I can’t go, can I...

[VaguelyInteresting]

I’m supposed to be leaving for my friends hen party at midday. It’s an overnight thing with dinner, cocktails, nightclub etc.

Last night I found a fucking head louse in my hair whilst I was deep conditioning it. I’m mortified- have never had them before as an adult- can only assume DS has them too. I’ve only found the one so far on the either of us, but there must be more, as it wasn’t tiny. We both have a lot of hair so I don’t doubt the duckers are hiding out. So that’s one thing to deal with.

Then I’ve woken up this morning with a very slightly blocked nose and a sort of pre-coldy feeling- you know SLIGHTLY tickly throat, SLIGHTLY sniffy- which I’ve had first thing in the mornings on and off for WEEKS and it’s never come to anything (and I’ve covid tested etc), but I was sneezing last night, and DS has the Dreadful Cold that everyone’s complaining about for a week now, so I assume it’s the start of that- but I don’t really know. Might be nothing. In the age of Covid- it’s hard (and antisocial) to be sanguine isn’t it. I feel perfectly well but 🤷🏼‍♀️

If I don’t go, I think my friend will be really upset- we recently reconciled after a few years not speaking.

If I do go, I’m potentially going to make everyone else uncomfortable because I can’t very well go and say “I’m not hugging. Or bringing heads close together. Or sharing hair tools” or sit there periodically sniffing without saying why (and I wouldn’t anyway. I’m truthful to the point it generally causes me more issues tbh). And of course everyone is then going to worry about catching lice, or a cold, which will make them worry about covid.

I’d love everyone to say “go get some Hedrin! Don’t worry about the ambiguous stuffy nose!” but ... I don’t know? I feel like I’m BU either way?!

@SouthernFashionista

And don’t, whatever you do, use Hedrin today. Your hair will be like an old frying pan.

Not if she shampoos it about 6 times until her hair is squeaky clean.

Just to complicate matters... I have permed hair so I have no idea what Hedrin is going to do to me...

Just go!
You don't have to hug or share anything - even without covid as an excuse but more so now. Tie your hair back and only brush it in the shower so you can rinse after. Take a LFT and take some with you.

Once treated, can you do an up do before you leave so you don’t need to be taking hair tools and to minimise the chance of spreading?

A good way to kill nits btw is through heat. Hairdryer aimed all round your scalp for half an hour; doesn’t have to be mega hot or fast blowing air so heat 2 of 3 and speed 1 or 2 out of 3. Or straightening but making sure you feel the heat on your scalp before pulling down the hair shaft to ensure any critters lodged there are killed. I use the lowest heat setting on the straighteners for this.

Go and have a lovely time.

Who cares what your hair looks like. It's just hair. If you cough or sneeze or sniff you can say you have done a LFT if you feel like you have to say anything about it at all.

Go. I'd want anyone who uses the word sanguine at my hen do.

Hedrin won’t do anything to your perm, but it suffocates head lice.

Put the shampoo straight on to your hair when washing it off, do not add water first.

@VaguelyInteresting

Just to complicate matters... I have permed hair so I have no idea what Hedrin is going to do to me...

Can you use my way of killing them and rewash your hair? Idk if hedrin will hurt your hair. It doesn’t say in the faq.

If negative LFT and you can use hedrin I would totally go and enjoy and not think about it again. Don’t mention lice or cold and have fun!

If you use Hedrin, then make sure you buy a clarifying shampoo to get rid of the greasiness afterwards. And my top tip - lemon juice or cider vinegar rinse. Otherwise you'll be rocking the slicked back wet look all day.

Go! You'll be fine. But treat again

When I was young the rumours went round if you got nits, you had to have your head shaved and painted purple 😱 fast forward 30 years later I caught them from the kids. No purple painting or head shave 🤣
Tea tree oil , conditioner and a nit comb, very therapeutic. I miss those days (kids are adults now )

Anyway I digress. Go tonight if you feel ok.

@VaguelyInteresting

Just to complicate matters... I have permed hair so I have no idea what Hedrin is going to do to me...

Ooh a deep conditioner then I reckon

Just go. There will always be something. Life events don't happen in isolation. If someone cancelled on me with those reasons I wouldn't be very understanding. I'd think they just didn't want to go. If you have anxiety about attending more generally, ie meeting new people, keeping up conversation, then that's a different matter.

If it was me I'd treat hair for the headlice before going and let the other people know I had a bit of a tickly throat and thought it might be the start of a cold but I had done a lft which was negative and just make sure they feel comfortable with that

Get some Hedrin.

Do a LFT. And buy some Sudafed blocked nose spray. That will keep the sniffles at bay if it’s just a stuffy nose.

Don’t mention the head lice to anyone. As regards the sniffles just say, “I’m a bit sniffly, done a LFT, all good”. If the cold comes on worse when you are away, then keep your distance or go home early as appropriate. This is the only way to keep the friendship.

If it was me, I would message your friend, tell her about the sniffles and the LFT and ask her if she’s ok that you still go. (I wouldn’t mention the headlice!)

Personally I'd tell them about the cold and give them a chance to make the choice. Then again if you're all out and about then presumably no ones that bothered anyway.

Herdin once. Wear it in a bun with with load of hair product.

When you're in the pharmacy ask for the over the counter Sudafed, not the normal stuff on the shelves. It has pseudo ephedrine in it and actually works!

I would out of courtesy message the bride and/or group to say you have tested negative twice but have a cold are they okay with you being there? How close is the actual wedding? As it would be form to make the bride ill on her big day - the choice should be hers/group.
I would feel uncomfortable sitting there clearly ill without checking first.

Treat the headlice, warn them about the cold and do a lateral flow. How soon is the wedding after the hen do? Affecting the wedding if in the next few weeks is the only thing that might change my mind.

Lateral flow tests can take days to turn positive. We all had symptoms at least four days before we actually tested positive.
Telling them in advance removes the responsibility from you if does turn out to be Covid, and the wedding ends up being cancelled.
I would also add you can then head home early if you feel very poorly as well. I have had the dreadful cold and Covid in the last month - lucky me - and felt grim with both.

Treat the headlice and get yourself something for the cold and you'll be fine. I was going to suggest sudafed but if you are drinking then that might not be a good idea 😨😅