intolerance tests and wondered how they actually work. This guide explains what happens to your hair sample, what a hair test checks, what it can't tell you, and how to post your sample from anywhere in New Zealand, from Kaitaia to Bluff.
First, intolerance or allergy?
It's worth knowing which question you're asking. A food allergy involves the immune system, usually comes on quickly and can be serious. A food intolerance or sensitivity tends to build more slowly, sometimes many hours after eating, and shows up as everyday discomfort: bloating, wind, tummy cramps, loose stools, headaches, tiredness or brain fog.
True allergies are only around 10% of reactions to food. Intolerances and sensitivities are the main cause of the everyday discomfort most people put up with, which is why many Kiwis looking into their symptoms start there. Our guide to recognising the symptoms of food intolerance and our symptoms page list the common signs.
New Zealand Food Safety has a clear page on food allergies and intolerances, including which allergens must be listed on food labels here, from milk, egg and wheat to sesame, lupin and sulphites. Reading labels helps whatever you find out.
If you ever have swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, or feel faint after eating, that's an emergency: call 111.
How a hair intolerance test works
A hair test works differently from anything your GP would order. It doesn't use blood and it doesn't measure antibodies. You send a small sample of hair, and our testing team uses bioresonance to look for potential sensitivity patterns across hundreds of food and non-food items, such as additives, metals and environmental items. Our guide to how hair sensitivity testing works goes into the method in more detail.
Hair is easy to collect at home, travels well in the post and needs no needles or appointments. That's a big part of why people outside the main centres like it: you don't need to get to a clinic.
Your results come as a personalised report listing the items that showed a potential sensitivity, so you have a shortlist to explore rather than guessing. The Individual Sensitivity Test checks 600 items and is a good first step if your symptoms seem mainly food-related.
What a hair test can't tell you
Being clear about this helps you use your results well. A hair intolerance test:
- looks at sensitivities, not allergies. It won't tell you whether you have a food allergy. If you've had fast reactions such as hives or swelling, see your GP.
- can't rule medical conditions in or out, such as coeliac disease or IBS. That's a job for your GP.
- doesn't replace your GP or a dietitian. It gives you a starting shortlist, and the real answers come from trying changes one food at a time and noticing how you feel.
If you're weighing a hair sample against a blood panel, our guide to hair vs blood food sensitivity tests explains the differences.
Where your GP and a dietitian fit in
Your GP is the right first stop to rule out anything that needs medical care. In particular:
- Coeliac disease starts with a blood test through your GP. Keep eating gluten until you've been tested, because cutting it out first can affect the result.
- Lactose can often be looked at with a short trial without dairy.
- IBS may be suggested if your symptoms fit, along with diet changes such as the low FODMAP approach.
GP visits usually carry a fee in New Zealand, although many practices charge less if you're enrolled with them or have a Community Services Card. For free health advice any time, you can call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
A registered dietitian can then help you work through an elimination diet: cutting out suspected foods for a few weeks, then bringing them back one at a time. It's the step that turns a shortlist into real answers, and it's much easier when you know where to start. Begin a food diary now, whichever route you choose. Our free food and symptom diary template makes it easy.
Posting your sample from New Zealand
In New Zealand our tests come with digital instructions. You get a link by email, cut a small hair sample at home, pop it in a small bag and post it to us in your own envelope from any NZ Post shop or postbox. The address and a step-by-step guide are in your instructions. Here's what you're ordering with digital instructions and what happens after you send your hair sample.
Results arrive in 5–7 working days once your sample is received. International post time from New Zealand is separate, so it's worth posting early in the week.
Want the widest range? The Optimum Sensitivity Test checks 1,600 items, covering food, drink, additives and environmental items in one go.
What our tests cost in New Zealand
| Test | Items checked | 1 person | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Sensitivity Test | 600 | NZ$58.95 | n/a | n/a |
| Ultimate Individual Test | 1,000 | NZ$63.95 | NZ$99.95 | NZ$149.95 |
| Optimum Sensitivity Test | 1,600 | NZ$68.95 | NZ$119.95 | NZ$199.95 |
Prices shown are for New Zealand orders on 30 October 2026, in New Zealand dollars, with digital instructions. Your current price is on each test page. Every hair sensitivity test comes with our 30-day 100% money-back guarantee.
Testing the whole whānau before summer? The Ultimate Individual Test and the Optimum test both come in 2- and 4-person versions, which work out cheaper per person. Not sure which level suits you? Our guide to comparing food sensitivity tests explains the differences, so we won't repeat it here.
A sensible order of steps
- See your GP to rule out anything that needs medical attention, including coeliac disease (keep eating gluten until you've been tested).
- Start a food and symptom diary straight away and keep it going for a few weeks.
- Take an at-home food sensitivity test NZ if you'd like a shortlist of potential sensitivities to explore.
- Compare your results with your diary and look for items that appear in both.
- Trial changes one food at a time, ideally with a registered dietitian, so your diet stays balanced.
Common questions
Does a hair intolerance test work for allergies? No. It looks for potential sensitivities and intolerances, not allergies. If you've had fast or severe reactions, talk to your GP.
How much hair do I need? Only a small sample. Your digital instructions show exactly how much to cut and how to pack it.
How long do results take in NZ? Results arrive in 5–7 working days once your sample is received. Postage from New Zealand is separate.
What if I'm not happy? We offer a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee on hair sensitivity tests.
Ready to start? Compare our sensitivity tests and choose the one that suits you.
About our tests
Test My Food Sensitivity has offered at-home hair sensitivity tests since 2008. Our tests use bioresonance, which looks at energetic frequencies from a hair sample to identify potential sensitivity patterns. They don't measure immune antibodies (IgE or IgG) and they aren't a medical diagnosis. Use your personalised results as a starting point for exploration, and talk to your GP or a registered dietitian before making big or long-term changes to your diet.
