To think that we wil soon be overrun with headlice as the treatment is prohibitively expensive.

[Ohnodisaster]

Noticed that my dd had headlice for the first time earlier in the week so diligently informed the school and made a trip to the pharmacist to pick up some treatment.

Was informed that until last week certain treatments were free on prescription but now we have to pay-the treatments ranged from £14-18!

This seemed very expensive to me so set to work with the conditioner and a nit comb which managed to get the larger ones out but didn't catch the smaller ones. I spent about 45 minutes trying to get them out before admitting defeat and going out to buy the treatment.

How are people on low incomes or in difficult circumstances going to be able to afford either the cost of the treatment or the time to so a proper job with the conditioner?

[StatisticallyChallenged]

The nitty gritty comb and conditioner sorted them when DD had them, took about half an hour to do the combing the first couple of times then was quicker after that so not that bad really. The lotions are really pricey.

[manicinsomniac]

You don't need the treatment. Just comb every morning and night for a few days. You'll get them.

Lice/Nits soon become resistant to chemical treatments anyway.

I've never used the treatments on any of my children (or on myself - teacher!) and haven't had a problem getting rid of them.

[LegoCaltrops]

I've heard that Nitty Gritty combs are very effective.

[TheNewWitchOfSWL]

I heard you can put vinegar on the hair and let it for half an hour than comb it.

[SoonToBeSix]

Just use yellow listerine cover with a shower cap a leave for two hours. Works a millions times better than head lice treatments. Btw they are still free on prescriptions where do you live?

[Ohnodisaster]

Yes I've ordered a nitty gritty comb now but it's still a fair chunk of time to spend in an already busy day. And my concern is more for other people-those with more than one child to check and delouse for example

Apparently they don't become resistant to the new style treatments because they work by suffocating them rather than poisoning.

Am hoping that constant vigilance will keep them at bay from now on!

[HerRoyalNotness]

I spray my DSs hair every morning with lavender oil diluted in wTer, works a treat

[HerRoyalNotness]

....have also used tea tree conditioner for combing to great effect and the smell keeps them away too

[ravenAK]

I've used every treatment going - I don't know if they become resistant.

I do know that my dds catch the buggers at least once per term, & there's not much so disheartening as dousing your child with stinking & expensive chemicals only to see another louse waving cheerfully at you a fortnight later.

I've settled on Nitty Gritty comb, pound shop conditioner, once a week as routine - & then every day that week if they've got them. Just as effective over the long haul & completely agree that £14 for chemical treatments is a rip.

[LadyWithLapdog]

You can also 'drown' them in cheap conditioner, then the comb. Part of growing up...

[IWannaHoldYourHand]

Asda's own brand headlice treatment is £3 with a not comb.

[scousadelic]

Putting loads of conditioner on and leaving it for 5 mins before combing will suffocate them just as well as any expensive treatment. I have never used the treatment products, just cheap conditioner and essential oils

I agree the prices are a rip off but just thank God we live in a country where you don't pay for essential medications. We only think they're expensive because we are used to the NHS

[fishandlilacs]

Any oily substance or conditioner will do. Smother the hair. Nitty gritty comb. Comb every 2 days.
It takes about 8 days for a baby louse (instar) to become an adult only the adults breed and lay eggs.
If you comb every 3 days you'll catch them before they become viable breeders and break the cycle

[longtallsally2]

Yes, it is a pain to do the whole family regularly, but it works, and once you are in the routine of doing it, it's just one more job to do.

Yy to combing with conditioner. We used any old economy conditioner and did it every 36 hours, cause someone on here recommended it. Much better than covering your head in expensive chemicals.

[Ohnodisaster]

Thanks - knew I should have asked on here before splashing out! I think I just panicked because I couldn't get the smaller ones out with the comb I was using and had visions of them infecting all and sundry before they got big enough to catch.
I now have in my anti head lice armoury: cheap tea tree conditioner, tea tree oil, nitty gritty comb (on order) 3/4 bottle full marks & 3 assorted other nit combs!

[WeirdCatLady]

I found that the lotions never worked properly. The best way is to get a good tight metal not comb and work your way through the hair meticulously every day.

A pain but the only way to deal with them. I used to hate sending dd to school as there were a few scutters who would just send their kids in teaming with the little fuckers

[BlackbirdOnTheWire]

We've never used chemical treatments due to eczema. I wet DC's hair with showerhead, slap on loads of cheap conditioner with a few drops of tea tree/lavender oil added, clip the whole lot (long hair) up under a shower cap and leave her to watch a television programme. After half an hour, I comb it all out. She's had nits twice - last time one session got the lot though admittedly there weren't many, we check weekly. We did the conditioning thing twice more just to be sure but nada.

The upside is beautifully-conditioned hair!

[LizzieMint]

Full marks is £8 on amazon. We use that because it's a lot easier than the conditioner method repeated every 2-3 days with having to do 3.

[fatlazymummy]

2 more cheap treatments - coat the hair with olive oil, leave overnight ,wash in the morning.
Put dettol in the final rinse water (follow instructions on the bottle for dandruff treatment) ,pour over head and the lice will fall out.

[rollonthesummer]

I've not heard that about Dettol! Why do they all fall out?!

[CrispyFern]

We just use a nitty gritty comb, it's fab.

[JunkBox]

Yes I also use the Yellow Listerine mouthwash, put in a spray bottle, soak hair and cover for two hours as soontobesix has stated.
It will kill any live lice (even the tiny ones) and they literally drop of the hair. I then remove the eggs with the nitty gritty and conditioner. I will comb with the nitty gritty and conditioner for 2-3 consecutive days to make sure all eggs are gone.

But TBH I usually manage to get everything in the first sitting..

I have tried just using the conditioner and nitty gritty but have found its easy to miss some so prefer to kill the buggers first!!!

[HappySeven]

We use the Bug Buster comb - it's recommended on the NHS website and has been very effective. It's also great for checking regularly rather than waiting until you have an infestation.