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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To go to the hairdresser if I have just used the nitty gritty comb?

62 replies

jennifersofia · 17/08/2013 08:17

Just done a major comb through and I found 2 developed nits. I am off on holiday tomorrow, haven't had my haircut for 9 months. (I know, stupid me for leaving it to the last minute). Do hairdressers always disinfect combs and brushes in between customers?
I can't go, can I?

OP posts:

picnicbasketcase · 17/08/2013 10:38

If it's a nice polite local type hairdresser, go and explain and see what they think. If it's one of thousands in a national chain who is likely to sneer and eject you, cancel.

Footface · 17/08/2013 11:41

My friends a hairdresser and they will stop the cut if they find nits .

Thymeout · 17/08/2013 11:45

No!

Can't believe there are people who think this is all right.

5madthings · 17/08/2013 11:47

As long as you wet comb thoroughly to make sure all nits/eggs are out there its fine.

You could even use a herein type treatment as well if you wanted but combing properly you can remove all the nits/eggs.

sweetmelissa · 17/08/2013 11:53

During the primary school years when it sometimes felt nits were a weekly occurrence I took my children to the hairdressers several times (often having been treated beforehand) and I never found a hairdresser who was able to cut/dry/style their hair. A little embarrassing certainly, but I did understand it could be easily passed on. I also have several hairdresser friends and the company policy of the places they work is not to cut hair if any nits or even dead nit eggs were found. The customers, they tell me, are also asked (politely) to leave. Sorry.

SaucyJack · 17/08/2013 11:53

Might be best to ring up and ask first, but otherwise I'm with StarBall. Our whole school seems to be constantly infested, inc the teachers. I can't believe none of them ever go to the hairdressers.

sweetmelissa · 17/08/2013 11:57

I should add, in my experience, that it was not only national chains whose policy is to refuse, but also local hairdressers and independent hairdressers too. Just like you can never properly guarantee hair is free of nits, no matter how thoroughly combed, equally, they tell me, they would then not be able to guarantee not passing it on to the next customer.

kali110 · 17/08/2013 11:57

Yabu just because youve left it late. You can infect the clients . They will have to disinfect all equipment towels etc if you dont say anything and they find them. I wouldnt blame them if they embarrassed you as you know they are there and still went. If hairdressers didnt say anything i wouldnt think they were any good. First thing you do as one is tell client to go pharmacy and def do not do any services.
Good point from another poster, youll need a cut when you get back anyway. Wait till youve got rid of them and back from hol and you can have cut then.

YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar · 17/08/2013 12:20

I'm a hairdresser and do not cut hair if nits are in evidence. We make this clear and even have a sign up as well as leaflets and box of free nit combs. Doesn't stop people treating me like an idiot and feigning ignorance when I find an infestation though. "Well I can see how the scabs from the itchy bites, the caviar buffet of eggs and the walkers on your hairline must have evaded you..." :o Anyway do you really want to use a hairdresser that turns a blind eye to a nit infestation? I mean really? Yuck...

Alisvolatpropiis · 17/08/2013 12:26

My hairdressers won't deal with people who have nits. I've seen woman be turned away.

WilsonFrickett · 17/08/2013 12:31

If my hairdresser cut someone's hair with nits I would never go back (although granted, how would I know?). Yuck, just yuck. We've never had them and I would be furious if I caught them from a hairdressers.

So no, don't go, please.

NoComet · 17/08/2013 12:32

I'm certain our hair dresses doesn't look too carefully, because I'm not 100% certain any of us haven't had the odd nit for the last 8 plus years.

NoComet · 17/08/2013 12:34

Due to living in a dysfunctional home, one of DDs playmates always had nits.

5madthings · 17/08/2013 12:36

Two nits does not make an infestation tho, had she been crawling with them then no don't go but as she has combed thoroughly and only found two then providing she wets combs thoroughly to check for eggs she should be fine.

Vivacia · 17/08/2013 12:48

I've been in a hairdressers and they've asked somebody to leave when they found nits.

I think it'd be wrong to go to the hairdressers and not mention it. (I'm not sure why you'd spend the time and effort getting a new hair cut but not getting rid of the nits).

kali110 · 17/08/2013 12:54

Doesnt matter if theres only two not fair to take them to her workplace!

Yonilovesboni · 17/08/2013 13:12

My dp is a hairdresser. He hates it when people come who knowingly have nits and still ask for their hair to be cut!! If he notices nits in some bodies hair, he will subtly let them know and recommend treatment but will not touch there hair.

Yonilovesboni · 17/08/2013 13:16

5madthings even if she wet combs thoroughly this does not guarantee that she is not free. Very selfish too risk infecting others and extra work for hairdresser!

5madthings · 17/08/2013 13:24

You can pretty much never guarantee a child is a not free ffs, I comb mine a couple of times a week to check, and if I ever find any I then comb everyday for a few eeks a Duse a treatment in necessary but generally combing properly with a nitty gritty gets rid.

Statistically in a school for example about 50% of children will have nits, so even if you clear your own child, the moment they mix with others you can't guarantee they are not free.

HotCrossPun · 17/08/2013 13:36

Why don't you just use a head lice treatment, section your hair and give it a thorough going over with the nit comb before you go?

I know you go on holiday tomorrow but it would only take you a few hours to get it sorted.

Alternatively just trim the ends of your hair yourself.

Facebaffle · 17/08/2013 13:45

I was told by my hairdresser that she found a headlice in dd's hair whilst the was having a trim. I was sat where I couldnt see what had happened. She got rid of it, continued the trim and washed her scissors and comb afterwards. She told me away from all the other customers and gave me advice.

I'd ring beforehand and see what they say.

Yonilovesboni · 17/08/2013 13:48

5madthings, the op is a grown woman not a child. I'm not sure why you are using a child as an example tbh. Everyone knows that lice go through children like wildfire. However I would have thought an adult would notice if they had headlice and be sensible enough not to go around getting there hair bloody styled and passing them on to everyone else!

gordyslovesheep · 17/08/2013 13:50

I don't think a reputable salon would touch lice infested hair - our wouldn't when DD2 and 3 had them

5madthings · 17/08/2013 13:59

If she combs and treats her hair then she won't be infested. Exactly how long after treating do you want people to wait before cutting their hair?

She may be an duly but anyone with children is at risk of being infected with nits. No-one can ever guarantee they are free of the, you can comb regularly and treat if you find any but you can't guarantee you are free. Even if you never find any you could then catch them the next day.

Yonilovesboni · 17/08/2013 14:09

I'd expect her to wait longer than a day before visiting a hairdressers. I don't go to the salon often. I would be furious if I went and caught nits!

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