The various embodiments provide method of using hair follicle bulbs as biodosimeters for the detection of chemical exposure. The methods described herein utilize intact, plucked hair follicle bulbs and can be used to monitor real-time or near real-time changes in the levels of specific follicular bulb biomarkers to determine exposure to toxicants. By utilizing the living, responsive cells in the plucked hair follicle bulb in an immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis, the various embodiments mitigate the risks of false positives associated with segmental hair analysis and avoid the more invasive collection required for serum and urinalysis.