Lice! That pesky 4 letter word no parent wants to hear. But unfortunately, it happens. But, no need to worry that’s why I am here to put your minds at ease and teach you how to check for it, get rid of it and how to also keep it away!
First you are going to need certain tools.
1. A metal nit comb
2. An old towel
3. A product of your choice to help rid the lice
* We offer Happy Heads lice products in our salons.
5. A sealable bag
6. Hair clips
The first thing you need to do is identify the Hot Spots on the scalp.
Hotspots are located behind the ears, at the back of the neck and along the part lines. It would be helpful to be somewhere with plenty of light or use a flashlight. As they are difficult to see and are very fast moving. Nits (the lice eggs) are very small and can be mistaken for dandruff. If it sticks to the hair shaft and you can’t remove it with your fingers it is most likely a nit.
Once you have identified the hotspots you are going to begin checking for the lice. You are going to begin at the base of the neck and divide the hair into small sections as you search for Adult lice and their eggs (nits). You still section off from bottom to top with horizontal lines.
What to look for: It is going to be hard to tell if it's lice or dandruff or even dirt!
Adult Lice is usually light brown in color they can move very quickly and can be found on the scalp of the hair strand.
Eggs or Nits are yellow in color but can also sometimes be clear and are very hard to see. Which is why a good lighted area or a flashlight will come in handy. These will be firmly attached to the hair shaft. They will not move.
Now that we have identified how to properly check for lice. Now comes the fun part getting rid of those rascals!
This is where the medicated shampoo of your choice will come into play! As stated, before if you have a hard time finding the right one. Come see us and we will make sure you get what you need.
But remember when dealing with lice you should keep some things in mind. While they can spread, they DON’T carry disease and they don’t mean that your child is in anyway “unclean”
First you can try a method called “Wet- Combing “it is a way of removing lice from the hair. The method has been shown to make the lice more visible, helping you see if it’s lice or a scalp condition like dandruff. Wet combing involves spraying conditioner on already wet strands of hair. Using a fine-toothed comb, comb your way through the hair. Like states above starting at the base of the neckline. As this method is very time consuming and requires a lot of patience. If this is the way you want to try, allow ample time and consider some entertainment options for your child as they will become antsy during this time.
The next option you can use is the medicated shampoo options: As stated before we offer Happy Heads products. Which is a Non-toxic Lice treatment and is a kid friendly hair care product. 1 Happy Heads lice kit will treat a family of 4. Happy Heads is
made with safe ingredients such as: essential oils, such as tea tree and peppermint.
When using Happy Heads shampoo wet the hair thoroughly to the scalp. Apply a small amount of shampoo and work into a good lather, make sure that you cover all the areas of the scalp. Let the shampoo soak for a minimum of 10 minutes and then rinse. Avoiding eye contact!
It is extremely important that you shampoo every 3-4 days for 2 weeks, and comb and check for nits during this time to prevent re-infestation. And make sure that everyone in the house hold gets the same treatment. NO ONE gets out of this.
Combing Tips:
1. After a couple of strokes with the nit comb, make sure you dip the metal comb in a solution of water and baking soda, or water and dish soap. Baking soda will help fill the gaps between the little pins and act as a gripping agent which will help you tremendously. Water and dish soap will help clean them out of the comb more effectively.
2. Make sure the hair stays wet while combing. Combing with a metal nit comb will not only damage the hair but will also not feel very good. Use a paper towel to wipe off the comb so you can also examine what you are removing from their hair (this is also why the dish soap and water works)
3. Make sure to check eyebrows! Yes, they can be there as well. Especially when bangs hang over the eyebrows. Don’t use a solution on the face if these are discovered. Apply Vaseline this will suffocate the nits and adult lice.
Tips:
1. Check for 2 weeks after you have shampooed and combed your child's head and followed the proper procedures. To make sure you got all the nits out and nothing hatched in this time period. One way to keep those pesky critters at bay is to shampoo once a week with happy heads lice shampoo.
2. Tea tree has been proven to also keep these pesky critters at bay. They hate the smell of it.
3. Blow dry after each combing. Kids scalps are SUPER SENSITIVE so please, please be careful with the heat on their heads.
Some Facts of Lice:
1. A Nit is an egg
2. Nits take about 7 days to hatch
3. Nits can hatch off the head. BUT!!! The conditions must be warm and they must find a host quickly or they will die.
4. Mature Adult lice lay-up to 3-10 eggs per day!!!
5. Lice excrete in the hair, which will look like dirt on the head! And will be very visible in light colored hair
How to treat the house and furniture: A good vacuuming in all rooms in the house and all upholstered furniture is enough. Along with washing the bedding in hot water and drying on the highest heat possible. If possible, wash their favorite stuffed toys with hot soapy water or in the washing machine or ridx spray. You don’t have to go absolutely crazy this too shall pass quickly when treated properly.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call us at the salon 912-988-7910! We are here to help!