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Original poster

Head lice removal without combing?

33 replies

User4738737383647474 · 29/09/2022 18:28

Is it possible??

DS is 11 and autistic. He got head lice whne he was small and combing was hell.

he has major issues with brushing, combing, cutting.

thankfully he did not get them once throughout primary. I did check his hair, often when he was lying on me, he has always tolerated that.

he's point blank refusing to use the comb. His hair isn't short, but not overly long either.

I have bought Hedrin once as that's all they had in the chemist. The one you leave on for 15 minutes which would be ideal as he wouldn't like keeping it on for too long but is it effective without combing?

please help. I've also applied Hedrin to the rest of us and going to comb us too. I've just applied Hedrin to him, will keep it in as long as poss.

also have normal tea tree shampoo and kids Vosene shampoo!

OP posts:
HaveANiceFuckingDay · 29/09/2022 18:30

Nitwits
A bit pricey but says on the bottle theres no need to brush
loads fell.out of my daughters hair

Malariahilaria · 29/09/2022 18:32

No advice but solidarity. My asd ds7 has almost got to dreadlock stage now ,very curly hair and will NOT have it touched. His big brother got nits recently and I petrified he would but luckily did not. Have been seriously considering upping his melatonin a bit one night and cutting it back in his sleep but I am scared he'll then refuse to go to sleep ever again as he tends to over associate things.

FromageRouge · 29/09/2022 18:35

In the same situation we had to cut DS’s hair. You might as well try Hedrin first, and follow up with sprayed in tea tree solution plus shampoo.

Original poster
User4738737383647474 · 29/09/2022 18:37

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 29/09/2022 18:30

Nitwits
A bit pricey but says on the bottle theres no need to brush
loads fell.out of my daughters hair

Thanks. My local boots had barely anything in stock - not even a nitty gritty comb! Have bought Hedrin and primed a comb for the rest of us for tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
User4738737383647474 · 29/09/2022 18:40

Malariahilaria · 29/09/2022 18:32

No advice but solidarity. My asd ds7 has almost got to dreadlock stage now ,very curly hair and will NOT have it touched. His big brother got nits recently and I petrified he would but luckily did not. Have been seriously considering upping his melatonin a bit one night and cutting it back in his sleep but I am scared he'll then refuse to go to sleep ever again as he tends to over associate things.

Thank you. I have considered the night cutting in the last too, DS is also on melatonin but get scared he'll wake. We have bene lucky he's okay with washing if we are quick and lucky we've never had any head lice problems - he had them as a toddler but not since. I regularly check with the flash light on my phone 😅

he will tolerate small cuts with scissors now (he used to scream the whole house down but will now tolerate somewhat) but buzzers would still be a definite no! So we never get enough off for it to be 'short'.

OP posts:
Original poster
User4738737383647474 · 29/09/2022 18:41

FromageRouge · 29/09/2022 18:35

In the same situation we had to cut DS’s hair. You might as well try Hedrin first, and follow up with sprayed in tea tree solution plus shampoo.

Thank you! Thankfully he's not got loads. I only seen about 3-4 around his ear.. he's got very blonde hair so easy to spot so thankfully not too infested 😅

OP posts:
Moonlaserbearwolf · 29/09/2022 18:45

You'll kill the vast majority of the nits with Herron, so definitely do that first. But sadly the odd one always seems to survive, so combing with conditioner every few days for a couple of weeks is recommended if you can manage it.

I'd suggest cutting his hair as short as he will allow - that will make the combing so much easier and hopefully make reinfestation less likely. Good luck!

Original poster
User4738737383647474 · 29/09/2022 18:50

Moonlaserbearwolf · 29/09/2022 18:45

You'll kill the vast majority of the nits with Herron, so definitely do that first. But sadly the odd one always seems to survive, so combing with conditioner every few days for a couple of weeks is recommended if you can manage it.

I'd suggest cutting his hair as short as he will allow - that will make the combing so much easier and hopefully make reinfestation less likely. Good luck!

Thank you! I will attempt buy doubt we will be successful with combing. We have lots of Hedrin left in the bottle to use that again too - I am glad I had my hair cut off shorter a couple weeks ago 😅

OP posts:
Sideorderofchips · 29/09/2022 18:56

Nitwit.

