The seven week itch. Need help from some NITS veterans

[yesway]

We have been battling nits for weeks (seven was an exaggeration - but only by 2 weeks).

I am going quickly insane - not least as I am also sleep deprived with a 6 week old. (Also have dd1 5 (the presumed source), dd2 3, ds1 2)

We have tried:

Debac lotion - first time did my daughter on her own and the rest of us the next night - clearly a mistake. The children all smelt of it for a few days after.

Then used the nitty gritty comb repeatedly. I now do it with wet hair (no shampoo) and spray in / leave in conditioner to avoid all the tears and trauma previously associated with it.

Second time - two weeks later - did us all at the same time and thoroughly washed with shampoo. But due to crying toddlers (2 and 3) didn't rinse shampoo thoroughly and they ended up with what I assume was a mild chemical burn with very itchy red skin behind ears and on necks and presumably all over scalps (where's the GUILT emoticon? - would be used a lot).

I know a lot of people swear by the comb on its own and I would rather not use chemicals.

So is there a way of holding the comb that is more effective? I always have it perpendicular to the scalp as it's easier.
If they are alive can't they just hop out of the way of the comb?
Is there anything that works at preventing them ready for Sept?

Thanks so much for your wise words in advance.

Iread somewhere that you need to comb for 2 weeks - that is how long it takes for them to hatch

I used just conditioner, but every day
when cmbing off I had a ball of water and I rinsed my comb every time

I read on here that tying their hair back and spraying with hair sparey very benerously stops them from getting on their hair

Thanks.
I was combing every 3 days or more. Do you do it every night for two weeks?
I think I could now- the children are getting used to it (even played nits treatment on a neighbour's hair dressing doll the other day )

That all make sense now. Thanks.

I just discovered my DD aged 12 (thought this a primary school problem ) has nits. She always has her hair tied back.

You need a lot more conditioner than you normally use, a good handful. Also dry comb every day in between if you can.

I always use the nitty gritty comb. I put loads of conditioner on their hair - a tea tree one is good if you can find it as the lice don't like that. The conditioner stops the lice from moving. I keep the comb upright as I comb and I go round the head, usually several times and then accross the head. It does take a while. I find I've usually got most in this first go. But I repeat it in the next day or two (usually a much shorter process) and once I've stopped finding any I leave it a week and then check again.

Only had them once but this killed them off in one go. Chemist said to use tea tree conditioner - nothing else. Put it on really thickly, onto dry hair. Massage in, and comb off with lots of tissues to wipe the nits onto.

Once the whole head has been combed and the comb runs through clear without collecting anything, stop combing but leave the conditioner on overnight. Rinse and shampoo in the morning, using a tea tree shampoo and conditioner. Change pillow cases, wash all hair brushes in tea tree shampoo and hot wash all towels. That killed them for us in one go. We've used tea tree shampoo on the kids twice a week ever since and they've never dared return!

Comb every day - I know it is hellish. Use plenty of conditioner.I combed tea tree oil through afterwards.

Worst moment was when I found one on me and had to tell my (new) boss . Luckily, when I said I had to speak to him privately he assumed it was because I had messed up in some way, so was mightily relieved.

Thank so much for all the responses.

We did another combing session this weekend. It turns out that the kids have all been free of them for about 2 weeks and it's me that's still churning them out. My hair is really thick postnatally so I'm not sure I get small enough chunks to comb especially at the back (I'm seriously thinking of chopping the lot off for the next few years till they're at secondary...)

Thanks for the tips about tea tree, Moajab, realitychick and Jaybird37 - I will def try as it seems a simple and fairly harmless approach.

Thankfully I'm on maternity leave so have a bit more time to piss about with a comb in the mornings...

I feel your pain.
Last summer was the summer of nits for us, it was a nightmare.
A colleague suggested smothering hair in olive oil and leave it for a few hours before combing through.
It may be worth it on your hair.
Good luck.
I now wet comb my 3 daughters regularily and
they seem to have stayed away.