HOLLYWOOD NITS!

[Schmauskin]

So my 4 year old dd has nits for the very first time. We live in Los Angeles and according to our pediatrician here, the Californian nits are now resistant to over the counter remedies. We are doing the 'smother the scalp with Cetaphil, use a nit comb and blow dry hair' technique to suffocate the little buggers, but I wondered if British mums could recommend the best UK over the counter treatment - then I'll get granny to send some over.

She's got pin worms too, so all our American friends are calling us the 'infested Brits'

thanks x

Tonnes of cheap conditioner and a nitty gritty comb. Although I am trying the stuff MN have sent me on trial so will let you know what that is like.

Conditioner, nitty gritty comb and about 2 hours.

X-post sorry - sausage fingers.

as the others have said, if you can't get a Nitty Gritty comb over there, get granny to send one of those!

There are lots of combs available but haven't seen Nitty Gritty - will add that to the UK shopping list. Is the conditioner to ease the combing?

and just seen the Vosene Kids ad on here - any good?

Conditioner sort of swamps the buggers and helps the comb pass through easily (but use a regular comb first as the nitty gritty is barbed (sounds horrid but is effective) so make sure hair is knot free first).

Don't know about the vosene as have tried in several stores but none seem to be carrying it yet.

you need to use LOTS of conditioner, way more than you would normally use- it stops the buggers running away from the comb, and makes the hair really slippery, so they can't hang on!

If you comb religiously every 3 days for a fortnight you will get rid of the adult lice (which lay the eggs), and then the nymphs (young lice, not able to lay eggs) before they are old enough to reproduce.

I get you - I had to chop off 4 inches of her curls last night to try and get the not-very-effective US nit comb through her hair. Loving the sound of a barbed nit comb. And then I have to treat hubby and me and wash, vacumn etc etc?? sorry if I sound dim, new to the lice thing.

....and tell your American friends that your kids must have caught them from one of theirs!

My best nitty gritty technique is plentiful cheap conditioner on DRY hair in front of the TV. Decent dvd on, nitty gritty carefully then wash all the conditioner off. Repeat every 3 days until clear.

you and dh need to do the combing thing too- find it easiest to comb in the shower.

Headlice aren't supposed to live long off the head, and it's said you don't need to wash bedclothes/ towels etc, but I have to admit, I do, just in case.

Don't fret over hoovering/bedding etc. They can't last of the head for enough time to hop back onto someone else. Worms are a different story (so I'm told, we haven't been "blessed" with that experience yet)

Nitty Gritty.

I'm sure they'd post to the US, or tell you if you cab get it there!

interesting that all of you suggest removal with a nit comb rather than treatment with 'pesticide' shampoo stuff. Maybe they have have become resistant in the UK too? Am going to shop for some new DVD's in preparation for the marathon combing sessions.

many are becoming resistant, but why use insecticide on your children when you don't have to?

here here tissy. Have just ordered Niity Gritty online, thanks for the link.

I am going back 12 years now, but my little girl was swamped with nits. Her scalp was looking a little red at the back from all the itching. At the time i did as the chemist suggested and took home the shampoo.
my poor little girl, she screamed when that stuff went on her head. Ok so the nits were gonners but my daughter had a complex about hair washing for weeks.
I remember checking her little brother and he had more than she did but he wasn't irritated by them the same, he thought it was cool he had so many! boys huh

So i agree with all - nit comb and conditioner

If you are after a comb similar to the nitty gritty comb, you should try the X.it metal comb, they are currently giving this away with every 8 application pack bought online.
The link is as follows:
www.xitheadlice.co.uk

not bad for free! Hope that helps.