Use that then they come out when towel drying

Original poster
User4738737383647474 · 29/09/2022 19:10

Sideorderofchips · 29/09/2022 18:56

Nitwit.

Use that then they come out when towel drying

Thanks. I have googled and it appears I can only buy online? Do any stores sell it?

OP posts:
Msgrieves · 29/09/2022 19:13

I have just put some hedrin on ds2 which you have leave on for 8 hours, it doesn't mention combing. I am going to anyway because its driving me mad now, but maybe that could be an option?

Tbf his hair was absolutely teeming 😩 boak. I thought because he is the youngest we were past the nit stage. His school is being a whiny bitch too, what a frigging stress.

bringarosie · 29/09/2022 19:17

When you get rid of them I have found Vosene very good at keeping them at bay.

I had the same with my dd. Actually found a clinic near us where they kind of hoover them out. Once they were gone have not seen them back for a year.

Original poster
User4738737383647474 · 29/09/2022 19:30

Msgrieves · 29/09/2022 19:13

I have just put some hedrin on ds2 which you have leave on for 8 hours, it doesn't mention combing. I am going to anyway because its driving me mad now, but maybe that could be an option?

Tbf his hair was absolutely teeming 😩 boak. I thought because he is the youngest we were past the nit stage. His school is being a whiny bitch too, what a frigging stress.

Thank you. The one I got said at least 15 minutes. The normal Hedrin that you've used was not in stock!

I just can't believe we went the whole way through primary with none. It didn't cross my mind this was happen in secondary. He doesn't get close to people either 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
User4738737383647474 · 29/09/2022 19:31

bringarosie · 29/09/2022 19:17

When you get rid of them I have found Vosene very good at keeping them at bay.

I had the same with my dd. Actually found a clinic near us where they kind of hoover them out. Once they were gone have not seen them back for a year.

I've bought the vosene, thank you.

wow. That sounds interesting, not heard of that locally to me.

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 29/09/2022 19:32

Nitwits is amazing. I got it from Amazon next day delivery. If you don't have prime I bet you have a friend or family member who does.

OppsUpsSide · 29/09/2022 19:35

Nitwits is much better than Hedrin and also washes out clean, Hedrin leaves hair very very greasy.

Original poster
User4738737383647474 · 30/09/2022 07:34

Thanks all. I've ordered some nit witz, I do have prime but sadly it wasn't available with prime and estimated delivery is next week 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
Doingmybest12 · 30/09/2022 07:51

Not sure if this would be tolerable for your child, I used to sit them watching TV and then look around the hair line and cut of individual hairs that had eggs on with nail scissors. Strangely satisfying but realise not everyone would want to do this.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 30/09/2022 08:06

Hedrin works by suffocation so don't comb. Make sure you do it again 2 weeks later or whatever it says on the bottle.

Original poster
User4738737383647474 · 30/09/2022 09:26

Doingmybest12 · 30/09/2022 07:51

Not sure if this would be tolerable for your child, I used to sit them watching TV and then look around the hair line and cut of individual hairs that had eggs on with nail scissors. Strangely satisfying but realise not everyone would want to do this.

This has crossed my mind 😅

OP posts:
Original poster
User4738737383647474 · 30/09/2022 09:27

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 30/09/2022 08:06

Hedrin works by suffocation so don't comb. Make sure you do it again 2 weeks later or whatever it says on the bottle.

Thanks he has quite a lot of eggs stuck to his hair. I have now managed to comb some out this morning but still a few left 😭

OP posts:
lndnbrdge91 · 30/09/2022 10:12

A different suggestion to try is derbac M liquid. I believe you can buy it over the counter. I had to use this on my daughter; she disliked the combing and the repeated use of conditioner and combing meant her scalp
got sore. Saw the gp in the end who told us to get this lotion.

It smells quite strong and is used for lice in other areas! But it is the only thing that shifted the nits.

funkythighcollector · 30/09/2022 10:47

Hairdryer on hottest setting

Belladonnamama · 30/09/2022 10:50

Malt vinegar works better than any chemist bought treatment. A pharmacist told my friend this when all the over the counter remedies didn't work for her DD. One application of the malt vinegar and head lice was gone.

Raidtheice · 30/09/2022 10:55

Vamouse is the best one. It actually kills everything. You do still need to comb afterwards.

Alternatively regular hair colouring kills them.