F_ing nits

[DoesntChristmasDragOn]

DS2 has been scratching his head for a few days. As his hair is very short and fair, it's easy to search through in the manner of a family of chimpanzees (but without the eating). I've found nothing louse like but have seen what could be eggs. Nits are, inevitably, doing the rounds in his class so I assume he has them - or has had them at some point seeing as I can't find any actual nits and assume the eggs don't itch.

What non -chemical treatments can I use? I've been coating his and DS1's hair in tea tree oil and also stacks of conditioner at every opportunity. I don't have the time or energy for a dedicated few weeks of combing though!

a nitty gritty comb is apparently the most effective comb, so it doesn't take long to scrape em out...

I don't think there is any alternative, sorry

Even with the nasty / not so nasty lotions you still need to comb every 3 days to get the new ones that are hatching out of the eggs. If his hair is short and blond, it should not be too onerous, honest. Just a speedy comb with a good nitcomb (eg nitty gritty or similar) every 3 days, for 3 weeks, and you should be clear.

To be sure if he has got them, check the comb after every sweep and dip in a bowl of water. You should be able to find the lice on the comb on in the water. They run from light so are hard to see on dry hair, or wet hair that hasn't got conditioner on. The conditioner slows them down so you can catch them.

The eggs look like sesame seeds attached near to the scalp. If you can blow or flick it off, it is not an egg. If you have to pull it off along the hair shaft with your nails to get it off, it probably is an egg.

Check yourself and everyone else's head as well. Good luck

Looking on the brightside - at least I didn't find them whilst at my parents' house for Christmas with 12 members of my family around

I'm still not 100% convinced because I feel certain that I would have been able to see lice in inch long blond hair. Although I can't think of any other reason at all. Obviously my head now itches like mad...!

We got a nit note home on last day of term. No sign yet ...

What do the things you think are eggs look like Soupdragon? IMO you would know they were eggs if you saw them - there is nothing else they could be and they are glued onto the hair shaft.

The lice are hard to spot, they move fast, are pale and hide from light or movement. You would see them while using a nitcomb though.

Effing nits indeed. My 2 year old still has them, and so do I.
Just got a Nitty Gritty comb, seems to work well.
Although have a job to see any eggs that they catch but see the lice.
What's the best way to clean the comb out?
They suggest running water, but that's a bit awkward with my boy.
I have a bowl of water which I plunge the comb into and have to agitate the tines to rid of the little critters and possible eggs.

We swear by the Boots electronic comb, which kills the nits on contact; it beeps at the kill, so you can brush the louse out with a thoughtfully provided tiny brush. Honestly, it has been our main weapon, and you can find out if any other family member has got nits - if no beeps, no nits. The only other thing we ever use is tea tree shampoo, masses of thick tea tree conditioner, and other aromatherapy oil products. We try to dress the nitcombing process up as a nit-farming competition to see who has bred the most so that the main sufferer doesn't feel too bad.

Electronic combs are expensive at c. £20 but in our case our one has been priceless.

I have been battling with nits for more than 3 weeks now, using a nitty gritty comb (I clean it with a bit of tissue)but my dd has very curly dark hair (and lots of it!) so I must be missing some every time. Tonight I've tried the smothering method, and halleluya! I think I'm winning! What you do is mix olive oil and vinegar (about 2:1), apply the resulting gloop very thickly to the hair, then wrap the head in cling film and a towel (I know! it's quite a sight! ) You leave it for at least one hour, then wash and condition the hair and comb with a nit comb. I was amazed, all the lice I found were dead! And the eggs came off very easily too. Very effective and very cheap too.

Keep combing everyday - it's the only way.

Good tip buttersquash.