How do I get rid of head lice this is getting ridiculous

[IdaBattersea]

Posting here for traffic.

We had our first bout of headlice back at the end of the summer term, it was pretty bad, we used Hedrin and nitty gritty comb. Combed daily for about 3 days with conditioner then down to couple of times a week. We had several reinfections over the summer and then again this term. We now comb at least once a week with the nitty gritty comb sometimes twice and I haven't seen a louse for over a month.

Took girls to hairdresser today and hairdresser was starting blow dry she says to me sorry I can't continue your daughter has head lice. I was a bit shocked as we last combed at the weekend and explained our history and she said, the comb doesn't work it won't get rid of them it will make it worse as damages them and you don't get them out you have to use the lotion. She showed me the white flecks in her hair and said that is the eggs, there are no actual lice at the moment.

I told her the school advice said that there was no proof either way that lotion was more effective and it said combing with conditioner was supposed to be as effective, but if that wasn't the case I would go and get some lotion.

The hairdresser said lotion is the only way and I would probably need to do more than once and was adamant the comb doesn't work.

I can't believe this, we have battled with these and followed advice combing through with conditioner and now it sounds like this isn't enough. How can nitty gritty comb make the claims it does if it doesn't work, and will I ever get on top of these?

[LegoCaltrops]

The Nitty Gritty comb does work. No doubt IMHO. My DD had head lice a year ago exactly. I used the Nitty Gritty comb plus a stanard kids conditioner (a strawberry no more tears type, definitely not anti-lice). Did this every 3 days for 2 weeks. Nothing else was used except the occasional spray of leave -in conditioner which contains tea-tree, which is supposed to be a deterrent. No more nits ever since.

I suspect your DD has a mild case of dandruff, that's all. Or possibly old egg casings. Can they be brushed out or are they stuck on?

[dementedpixie]

If they are white then they are empty cases and your Dd doesn't have a live infestation. If no lice were found and it is only the empty cases stuck to the hair then your Dd no longer has head lice

[pklme]

Sounds like you are doing it right. The casings don't come off easily, so you can be clear and have no lice but still have empty egg cases. When the eggs are unhatched, they are dark and hard to see.

I'd keep doing what you are. They will get them repeatedly from other people, especially if they are sociable, and have a warm head. Regular combing is the only way to go. It peaks at age seven. We had them every time someone was seven. And once when a birth parent kept giving them to my foster child at every contact.

[Lateralthinker2016]

Unless ALL children were treated and were completely CLEAR at the same time, then this problem will never go away. Just one half term off school is all it should take.... But not all parents can be bothered can they?! instead we go around in the same irritating circle. There is no excuse for it really.

[Dixiechickonhols]

Can I recommend hairspray daily as a preventive measure. Apparently the nits can't get a grip plus smell is off putting. I read it as a tip in woman's magazine before dad started school and yr 6 she is still nit free despite long thick wavy hair.

[Dixiechickonhols]

Dd not dad!

[downwardfacingdog]

Your hairdresser is talking rubish. My DC have got nits twice in 6 years at primary school (so far) and both times we have totally cleared them with just conditioner and diligent combing with a nitty gritty. The white dots are empty casings, it doesn't mean you have to retreat. Sit her in front of a movie and pick them out if they won't comb out.

[Joz157]

My dd3 first got them in primary school, and was with her until she left college although in phases. We used lotion, but after a while we notice her head was sore. Apparently she has a thin scalp easy to irritate it and bty lice love it. We used comb and conditioner, she has long naturally curly hair. I found a mixture of oils, that didn't work either. It took a mix of vinegar for dissolving the cement sticking the eggs on the hair and been away from ppl who had lice and couldn't be bothered to clear their heads.

[IdaBattersea]

Thanks all. Am certain just casings or dandruff. Bit miffed with hairdresser now but hey ho.

We were definitely getting reinfected by a classmate as if we took eye off ball and missed one combing they would be back not infestation but we would find some.

I use the repellent too now. Feel calmer but it is such a pain. DD is nearly 10 and DD2 7.5 so if 7 is peak hopefully we will soon be over this horrid phase of this particular childhood affliction.

