Human head lice reproduce quickly. One female head louse lays approximately eight nits (eggs) a day, estimates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is 240 nits in one female louse's 30-day lifetime. Contact with one human head louse can quickly turn into a full-blown lice infestation. The most effective and safest way to rid a lice infestation is to use a lice comb, according to the nonprofit National Pediculosis Association. The fine-toothed, metal-prongs of the lice comb trap lice and nits. Used correctly, a lice comb is 100 percent effective.
Step 1
Wet hair with water.
Step 2
Squeeze excess water out of the hair.
Step 3
Distribute regular hair conditioner throughout the hair; do not rinse.
Step 4
De-tangle hair using a regular hair comb or brush.
Step 5
Divide the hair into small sections, using hair clips or hair ties to keep the sections fastened.
Step 6
Unfasten one section of hair. Run the lice comb through the hair, starting from the scalp and pulling the comb through to the ends of the hair. After each stroke through the hair, dip the lice comb in a cup of water to remove lice and nits from the comb. Continue to comb through the hair, until no more lice or nits appear in the prongs of the comb. Comb through each section of hair--one section at a time--until all of the lice and nits are gone.
Step 7
Rinse hair with water to remove the conditioner.
Step 8
Pour the cub of water used to clean the lice comb down a drain and wash the cup in hot, soapy water.
Step 9
Boil the lice comb in a pot of boiling water for five minutes, after each use and in-between using it on different people.
Step 10
Repeat the above steps once a day on each member of the household until all signs of lice and nits are gone.
Step 11
Kill lice and nits around the house. Wash all dirty clothing and bedding daily in hot water and dry in an automatic dryer set to hot, to kill lice and nits, until the lice infestation is gone. Vacuum carpets daily to remove lice and nits from the flooring. Soak combs, brushes, hair clips and hair ties in hot water (at least 125 degrees F) for one hour.
Tips and Warnings
- The key to defeating a lice infestation with a lice comb is vigilance. One louse left on the head can start an entirely new infestation. Using the comb on each member of the house on a daily basis, until not one louse or nit remains, is necessary to completely remove the infestation. The most common route of transmission of human head lice from person to person is direct contact. Transmission from contact with inanimate objects such as a hairbrush or hat infected with head lice is possible, but uncommon, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Humans are the only carriers of human head lice; therefore, treating your pets for human lice is unnecessary. There are several brands of lice combs available on the market. The LiceMeister Comb is the only one recommended by the National Pediculosis Association.
Things You'll Need
- Regular hair conditioner
- Hair comb or brush
- Hair clips or hair ties
- Lice comb
- Cup of water
