Headlice advice needed

[SuzieBishop]

headlice is going around the school and my daughter has got it for the first time, don’t know how we’ve avoided it for so long but here we are. She definitely had lice as I saw them so I did the treatment a week past Monday and then one this Monday just past. However, I’ve been combing & checking her hair every day for eggs - there still seemed to be loads so I did wet combing on Tuesday & last night and the nit comb didn’t catch them all so I’ve just sat and cut individual threads of hair out. I just don’t want these eggs to hatch and for it all to start again as she’s got such long thick hair and it’s seemingly never ending and impossible!
my question is because the Internet doesn’t seem to want to tell me, are these eggs leftover dead and useless or will they definitely hatch with new headlice? Thanks

They could definitely could hatch. My daughter has long and very thick hair and when combing it takes me 4 hours to be very thorough with sectioning and multiple swipes through to get all the eggs.

Also the nit comb I bought was £9 in the pharmacy called Nitbusters so I thought it would do the trick. Or do I have to do it a few times? Sorry first timer with this!!

Oh my god @slowsundays 4 hours!!!!

My hand is like a claw afterwards but needs must.

I spent £15 on a NittyGritty comb and it's the best thing ever. Indestructible and I've never had to buy a second. Gets out the eggs and all.

Have you used conditioner in her hair when you wet combed?

If she's school age I would fry them with a hair straightener rather than cut them out.

If the nit cases are white they have hatched already. If they are darker they still have lice inside. The reason for repeating treatments is to catch hatchling before they are mature enough to mate and lay more eggs.

We’ve tried all sorts of lice treatment and I swear by NitWits, kills the lice and eggs. For the first time in months our hair is lice free!

The white eggs are empty shells, the brown ones will hatch. It's so easy to miss a few though so it's important to keep on top of the combing with conditioner for weeks/ months after an infestation. Once you are clear I would do a regular comb through still when they are in primary just to check!

@NotJohnWick no I didn’t - so I need to leave in the conditioner? Or will it work with normal wash out conditioner?
thanks all - most eggs are white so that’s a relief!

Yes. Wet hair, apply tons of conditioner. It means the eggs can't grip onto the hair. Then comb then rinse. Any cheap conditioner will do.

You need to continue to comb for several days. The comb will remove the eggs too if you get a nitty gritty so no need to start cutting hair out but it's sadly not a one or two day and done job. The comb is an investment- comb 1-2 times a week all the time. I used to comb my DD's every Sunday night without fail and again on a Wednesday if there was a message about nits going around and we've never once had an actual case of nits. Found a couple once in dd2's hair. Never in dd1's very long hair. You don't need to leave conditioner in all the time. Rinse it out once you're done combing but repeat every night til they are gone then move to twice weekly for a bit then settle in to your once a week unless you find something/get an alert from the class

But yes conditioner in the hair while combing - if that's what you meant. Helps the comb get through all the hair, it will get stuck in wet rinsed hair and not cover every strand. Also eggs dislodge easier with conditioner. Slather it on. You get through a lot of toilet/kitchen roll as you have ti wipe the comb off each time with one stroke. That cleans the comb and also helps you see what you've got off. Have a bowl of water to dip it every now and again if it gets clogged up.

I preventively combed with conditioner every Sunday night. Don't forget just behind the ears, they seem to like there. It's inevitable to get some outbreaks, just treat as needed

Once you get rid of the little fuckers comb once a week with the conditioner just in case.

If her hair is long enough plait it for school and spritz with tea tree solution.

Oh and section off the hair so you are doing each layer