AIBU to consider shaving our whole family’s heads so we never have nits again?

[Parrothead]

We keep getting nits, and it is realky getting old. I have two boys with shortish hair, one of whom doesn’t seem to get them and one of whom always gets them and then gives them to me . I always nit comb thoroughly and frequently, and also use chemical treatments. I’ve done my research and determined that dimethicone-based products are most effective, so I usually use those, but I’ve tried all of the other ones too, plus tea tree oil, mayonnaise, and anything else I’ve ever heard recommended. I follow the instructions, re-apply after seven days, comb weekly to check and daily when I’ve seen anything, etc. I’ve even paid £200 to have a professional nit comber come to the house!

Unfortunately I think the problem is me. I have long, somewhat thick hair, and nits love me . I know that combing is the main key to nit detection and treatment, but every time I use a nit comb on myself it pulls my hair out. I always divide my hair into small sections and use TONNES of conditioner, but it makes no difference. Each “stroke” of the nit comb pulls out at least three hairs and sometimes more like 10. (I have at least five different nit combs and they all do this.) My hair is the only part of my appearance that I’m actually OK with, so I would hate to have to cut it off, or for it to look thin and broken. But I CAN’T live like this!

Help....!

Try nit rid. That stuff cleared a 10 year, infestation.

I had thick thick hair as a kid and my mum used to rinse in vinegar. Not sure if it worked but only had them once. As an adult I've been around kids infested but never had them- I put that down to daily blow drying and straightening

Nits are a nightmare but you just have to persevere, by all means shave the whole family bald but trust me when the hair grows back the nits will come back!! It only takes one kid! You can get rid of them no matter how thick and long the hair, its just hours and hours of painstaking combing, the real solution is educating the parent who really doesn't give a shit and is quite happy to live with them and continuing to infest all at school.

omg nits are the worst. how old are your boys? at least if you shave their heads (or very short) you will see them

Tea Tree Oil. 10 drops in every bottle of shampoo and conditioner your whole family uses. All the time, not just when you get nit letters home. It will keep them away permanently.

Have you got the nitty gritty comb it costs 8 quidish but its worth it. It combs out the eggs as well as the lice. I found hedrin once the best treatment as it makes the hair very slippy. Would it be so bad if you just cut your hair short? Try a new look? Nits love my hair because its very fine individual hairs but lots of them so thick. If the kids get them i get them. Dh on the other hand has never had them.

They've just put a sign up at nursery saying there's nits 😭😭.

DS is nit free at the moment, but
I'm terrified- I have nearly waist long, thick hair and I'm dreading having to treat it. I've combined tea tree oil with the shampoo and conditioner and have bought Hendrin Protect and Go which is supposed to help keep them away.

Stupid question maybe, but how can you tell if a kid has nits before it gets bad?

Absolutely smother your hair in conditioner and cover in a shower cap for 20/30 mins.
Comb every three days for 21 days.
Rinse with tea tree oil in the water.
Plait your hair.
Suck up the pulled hairs for the 21 days.

If you're constantly finding adults you're either finding a new infestation or you're not combing through properly.

I once combed every three days for 3 months before I cracked and demanded my child be moved in school.

I spray with Nitty Gritty every day before they go to school.

Second the tea tree oil suggestion. I spray everyone I can the DC with tea tree tonic water each morning and we've never had a single nit. Even when very close friends of DC who are over all the time had nits.

Could be our thin hair though

The best way to get rid of nits in a adult head is
Hair dye .
Straighing iron or curling tongs the heat kills them.
Even if you don't normally straighing your hair I just would. To get rid of nits.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Sorry I didn’t reply sooner, I’ve been combing. Constantly. The problem is the combs all rip my hair out, even with half a bottle of conditioner. I have the nitty gritty comb along with several others. I straighten my hair sometimes but I’m told the nits live on the first centimeter of hair close to the scalp, and it’s impossible to get the iron that close without burning myself. We do tree oil as a routine, but it doesn’t help, and my understanding is that research has proven it to be a placebo anyway. I just bought Hedrin Protect and Go so hopefully that will help but I have to get rid of the ones we have first!

mikeyssister , I am constantly finding adults, but they are usually dead. Only once have I found a live nit. But I can see the eggs in my son’s hair and by now I know what a nit looks like even when it’s dead. The odd thing is nobody seems to see the eggs in my hair, not even my hairdresser or my husband with a really bright light. But then I get that particular type of itch that I now know far too well, and when I comb through I find a few dead ones.

I think I do just have to suck up the pulled hair. I wonder how many hairs you have to lose before it actually makes your hair look visibly thinner? I’m old, I’m fat, the only thing I have left is reasonably nice hair. If I have to get the dreaded mom cut I will be severely depressed.

My DC uses a shampoo called Vosene 3 in 1 shampoo. It's a bit replenant. We all have think hair and DC is in year 6. Gone round school many and we've never had it. (Is either burn all bedding and shave heads if we did ..) sorry if that's not much help. Also consider washing and/replacing bedding and furniture covers. Again sorry if you done this and not much help.

Obviously you won't want to go to a hairdresser (nor they see you) just now, but I had a Brazilian keratin treatment a couple of times which made my hair very easy to handle, dry, comb and style. I wonder if it would help?

It seems to be luck,I bought my not comb and tea tree oil when DD started school.She is 14 and didn't get nits once(she had long hair in primary school).
No idea why,we got the regular but letters and I just used to thoroughly check her but nothing.
There must be something that can be done about the families who never treat their kids though.

I would totally recommend this product. Not greasy, natural and easy to apply.

Good luck!

www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/ds-healthcare-picksan-lice-stop-shampoo-60034632

This was the only thing that worked for DD who seemed to be like a 5* hotel for live
www.boots.com/boots-electronic-head-lice-comb-3-years-plus-10069315

Parrothead, I'm old and fat too and I'm going to have to comb again too.

I hate my kids.

Omg! I have long thick hair, DD10 the same, DD4 has hair past her bum -very thick and DD2 has tight ringlets, thick and ling! Nits I dread!
However, if you feel that its easier to get rid of nits from your DCs hair and feel your hair is a problem the if you are not against it, Dye your hair! I did this when DD had nits. Any I found in my hair were dead! I persistently combed DDs hair every night for at least one hour. Nit treatments just do not seem to work.

You can lose a hell of a lot of hair before it looks different OP - might feel different to you but others won't notice. And it'll grow back in (if they're actually being pulled out)!