To shave my head to get rid of lice?

Op the only way I cleared my head was to section and wet combing every night for 3 weeks. It took nearly 2 hours each night but only way I cleared them

I was convinced I had nits through a lot of my adolescence and going into my 20s, I still get an itchy head now and second guess whether I have them. That crawling scalp itching is a horrible feeling. I would comb and find nothing. However if I was in your position and genuinely thought I had them and had hair which made it impossible to deal with, I would probably go for a drastic cut.

I cut my hair off once, I cut it all roughly about an inch or two from my scalp and then bleached it. Surprisingly it looked really good. I kept up a short pixie cut for a couple of years but the hairdressers rarely got it looking as good as my initial DIY job. If you were shaving it all off you’d need to cut it really short first anyway.

You can wear a hat / scarf if it looks terrible, and go to the hairdressers once it’s grown out a bit and you’re assured you don’t have lice. You said you’ve always wanted to give short hair a go, this is a good excuse to finally do so.

I am not totally convinced you have them either.

You say you have nits but no lice. I thought nits were lice and eggs.

So you are finding eggs? Thats a bit less identifiable than a live lice.

Have you tried anti scratch shampoo? I have itchy scalp - and honestly sometimes i convince myself i have nits. But I dont. Because I havent treated in months and if i did my whole head would be teeming.

Try the milk shampoo from Moogoo.

You say you can see the nits. Have you taken an egg or nit and put it between your 2 thumbs nails to see if it cracks? If it doesn't then it's highly unlikely you have nits.
I didn't read you other thread but going on what you and others have said it is highly unlike at this stage you have them if you haven't found a live one in your hair.

What age are you? I only ask as itchy scalp is can be part of perimenopause and it can be extreme.It feels like your head is crawling. I had myself convinced in the beginning I had nits but I didn't.

None of these Hedrins and Lyclears have insecticide as lice are often immune to them. They use polymer to fatally dehydrate the lice or something. I have Derbac (ie insecticide) sitting in the cupboard but I haven’t used it and it might be largely useless anyway. Ammonium in hairdye also does something still they say.

I feel your pain… we were trapped in this cycle with DD who had very long very thick hair. She would pick them up at school and pass them to me.

We broke the cycle by treating with the overnight stuff, then every other night combing in the bath or shower with a cheap comb and tonnes of the cheapest conditioner. The conditioner helps get the comb through the thick hair, but also sort of ‘floods’ the lice out. Then another treatment before the next cycle began. I also didn’t have anyone to help, but I promise the conditioner made it easier.

We had to get into good habits with checking regularly too, as if there is a problem at the school you will keep catching them.

Shaving your hair does seem extreme… unless you want that style anyway. In which case go for it, but accept it could be long term as they’re likely to disappear from the school.

In terms of bedding/towels etc, it is a pain but we just stuck with using and washing the same towel and pillowcase while treating.

Good luck.

Don't worry about washing bedsheets / pillows. They don't survive on bedding...

Try two things - dyeing your hair your colour, obviously yourself (use the dye with Ammonium), and/or use Hedrin Kills Spray (previously called Hedrin Once), once or twice a week for several weeks. Possibly combined with Hedrin Prevent. I had headlice from dear twins’ school and they returned a few weeks after the initial treatment, so I dyed my hair twice, and am doing Hedrin Kills Spray weekly on me and on the twins plus Hedrin Prevent thereafter, I’ll be repeating Hedrin for some time. I read about Hedrin Kills Spray (aka Hedrin Once) on here actually! Rinse it off v thoroughly as hair tends to stay oily after it.

I haven’t had to try it yet but my dds teacher said to us at the start of year meeting if your child gets nite to slather the head with Vaseline- yes it looks awful but it must either stop the spread or kill them?! Maybe someone else can confirm or deny this?

Normal conditioner works really well. It stuns them and then you just comb them out. Feels better than using insecticide shampoos. . I know from when my kids were at school back in the day. Wash with normal conditioner and use nit comb. Gets rid of them over a few days.

What makes you think you still have them if you have only ever found 1? If this has been going on for weeks you would be crawling in them and would be able to see them.
I would get someone to check you hair thoroughly. I'd be willing to bet you've irritated your head with so much treatment - the rash screams that.

I asked this, i don't understand why he isn't helping.

Normal conditioner works really well. It stuns them and then you just comb them out. Feels better than using insecticide shampoos. . I know from when my kids were at school back in the day. Wash with normal conditioner and use nit comb. Gets rid of them over a few days.

What model of clippers does your DH have? You can buy sets of guards on Amazon, and although these aren't as cheap as some of the others, they do go up to 2.5" long, which is a lot less drastic a cut than the more basic ones
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yinke-Clipper-Guards-Cutting-Clippers/dp/B09QHW72BT/

Why is your husband not helping you comb through the bits you're missing!!

I couldn't shave my head, but it's your body and your choice

Depends what you are using - old style chemicals insecticides had in my childhood then not a good idea but most treatments these days are silicone-based polymers that smother and if you read instructions it will suggest overnight or longer time frames as an option.

NitNot was the ONLY product that removed lice and eggs from my daughters hair after trying three other products on numerous occasions.

I used vinegar on my children in the early 00s it didn't really do much tbh, I had girls with long thick hair and it was a.bloody nightmare but persistent combing really makes a difference.

First off, I believe do whatever you wish with your own hair - I’m sure you can pull off whatever you want 🥰🥰

However, a less drastic approach which tbh I cant guarantee it will work for you, and may be against what you want to do, is to use a hair dye with ammonia

Worked a treat for me when my son got nits (we shaved him and DH) but I had cleavage length hair I was too vain to consider shaving 😂😂

Just shave it. Not right down to the scalp but maybe a couple of inches long? Say you're trying out a new look.

Before doing the chop I would try an antihistamine and a scalp mask just in case you are actually having a reaction to the nit treatments and that is what is making you itchy. I would also post a photo of the nit comb so others can confirm for sure if it’s eggs or dandruff.

I would definitely ask your hairdresser if they can help before shaving your head. A slight longer cut will invite fewer questions compared to a full shave

Can you actually leave nit treatment on overnight? Many here seem to be suggesting it.

I've seen vinegar suggested as way to losen glue of nit cases - though we found nitty gritty comb even with thick curly hair was enough.

Though DS has huge flackes on his scalp - started off with medicated shampoos - cola tar shampoos and Tgel - then usually ended up having to use selsun shampoo to sort him.

Use lots of conditioner to wet comb through. Get a mobile hairdresser and warn you might have lice and offer to pay extra.