I know this has been done to death, but please can you tell me the patented MN method for getting rid of headlice?

[heritagewarrior]

DtSs have just gone into Y1. We have never been infested before, but last week, I noticed DtS2 scratching his head a lot. Investigation revealed lice, and also a few on DtS1. I treated that night (Tuesday) with Hedrin, and have been conditioning and combing every night since. My comb is a cheap Boots one, but I have a Nitty Gritty on order from Amazon.

As it the weekend, I had a check in full midday sunlight today, and there now seem to be more than before, although they are smaller and I am having trouble picking them up with the comb. Feeling pretty depressed that they seem to be getting worse rather than better! DtSs hair is fine and thick, and blond, so the little buggers are easy-ish to see.

So, wise Mumsnetters, can you advise me, in step-by-step terms, what I should be doing from now on to get rid of them (wet or dry hair before conditioner, how long to leave on, is Hedrin worth it etc etc), and what I should be doing for maintenance once our current infestation is clear?

TIA

And what do I do to maintain a nit free household after a second application of Hedrin and a further fortnight of combing?

so, its boys you have? Do they have short hair? Girls tend to be more prone to getting them as they have their heads closer together and that allows the lice to walk from head to head.

Tea tree shampoo supposed to help. I think there are sprays too

Yes, boys with short hair, ilove. Do I need to condition and comb through once a week or something?

ilovepowerhoop

Oh dear. I'm also a different blood type to dd1. That means I'm going to end up with mini Mr Creosotes, then...bleh! Think I'd almost rather have them alive alive-oh.

Good grief, I had never heard about the blood type thing and exploding guts!

The conditioner is simply to make the hair shaft slippery and allow your nit comb to comb them out.

I have no idea whether the prevention shampoos do anything at all btw.

I had hip-length hair at school and never, ever got lice.
My boys, all 4 of them with v short hair, have had them several times so far. Sigh.

I had no problems getting rid of the live ones using Lyclear/Hedrin then regular combing with conditioner but I found the eggs nigh on impossible to remove from DD2 very fine hair, so they would hatch and we were back to square one again.

A MNer advised me to use Vinegar as it disolves the glue that holds the egg to the hair shaft thus making the eggs easier to comb/wash out. It worked! (Very stinky though )

I bloody love that MNer.

I use lyclear 'shampoo' treatment on dd1 when a major infestation has taken hold, along with daily conditioning and combing with the nitty gritty comb. I also check her hair 3 times a week to try keep on top if them (shes 9yrs) as her school has a big problem with these pesty things.

I have heard about the vinegar thing before, but wasn't sure if it actually worked, may give that a try next time ( next week probably :-( sigh )

You use conditioner on wet hair to make everything slipperier so that as much as possible comes away with the comb.

If you decide to use the pesticide products, then it's important to remember to do the repeat applications on time and really clear the infestation, and minimise the chance of fostering resistant nits.

This programme is really good about when to comb to really clear an infestation It's based on the breeding cycle, and the unfortunate truth that nits are really cemented on and it is possible they will stay even with the most assiduous combing. It is therefore important to get the hatchlings as they emerge, and before they reach sexual maturity.

Just wanted to come back on to say how impressed I am with the Nitty Gritty comb. I combed with conditioner with it last night, having done all the previous nights with the white plastic one. Loads of lice, nits and eggs came out - more than any previous night. We've reapplied Hedrin tonight, and I've combed again and hardly anything came out! I won't be stopping anytime soon, but it really feels like at last we're starting to get on top of the little buggers!!

Told'ya: NittyGritty is da boss - even my DSs agree!
Keep combing every night until you see no more evidence of infestation.
I still comb about once a week/a fortnight, just for piece of mind...

My DD had them for weeks and weeks.

I uses the nitty gritty and conditioner but in the end it was food old fashioned chemicals that finally got rid of the buggers!

I used Full Marks lotion, left it on for 20 mins rather than the stated 10 (was recommended this by the pharmacist ) , putting the hair into sections using clips. I combed through with the nitty gritty then rinsed it out.

I repeated the whole thing a week later.

I know spray her hair every school day morning with an anti-nit lotion.

So far, so good........

Spent £10 on a bottle of lice shampoo for DD a few months back when they had an outbreak at nursery. Used it in two consecutive washes and lice were still there.

Spent £1.50 on conditioner - smothered DD's hair in that for three nights in a row - no lice.