Headlice and afro hair

[Sugarintheplum]

Please tell me all about how to get rid of them in afro hair. For good.

I've done fine tooth combing (Nitty Gritty). I wet hair, coconut or olive oil, loads, and then paddle brush (absolutely murders hair without that), then pull the comb through and instructed.

I have used Hedrin Once (though you KNOW I used it several times to be sure right?!), but it just doesn't flow through African / Caribbean tight curls. I felt most comfortable using the Hedrin mousse. But yesterday I scratched my head and I sh%t you not, a dead grey, huge louse fell out of my head.

I actually checked my DC hair today and dud fine both comb before doing their 'christmas beads' which is a but fo a tradition here, and saw nothing to suggest an infestation, so maybe mine was never properly treated first time round. Ive asked DP to comb through my hair instead of me doing it myself which i did before.
But does anyone have any other tips for me. I feel disgusting. I never had this as a child, i felt a failure when my kids got it, but i have spoken to some friends and they have experienced the same, maybe the lice are getting used to the Dax?! Cos we used to be free of this back in the day!!!!

Anyway, help me please!

It’s a nightmare isn’t it? One of my girls had nits at the start of lockdown in March. She shared them with the family and they took weeks of treatments to be rid. Her hair is thick and very long but straight (not Afro). Mine is thick, coarse and curly (again not Afro but the kind of hair a comb will not go through without sectioning into 7 million areas). We tried everything, the only thing that worked was Nitwits from Amazon. It’s a spray, oily, a bit like hedrin but it targets nits and eggs. It was impossible to remove all the eggs by just combing our hair. Could be worth a go.

DS had it once, and I was so shocked as I've never experienced it before. Luckily it never spread beyond him.

We used the Nitty Gritty shampoo to fine comb through it twice. That seemed to get rid of all lice and eggs. Now, every morning before school and without fail, I use the Nitty Gritty prevention spray to brush his hair. Then I rub in his usual oil/lotion. We check for 'fluff' (I call it that) twice a week. Touch wood, the spray seems to work as we've not had it since and there have been outbreaks in his class.

Just to note: His hair is thick and coily, like something between 4a and 4b. And it's cut into a style that's quite long at the top (around 7cms that coils into a short afro) but it's shorts at the sides. I found the cheap plastic fine tooth comb was much better for his hair type than the metal one. That metal expensive one struggled through his hair and I had to stop using it as I felt it was going to rip it clean off his scalp.

No advice! I’ve never had nits! I can imagine it’s awful and a nightmare to get them out of Afro hair!!

My aunt caught them once whilst pregnant (mixed race) and really long hair.

Good look getting rid of them OP.

I've never known a black person to have nits. I always believed the grease, lotions etc was a deterrent. I've heard using a straightening iron kills the eggs.

I have not known a black person who had nits either. Sorry I have no advise.

Im mixed race but with afro hair and I had head lice in primary school. Hopefully my DD doesn't get them. They made me feel dirty.

Yes literally never heard of black people/4a/b type hair with lice

Are you sure it's headlice? As they are usually red/brown, not grey. Could it be something else?

They are not dirty! They love clean hair best.
Def use the prevention spray after you have killed them OP. . Nitty gritty or vosene.

Wet hair lots of conditioner, section off and go through each small section detangling and then with a nit comb. Do it night after night if necessary. Patience and grit required.

I’m just horrified to learn we can get them! I always assumed it was impossible! Good luck hope your treatment works

I have dreadlocks and I once got headlice, I did use hedrin on my scalp, covered my hair in a plastic bag. Had to rinse in a bath as my shower wasn't working!

I found rubbing my scalp with a towel with loose loops trapped them, twas a nightmare though.

I have heard that hair straighteners can help to kill a good few off them off and then comb out afterwards. Then try the other tactics.

I have heard that hair straighteners can help to kill a good few off them off and then comb out afterwards. Then try the other tactics.
I'm sure this keeps them at bay amongst school girls, pre social distancing they were always hugging l. Hair Dye is good too.

I honestly didn't think it was possible for type 4 hair to get them. Do you grease the scalp regularly?

I don't have Afro hair but do have very very thick long hair. Lyclear creme solution (the stinky chemical stuff) and someone else spending an hour combing them out is the only thing that ever helps.

Pour rubbing alcohol with tea tree on your head (try not to pass out from the fumes) then wrap in plastic. This will suffocate the lice. But you have to repeat every 3 - 4 days for 2 weeks, as this method does not get rid of nits. Repeating the process ensures that new hatchlings are also killed. Otherwise you'll be back to square one. After this you may see what looks like nits but it is just the empty egg cases, which are sticky and hard to remove.

This methods removes the need for trying to get a fine tooth comb through your thick hair. No combing needed! Just as well, as I have locks, arrgh!! I never thought I could get lice, so it was totally off my radar when my DD (European hair) got it, and as she was always in my bed she passed it to me. All it took was one shot of spray and a comb through to remove it from hers. Not fair!

Neem oil mixed in coconut oil leave on hair as treatment for 20 minutes then comb through.

You can add neem to shampoo as deterrent too. Stinks but it works.