So, you are the one who has head lice. What if you don't have a buddy to help look through your head? If you are on your own, here's what you can do: 1. Breathe. So, you might have head lice. So what? You'll be fine. Even if you are on your own, you have what it takes to beat this.
2. Get a good metal lice comb. Now, not all metal lice combs are created equal. Some still have pretty bendable teeth and you need a comb with rigid teeth. Check here for some options. When you are getting the lice and bugs out of someone else's head, a proper comb is very helpful. When you are removing the lice from your own head, it is almost essential. (Note: If there is no way you can get a good metal lice comb, still use whatever comb you have. Doing something is always better than doing nothing. Even a regular plastic comb with teeth close together can remove adult bugs from wet, conditioned hair. It won't remove the eggs, but if you can get the bugs out before they lay more eggs, you are still ahead in the game and can still outrun the lice cycle over time.)
3. Hop in the bath or shower. Wet your head and saturate your head with hair conditioner. It doesn't have to be expensive conditioner. Any generic conditioner will do. Leave the conditioner in.
4. Use a brush to completely detangle your conditioned hair. Still leave the conditioner in.
5. Start combing with the lice comb. Comb your entire head - from root to tip. Check the comb after each stroke, removing each nit or bug from the comb. You can do this by simply rinsing the comb in the shower or wiping it on a piece of toilet paper. (If you can't wipe the bugs/eggs out of the comb, use dental floss to clean between the comb's teeth. Do not pry the teeth apart!)
6. Comb until you no longer comb out any lice or nits. How long do you comb? As long as you need to but don't exhaust yourself with a lice picking marathon. Here's an easy rule to follow - comb 100 times (over the whole head, not 100 times for just one section of hair). If you comb out an egg or a bug, start your counting again from '1'. Don't stop until you have completed 100 strokes with no sign of eggs or bugs. Your head lice and nits may not be completely gone, but you've effectively reduced your problem and probably dealt with any adult bugs. If you comb and comb and keep finding nits or bugs, don't be discouraged. With every stroke, you are making things better. If the process is taking way to long, then take a break, or just stop for now and get back to your scalp again later on or the next day. But make sure you do get back to it.
And here's one other tool in the fight that you can use if you want...
7. Later on, grab your hair dryer. Separate your DRY hair into at least 20 sections (or grab one small section at a time.) Turn your blow dryer on the fastest setting - fastest but not hottest. Keep it on the warm (not hot) setting. Directing the hair to the scalp, blow dry each section for at least 30 seconds on one side and then 30 seconds on the other. In a study from the University of Utah, this directed blowing with a regular blow dryer was found to kill 53% of the bugs and 98% of the eggs. Though these numbers seem impressive, I find combing to be the most effective tool. If you have to choose between wet combing or blow drying, I'd go with combing. It actually gets things off the head.
8. Do it all again in a few days. Keep spending time on your scalp until you have had 2 weeks without seeing lice or nits. Why two weeks? Because there is a small chance that even after a week of combing and blowing, you may still have a viable egg on your head that will hatch after 7-10 days. So, you need to keep combing to catch it. Don't worry, after a couple of days, this process will get quicker and easier. If the numbers are dwindling, you can alternate activities: comb one day, blow dry the next. And remember, if you remain diligent, you will be combing them out faster than they can reproduce.
9. Continue your search for a lice buddy. It is comforting if you can find someone who can actually see your scalp, pick out any seen nits or bugs, and give you moral support. However, if you can't find a buddy, you can still deal with this effectively if you are willing to put in the time and the effort.
But, Cathy, what about "shampoos" or "treatments"? Won't they make this process go so much faster?
No. Don't waste your money.
Don't I have to do a bunch of house cleaning and laundry now?
No. Don't waste your time.
No. Don't waste your money.
Don't I have to do a bunch of house cleaning and laundry now?
No. Don't waste your time.