[Wookiecookies]

Nitty gritty comb is the only thing that ever worked with my dd. And the oil based nit lotions as these suffocate the little buggers! Although olive oil will do the same job. Just pop loads in for half an hour and comb out with the nitty gritty. Also section the hair carefully and do not miss a single strand.

My best recommendation is never let your daughter attend school without french plaits, or other close fitting hair do, (irritating I know) and get head lice prevention shampoo with tea tree in it. It really really works. Tbh, it sounds like there may be some kids in your daughters class who are just not treating their own kids, or at least not doing it properly twats
Have you asked the school to send out a letter?

[Tabymoomoo]

I found the lotion didn't work at all and the only thing that shifted them was going through dd's hair section by section with the metal comb and conditioner. Took about an hour last time (sat in front of dvd) as dd has a lot of hair. Plus I used my finger nails to shift the stubborn ones.

I also always wash the kids' hair with Vosene 3in1 shampoo which supposedly contains tea tree oil to repel lice (who knows if it really does work but touch wood we haven't had lice since)
Best of luck! - I hate lice I got them last time dd had them. You try combing them out of your own hair!

[SpaceKoala]

Similar to a previous poster, we use the tea tree oil shampoo, and no head lice at all despite numerous outbreaks at school
May just be luck though

[Itsnottheendoftheworld]

Always used nitty gritty. It does work. I have never used chemicals to get rid of lice. I only use it on dry hair as well. My girls find it less painful. Works a treat and gets eggs out as well. Doing it on wet hair was stretching and damaging their hair plus I had to rinse the comb after every pull through.
I just pring along the comb and the eggs and lice fall onto the kitchen paper.

[StrangeIdeas]

DD kept getting them last year. I used every lotion in the chemist and she kept getting them! And that was with changing the bed sheets and doing mine and DP's heads too. Condtioner and a nitty gritty comb was the only thing that worked. Sat DD in front of the computer and went through her hair. Took ages but it worked.

[Mellowautumn]

Nitty Gritty and loads of conditioner is recommended by HV's - a vinegar rinse every shampoo for a few weeks will get rid of the egg cases - takes a while and persistence on fine hair.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Gold listerine- the one with alcohol siak head, shower cap leave for two hours. Then rinse conditioner and nitty gritty comb.
Repeat in 7 days.
Listerine is like a miracle product.

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

I have found nitty gritty comb does work but you have to keep on with it as if one egg gets missed you are back to square one!

Also make sure you wash pillows and bedding as well as checked combs etc, we found a live nit crawling across dds comb I poured boiling water on it!!

[SofiaAmes]

Combing alone doesn't do it. You have to actually go through the hair and pull off the eggs with your fingernails. It's slow and painstaking, but is the only sure way of getting all the lice out for good. If the lotion has the chemicals that kill the lice, then it's probably not something you want your child absorbing through their scalp very often and if it doesn't have the chemicals then it's a waste of your time and money.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Sofia you really don't need to do that!

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Hedrin once works by smothering the lice - so no nasty chemicals of old or chance of them developing resistance.

Combing everything out is the only way to certain they have gone.

[luckylavender]

Vinegar - worked a treat on my son

[fairybaby]

Once you get rid of it, make your own spray by combining a few drops of Tea Tree oil and water in a spray bottle.

I use on my kids hair everyday and (touch wood!) they haven't caught lice again.

Apparently lice hate the smell of Tea Tree Oil!

[Fontella]

The Nitty Gritty comb does work. No doubt IMHO.

I agree!

I kept my kids lice free with just comb and cheap conditioner every single bathtime. Just make it part of the routine.

The eggs hatch, and you just keep clearing the lice and breaking the cycle so no more lice to lay eggs. It has to be constant but it works and no chemicals involved.

[jo10000]

Apparently more teenagers are getting them now because of selfies with friends, putting their heads together for photos. My 13 year old had them for six monrhs this year and it was horrendous. Long thick hair. The Nitty gritty comb only worked with lice, not eggs, I had to detach each of them with fingernails and I only had to miss two and I was back to square one. In the end, first week of summer hols I said that's it. We spent an hour every morning for five days with me straightening her hair one small section at a time. I'd been told the intense heat kills them. That was it, thankfully and finally she was clear after that.