Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Nits- Nitty Gritty Comb and Conditioner Not Working

44 replies

SilverLiningSearching · 05/12/2020 14:40

I know this subject has been done to death but Im getting increasing desperate. I just can’t clear my head of nits.
My hair is ridiculously thick and there’s lots of it, I even cut my own hair as short as I dare ( can’t do an elfin cut as I have a big fat face!) but still not clear.

In addition to the Nitty Gritty and conditioner I have also tried the usual chemist brands but no joy there.

I would happily go to a professional nit remover service but they’re four hours drive away and 2 or even 3 appointments may be required and we’re Tier 3 anyway ATM.

I am honestly thinking of buzzing all my hair off and getting a decent wig.

Would be grateful for advice, especially if you are the owner of crazy thick hair and manage get rid of the critters.

OP posts:
Haworthia · 05/12/2020 14:42

Oh what a nightmare. My hair is long and thick and I don’t think I would be able to effectively nit comb my own hair. You have to be so meticulous it’s just not possible to do your own head.

Is there no adult you can ask for help?

dementedpixie · 05/12/2020 14:46

Are you finding live lice?
How often are you combing?

Ideally you would comb every few days for 3 weeks as that's the life cycle

If using treatments then I would treat weekly for 3 weeks rather than just for 2 weeks - try the type that suffocates the lice e.g. hedrin. Make sure your hair is saturated properly and that you use enough product.

User27aw · 05/12/2020 14:48

I caught nits off my ds a couple of times and just used hedrin a few times a week for 2 weeks. My hair isnt thick but is fairly long. Nitty gritty comb is great for short hair but i wouldnt be able to use it on my hair.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Beauty
Rainydayhere · 05/12/2020 14:50

Dont bother with the nit place, it's a fortune and took my lot a few visits and then they came back again.

I got stuff on Amazon, Australian brand, nit wits spray I think. It worked far better than other brands, they fell.off and then strict combing twice a day, morning just a quick one, evening conditioner.. 2 kids completely clear first time in years, the other 2 still bloody have them. You need to change pillow cases, sheets etc and coats, also if you drive wipe the head of your car seat and sofa etc. Nightmare

lljkk · 05/12/2020 14:51

That stuff that suffocates them, is it hedrin? Did you try this?

I'm not recommending you shave head but I could imagine resorting to it.

QueenOfLabradors · 05/12/2020 14:58

With dd1's very thick long hair we eventually shifted them with a double whammy of Nitty Gritty combing and an entire large bottle of Hedrin. Dd2's finer hair was dealt with by Nitty Gritty on its own. You do need another grown up or nearly grown up person to do the combing.

Hedrin used correctly and in sufficient quantities is the only product I have ever found that actually works, I believe there are other brands that use the same suffocation method though.

RhubarbAndMustard · 05/12/2020 14:59

Can you use straighteners? Might not get right to the scalp but you could either nit comb or blow dry the base? Ps- no idea if this actually works but might be worth a try.

dementedpixie · 05/12/2020 15:01

If you have thick hair you may need extra product to saturate it properly so every bit of your hair and scalp is treated

Original poster
SilverLiningSearching · 05/12/2020 15:14

Yes tried Headrin and Nitwits, NitNot. Combing every 2 /3days. My hair is like a sponge to the products and wonder if I need to buy 2or 3 bottlers per treatment🥺
I think @Haworthia is right and I need some one to help- my hair is just so dense.I think I am missing the eggs, caught some nymphs this morning. But my mums thinks it’s disgusting and won’t help, too embarrassed to ask a friend.
I even thought of asking a mobile hairdresser to do a comb, but worried they would be offended.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 05/12/2020 15:17

Its like hair dye, the more hair you have the more product you need.

I'd try to find someone to help you

user1471462428 · 05/12/2020 15:22

Do you use hair spray? I find it helps in between treatments. I also used an electric comb and conditioner every morning.

BabbleBee · 05/12/2020 15:29

My DD has very thick hair, and the only thing that I’ve found that works is combing through conditioner with added tea tree oil in sections, rinsing it all out then rinsing again with malt vinegar. A nursery nurse friend of mine told me about the vinegar trick and I was gobsmacked that it a) worked and b) DD didn’t smell of fish n chips!

fallfallfall · 05/12/2020 15:35

Besides the hair, have you properly cleaned bedding, clothing, towels?

Namechange600 · 05/12/2020 15:37

Can you ask someone else to comb through? Also use a treatment. I also always use hair straighteners too to kill off any eggs that are missed - so easy to miss one and then the whole cycle starts again

ParkheadParadise · 05/12/2020 15:40

Vodka
Go to the supermarket buy a cheap bottle of vodka. Pour it over your hair and rinse.
Many years ago a HV gave me this tip for dd's thick nit crawling hair.
She never had nits again.

Original poster
SilverLiningSearching · 05/12/2020 15:40

Interesting @BabbleBee do you comb again after the vinegar rinse? How many parts vinegar did you use?
@fallfallfall yes been vigilant regarding bedding etc.

OP posts:
goose1964 · 05/12/2020 15:43

Electronic comb was the only thing that worked on DD, did it every day after school.

peakygal · 05/12/2020 15:46

Ohh I pity you! 2 of my DDs are finally just clear after a year and a half! I thought it would never happen. Youngest DD has very thick curly hair and it was a nightmare. I just got to the point where I wet combed every day and used tea tree oil conditioner and then every few days I used hedrin and it worked

BabbleBee · 05/12/2020 16:23

Didn’t recomb after the vinegar rinse, no. It’s literally just a handful of vinegar into the hair and rinsed out.

Ratatcat · 05/12/2020 16:40

I’d have thought if you’ve got really thick hair, 1 bottle won’t be enough. I’d have thought 2 minimum tbh. I know with hair dye I need two packets so assume nit stuff would need similar for the coverage.

Original poster
SilverLiningSearching · 05/12/2020 16:41

Thanks everyone. Some definite things to try here, will hold off from buzzing off my hair for now.

OP posts:
Witchend · 05/12/2020 17:24

Try listerine mouthwash.
Soak your hair in it, put a shower cap on for 15 minutes. Then wash as normal.
Do this every 5 days.
I found this the most effective for dd who had thick thigh length hair.

Neolara · 05/12/2020 17:36

With dd who has lots of long, thick hair, what worked was leaving on hedrin once for 40 minutes and repeating after a week.

Original poster
SilverLiningSearching · 05/12/2020 17:56

@Witchend does it have to be the original Listerine flavour?

OP posts:
greensnail · 05/12/2020 18:02

We all have ridiculously thick hair in this house. Only thing that works is hedrin once - the one you're supposed to only need to use once. Use more than you think you need - we have one of the big bottles that's meant to treat several heads for each person. Repeat this after seven days. Might need to do again after another 7 days but never needed more than 3 applications.