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I can't get rid of these stupid nits

30 replies

BestUseADifferentName · 04/08/2019 19:56

I'm using a nitty gritty comb with conditioner, but DD's hair is so fine I can see the eggs go between the teeth with the hair and they don't come off. I'm trying to just individually pull each one off I see but it will take the rest of my natural life if I carry on like this.

I've used Hedrin Once, which killed the remaining live lice, but didn't get rid of the eggs (I didn't really believe it would anyway).

I have been blow drying her hair and I'm going to straighten it.

Do I need to wash her bedclothes every day?

Any more advice is welcome because I don't know what to do. This has come at the shittest time for me, I feel like I'm losing it.

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 04/08/2019 20:00

Hang in there, it isn't the end of the world- it just feels like it!

So, it doesn't matter if you miss the eggs. You must comb every three days, then as the eggs hatch you comb them out before they can lay eggs.

It takes about two weeks, then you can be confident they are gone.

Beamur · 04/08/2019 20:01

Eggs hatch after 7-10 days.
Keep combing with conditioner every few days.
Kids also pick up new nits from other kids. A comb through once a fortnight after you've got this infestation under control would flag up new ones.

picklemepopcorn · 04/08/2019 20:02

Don't worry about bedding or hats- it's only the hairs themselves.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

stucknoue · 04/08/2019 20:04

Switch to using a teatree oil shampoo and conditioner too, it helps. Mostly it's just perseverance and they do seem to magically disappear about age 7

Whatsnewpussyhat · 04/08/2019 20:09

You use the hedrin, comb out the dead lice then repeat 1 week later to kill any that have hatched. The egg cases don't matter and will come out over time.

BestUseADifferentName · 04/08/2019 20:10

Thank you all so much, that's really helpful. I am getting myself in a right state about it.

This is the first time she's had them, and she is fast approaching 8!

OP posts:
justrestinginmybankaccount · 04/08/2019 20:10

Totally sympathise. Took me three weeks to see the bastards off. My daughter also has fine angel hair and my son was harbouring a small colony in his thick thatch.

I nearly lost the plot but turned into some Rambo nit fighting lunatic after a week. Being em on. I was combing our hair while they slept searching.

I also bought one of those electric zappers just to alert me if any came back.

Nix32 · 04/08/2019 20:11

Comb through with conditioner every other day - it's the only way I managed to clear my daughter's very long, fine hair. It took a couple of weeks, but some nights I only pulled out one or two eggs.

Kneeknee · 04/08/2019 20:13

Eggs pass through the nit comb which I think is the message that should be told to people buying combs.

I've only been able to comb eggs out after treatment with hedrin.

Was it the one where you treat again 7days after first treatment? You must do this to break the cycle of new lice hatching.

I quite like nit picking out the majority of eggs by sliding them down the shaft of the hair in between fingernails. But that's only if your child will sit and you have decent eyesight. A head torch works well.

I do preventative check on my girls hair once a week. I look carefully around the back of the neck and ears for eggs. And a quick look on the the top of the head for lice.

My girls also have thick hair but five mins spent on a quick check once a week is no big deal. I'm usually on it before an infestation begins. I usually do it after a hair wash when I dry the hair in sections.

After application of hedrin, the hair is nice and slippy and makes combing easier. The following morning I comb out dead lice, eggs and half dead lice. Then it's a daily check of the head where I'll probably find dead eggs and remove the them. I'll probably check daily for two weeks then go back to once a week.

Lice are rife at the school.

As for bedclothes, nope I wouldnt bother. Lice and eggs don't survive off the head.

Beamur · 04/08/2019 20:15

Another tip - keep her hair tied back for school. Tea tree shampoo, or a special anti bit shampoo can reduce them coming back. But it's likely she will get them again so don't stress about it too much.

Kneeknee · 04/08/2019 20:17

Honestly I truly enjoy nit picking.

Missed my calling in life Grin

DD is quite sensitive and my insensitive mum doesn't even try to hide her disgust when she catches head lice.

I try to reinforce into DD it's just a normal part of life and nothing to be ashamed off. I will sort it out for her Wink

Soontobe60 · 04/08/2019 20:20

The comb îsnt for removing the eggs, it's for removing the lice. Daily combing over a 6 week period will eliminate them as that's the length of the life cycle. Do this by slathering on conditioner (in dry hair), then combing from underneath to the top layers. It would take me about half an hour with my DDs thick, long hair. Then do it every few days just to be sure they don't get a hold again. My DD couldn't use lotions as she was allergic, had a really bad asthma attack after using Hedrin! So combing, conditioner and tea tree spray daily was the only way to keep them in check.
One handy hint, if keep hair in a pony tail, then you get everything ready as soon as they get in from school, remove the bobble and start where the bobble was your likely to get loads of the buggers as they like to hide on the head where the bobble is.

Kneeknee · 04/08/2019 20:20

Oh6, hedrin do a protect and go spray which is not a treatment but a preventative spray which I use like a spray in conditioner. Just every once in a while.

And yes as someone said above, tie hair back. Fringes are the worst thing to have I think. I pleat dds back.

slipperywhensparticus · 04/08/2019 20:21

Coconut oil works in between chemical treatments it helps the nitty gritty comb and doesn't damage the hair

namechangedforthis1980 · 04/08/2019 20:21

Oh you have my sympathies! DS had nits pretty much constantly for the first quarter of this year Shock, drove me nuts!! Someone recommended the nitty gritty comb and it was fantastic. Took a couple of weeks of combing then nothing since

costacoffeecup · 04/08/2019 20:25

I found the nitty gritty did get most of the egg cases out with loads of conditioner. I also picked them out when I could. I love the idea of that hoover thing they do though...

CherryPlum · 04/08/2019 20:27

In my experience the nitty gritty comb is the only comb that really works, it's much better than the comb you get given in a box of Hedrin/Full Marks etc. Ot has muc closer 'prongs' so it catches the eggs.

SteadyAreYouReady · 04/08/2019 20:31

Section the hair off and start from the nap of the neck in inch thick sections. It’s a nightmare, but keep going!!!

SteadyAreYouReady · 04/08/2019 20:32

Nape

picklemepopcorn · 04/08/2019 20:37

Also, if the egg is white then it's empty. You don't need to comb out all the white ones.

As long as there are no live lice, you've won.

mineofuselessinformation · 04/08/2019 20:40

Don't try and keep the comb upright, let it lay at an angle of about 45 degrees. I found that didn't pull the hair too much, but did help remove the eggs.

ByeByeBike · 04/08/2019 20:50

The only comb that works is the nitty gritty one.

We use hedrin once. Leave on 15 minutes then start combing through. Make sure every section of hair is done starting at the roots (you may need to angle the comb to get the roots).

Check again with combing every day for the next 3-4 weeks. If any live lice are found use chemical treatment again.

Learn how to do French plaits and put hair up every day

SweetPetrichor · 04/08/2019 21:37

A quick blitz with the clippers and then life would be so much easier...I'm a great advocate of the minimal hair approach and so was my mum back when I was a wee person at headlice-getting age!

BestUseADifferentName · 05/08/2019 10:09

Thank you everyone, this is so helpful.

I used to put her hair in a french plait every day at preschool for this reason, but over the years i got careless when she didn't ever catch them. I'll definitely be starting up again now.

OP posts:
surreysnapper · 05/08/2019 10:27

Try using hair straighteners to fry the little blighters... I found this helped in my son's hair