No matter what lice product you use, you are always instructed to manually remove the bugs and nits because no single 'treatment' of any kind is 100% effective and most are completely ineffective. I always say, skip the middle man - just go right to the combing. You need to put in some extra time over the next couple of weeks to ensure that the lice are off the head but don't waste your time on any thing else (extra cleaning, laundry).
And don't panic. You really can deal with this. It's not a disease. You didn't do anything wrong. It can happen to anybody. It's just head lice.
And don't panic. You really can deal with this. It's not a disease. You didn't do anything wrong. It can happen to anybody. It's just head lice.
210 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 210 of 210Hello I have been dealing with lice got years now. There our be point where it is gone then suddenly comes back. I'm 14 and I can't tell my mom bc she hates yo keep doing it. I feel like I have a bad case of it but I don't know. I brush my hair 1-2 a week as best as I can. I stress over this a lot and I don't know what to do. I have thick curly hair and the boys are so annoying to get out. Please give my tips of what to do and what I can do afterwards to help not get it again.
Sorry I ment comb instead of brush.
Hi I know this blob was written a while ago so idk if you will reply but i have a question. I have only done 2 treatments with the comb one in the evening and one in the morning the next day but I just did one and i didn’t see any nits or eggs or certantly no big ones. I’m obviously going to continue treatment but can u remove all of them in only 2 treatment? I’m also still itchy. I also found ur blob and comment really helpful thanks
Where is the nearest lice lady to Rockford il
Is this blog still alive? I've had head lice on and off for several months now. I treat them and seem to be fine for a week or two, but then they come back with a vengeance, so I'm guessing I'm missing nits or something. Have a decent fine tooth comb, but the biggest issue is that I'm on my own, and can't see my head. I've got hair down to my mid back, and it's really hard to split into sections in the back when I'm struggling to see what I may or may not have combed. Also am quite busy, and only usually have one opportunity a day to work on it for a half an hour ish each time. Ive kept up combing over the months, so they're never out of control, but wish i could be rid of them for good. Any advice for making sure I comb every part of my head?
I actually have a very bad lice condition. If I don't comb my hair(lice combing) for a week, my hair gets infested really bad and I could almost 50-100 lice in one sitting. There are lots of them breeding in there. When I'm in work and suddenly get the urge to scratch the head, which results in lice clinging to my finger nails and over my clothes. And the nits, there are plenty of them in each strand of the head. I don't have anyone to comb it out of my head. I find it really difficult to comb all of them. Within a five days gap, I'm again infested, the cycle continues. Nothing seem to work. I now desperately look for a way to get rid of all the nits, which would only be the way to get rid of the lice. To be honest, I can't even make a week travel without my lice comb. There are no delousing centres in my place. I want to get rid of the nits somehow,by myself. Please suggest a way.
Thanks in Advance!
Hmm so you shouldn't even change your bedding every day? Don't you think you can get them from your pillow?
How does tea tree oil work?&how would you apply it to make it effective? Me and my wife 13 yr old baby girl has had lice off and on for 3 months.willing to try anything
I just had a question in maybe it's also like the one above being paranoid I have three children I also have a long thick dark curly hair my sister-in-law's girls constantly have licea I addressed this issue several times myself husband and mother-in-law has spent countless hours money and time with these girls trying to get it out of their hair I have done has lice I can't even count how many times in the last 6 months. It is so hard to deal with my hair whether I do it on my own or someone does it for me. I don't want to be cruel and mean and hurt my nieces or my sister-in-law's feelings because they are at my house very often. I don't know what to do I'm at my Wit's end I cannot keep doing this. The last time I had trouble with lice was in elementary school I know it's not really supposed to be a big deal and I know it's treatable as I have done this many times but I'm about to pass my breaking point on the situation
Thank you so much for this blog!! My 6yr old daughter brought lice home from school and I couldn't find anyone to help me with my hair, this literally saved me so much stress and anxiety! You are a godsend!!!!
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