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Original poster

Headlice - how the heck do you get the nits out?

35 replies

mumoftwinz · 03/09/2008 17:40

Kids started school and promtly got headlice for first time. Treated it with Nydra, as far as can tell nits are all dead, but are so small the nit comb does not comb them out. Too many to pick out one by one. Any ideas?

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 03/09/2008 17:41

Nitty gritty comb much better than the standard ones IME.

VaginaShmergina · 03/09/2008 17:44

Sounds like you probably have all of the live ones !! What is left is probably the eggs and they are little buggers to get out.

Once I have treated mine I tend to just nit comb thru normal conditioner and that should pick up any of the little blighters.

I have had DD's head inmy lap and dragged the eggs of off each individual hair before now too.

And your right, back to school and the nits arrive immediately !

Bless the parents that dont regularly check heads eh

georgiemum · 03/09/2008 17:52

Slap on some thick hair conditioner. Leave for - hmm not sure - how long to smother a nit? Maybe an hour? This apparently suffocates the little buggers. Then you use a nit comb to comb them out, section at a time. Very time consuming but pop on a video, sit the kids in front of the tv and comb away.

You are supposed to ceck every week.

Are they eggs or crawling around?

Elibean · 03/09/2008 18:57

Nitty Gritty comb is supposed to get the eggs (nits) out.

dd starts Reception on Monday, and I am a nit-virgin: Hedrin, Nitty Gritty, and gritted teeth at the ready

Original poster
mumoftwinz · 05/09/2008 17:31

Yes just the eggs left. Got all the live ones out. Been over 2 weeks now with no new live ones. So i guess the eggs are dead. But bit unsightly so will have to pick out one by one.

OP posts:
cargirl · 05/09/2008 17:34

Dry hair

conditioner

nitty gritty comb - ot other combe worth using.

repeat every 3 days for a week or so you will be done.

psychomum5 · 05/09/2008 17:39

nitty gritty comb
nitty gritty comb
nitty gritty comb

BEST INVENTION EVER!!!!!!

seriously. it has long prongs that are slightly rough so it goes thro loads of hair at a times and grabs even the most persistant sticky nit.

I never use chemicals, just nitty gritty comb and lots of tea-tree conditioner. doesn;t stop them getting them, but it stops them passing on

dittany · 05/09/2008 17:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ethanchristopher · 05/09/2008 18:20

nitty gritty comb

i swear to god, its gods gift to mothers

Boyswillbeboys · 05/09/2008 18:24

Like VaginaShmergina, I have sat for hours, picking the egg cases out, they are a nightmare. Luckily I have boys so took them to the barbers and had hair cut vvshort. Not so easy for girls tho!

gagarin · 05/09/2008 18:25

pick them out one by one - they need sliding off the hair so i hope it's not long hair!

Original poster
mumoftwinz · 10/09/2008 16:17

Yes this is th one time so far i have thought 'thank goodness i dont have girls!'.

OP posts:
sitdownpleasegeorge · 10/09/2008 16:36

nitty gritty comb after slathering cheapo conditioner all over the hair.

seriously, it's the only way.

plonk child in front of cartoons or dvd to silence them and get to work.

then pack child off to bed and reward oneself with large glass of alcohol.

allgonebellyup · 10/09/2008 16:41

another vote for Nitty Gritty comb

i love getting all dd's nits out, like squeezing spots, its v satisfying

slayerette · 10/09/2008 16:58

I am dreading this - had first 'nit letter' home yesterday and they've only been back a week

Just the thought of it gives me the heebie-jeebies. DH might have to be Nit-Man

Remotew · 10/09/2008 17:00

Agree, wet hair, masses of conditioner then nit comb them out. Go over the hair repeatedly until you have gotten all the lice out and broken down the eggs. Wash the hair after that.

Then nit comb it every couple of days.

katface · 10/09/2008 17:18

hi everyone, i am new here and have son who got lice at nursery during summer. we treated with perthrian (spelling ?) last night, but i can see loads of white eggs or egg cases on his hair. no sign of live lice, but too early to tell.

the medication i used last night had a white comb inside, but by the sounds of it this comb you all recommend is different ?

WHERE can i buy that nitty gritty comb please ?

batters · 10/09/2008 17:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlelambmakesfour · 10/09/2008 17:34

Nitty Gritty half price in my Sainsbury's at the mo. Got another for dual combing - I do one dd, who does another dd.

AmIWhatAndWhy · 10/09/2008 17:36

Nitty Gritty worth every penny.

AmIWhatAndWhy · 10/09/2008 17:37

And sainsburys do conditioner for 19p or such, buy lots of it.

AmIWhatAndWhy · 10/09/2008 17:39

I'd also advise doing the nitty gritty every wednesday and friday after the bath, even when they are gone. it makes it routine, then they are not so distressed when you need to pull it out again.

MorocconOil · 10/09/2008 18:20

Sorry to say this but both my DSs have had nits. DS2 has very short hair, and even he got them.

Boys are not immune.

BrownOwl18 · 10/09/2008 22:22

Nitty gritty combs are available on prescription so would be free for DCs

katface · 11/09/2008 19:52

thanks everyone - went down to Sainsbury today and got my comb half price for a fiver ! didn't dare go back to the nurse to get a free one, my surgery is seriously stingy

will be doing the conditioner and comb thing tomorrow night. i think they are all dead shells, but worth getting them out in case the bastards are about to hatch !