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Original poster

alternatives to conditioner and combing for nits??

27 replies

Cha · 28/12/2005 14:47

I am so so sick of combing my hair (very long), my kids hair (very curly) and trying to get dp to do his (very afro). Is there anything else you can suggest other than this? We all get nits ALL THE TIME as does every other family living in this neighbourhood and I can't tell you how much I resent the relentless, endless, tedious wash, condition comb every other day. Is there anything else we can do, apart from shearing ourselves????

OP posts:
followthestarlover · 28/12/2005 14:53

use a chemical treatment? you'll still need to comb a bit though

NotQuiteCockney · 28/12/2005 14:54

I think every three days is fine.

The other thing I've been told helps, is using a mix of basic oil (coconut is nice) with a few drops of tea tree, lavender, and geranium (all available at the health food store). Then you comb it out.

It's easier to comb out than conditionner, and you can really see what (if anything) you're finding in the hair.

Original poster
Cha · 02/01/2006 10:32

Thanks - but doesn't the oil make you look like you have the greasiest hair on the planet? I think I tried it once for dd's hair (mixed race)and she looked like she had 'wet look' hair, not a good look for a 2 year old.
Does anyone know of anything that does not envolve a comb. At all? Think I have heard about a device that electrocutes the live lice - is this true or just my tortured brain thinking up evil ways of murdering them???

OP posts:
Blandmum · 02/01/2006 10:34

It is an electric comb....sorry to disapoint.

American websites still advise the wet combing for african/american hair....I guess if there was a better way they would have posted it. They say the more conditioner the better for afro hair.

spacedonkey · 02/01/2006 10:39

I agree, it is such a CHORE. I've heard those electronic combs work (not tried them though). Chemical treatments are expensive and ineffective in my experience. The oils idea is good - you just wash out like you do with conditioner. Tea tree acts as a deterrent as well - I know of people who have made up a mix of water and tea tree oil in a mist spray and spray it lightly over dry hair daily as a deterrent. If you dye your hair (obv no good for the kids!) hair dyes kill them stone dead!

Original poster
Cha · 02/01/2006 10:47

My sister says the only thing that ever killed her nits was dying her hair blonde! And ds's nursery worker swears by those glass hair straightner things. But as I have straight blonde hair, not much use to me... So the electrocuter is a comb? Drat and double drat.
My friend uses the liquid from a bark called quasia to spray in the hair after treatment as a deterrant. But every time I brushed my hair or kissed my kids on the head, I had this revoltingly bitter taste in my mouth so I stopped using it. Said friend still gets nits so I don't think it really works anyway. NOTHING DOES!! Apart from something gloopy and a comb it seems. Sigh. Could not the pharmasuticals spend some of their millions on making a treatment that makes nits sterile or their eggs crack or something else horrible to them?

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 02/01/2006 10:47

Yeah, both my kids looked quite greasy after I did a full oil treatment. Don't think I know of any alternatives, though. Apparently combing and conditioner works a lot better than the chemicals, and you still have to comb with them.

NotQuiteCockney · 02/01/2006 10:48

They've spent lots of money on chemicals to kill the bugs, but the bugs just get resistant.

daisiesinaline · 02/01/2006 10:53

Have tried the electric combs and they are crap plus they only go through very short straight hair so that won't help you.

Blandmum · 02/01/2006 10:59

Cha, dd had dead straight 'european' hair and wet combing is a real PITA for us, do you do have my sympathy.

Trouble is, with the chemicals, is that as other posters have said, they get immune.

You only need to wet comb every 3 days....which cuts down the faf a bit. I plonk them in front of a video and bribe them with chocolate buttons!

Oh and I find a metal pronged comb is best.

I have now done this 4 times, and one of those dd kept getting re-infested at school so it took a month. Nothing else really works in my experience. And while I'm not made keen on 'organic' even I draw the lone at putting insecticide on my kids hreads They are mad enough already

spacedonkey · 02/01/2006 11:01

I just comb my kids' hair every time it's washed: it has become a habit. It takes about 30 mins to do dd's very thick, very long hair. On the positive side, it's become a time set aside for chatting

Orinoco · 02/01/2006 20:52

Message withdrawn

dolally · 02/01/2006 21:10

I've just been given these two recipes:

mix 5 drops each of tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, geranium oil, lavender oil, rosemary oil... in 50ml of almond oil. Massage into hair coating every bit of hair and scalp, cover with clingfilm or shower cap and leave as long as poss. Comb out with fin combe then shampoo and comb out again.

Or 1 pint white wine or white vinegar and 3 tablespoons RUE. Crumble rue into wine and steep 2 weeks then bathe skin with mixture. (Apparently RUE an evergreen shrub from SE europe.

Haven't tried them yet but am about to resort to ANYTHING!!!

Original poster
Cha · 03/01/2006 17:20

Thanks everyone. God, it just makes me so depressed every time I get that itch at the back of the head. It takes such a long time to get rid of the b***ds and as soon as you do, you get them again. I use the teatree conditioner (cheapo one) and a metal comb. It just takes AGES to do, and every 3 days... If it weren't for nits, I would only have to wash my own hair once a week and my kids don't need hair washed at all really - just rinsed with water. So it really is a bind.

Another question - do you have to put conditioner in? Sometimes I just rake the nitty gritty comb through my dry hair while watching the telly but always wonder if it is doing any good. Read somewhere that combing breaks the adults legs so they can't 'move on' to other heads. Is this right?

OP posts:
Original poster
Cha · 03/01/2006 17:21

sorry dolally - your recipes sound great, in fact I think another friend uses something like the first one.

OP posts:
HappyNewFrannyandZooey · 03/01/2006 17:26

Cha, the conditioner makes them temporarily lose their grip on your hair so they can't move about while combing. Otherwise they just run off to a part of the head you are not combing - they are fast, and they don't like light or movement!

Unfortunately there is no documented way of getting rid of them completely except wet combing with oil or conditioner, every 3 days until they are all gone. As someone said earlier, combing European style hair is bad enough so I really have sympathy

If it's any consolation it mostly stops when they get to secondary school....

Original poster
Cha · 03/01/2006 17:56

Roll on secondary school. Mine haven't even started primary yet.....................

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MistressMary · 03/01/2006 18:01

Anyone tried the solution from nitty griity.
Got some on order getting desperate!

joanna4 · 03/01/2006 21:39

I have used the nitty gritty solution on my kids it is great I also have the comb.I was really disgusted today at school first day back and one kids head was running and i mean really running with nits.There is really no excuse for that!

Original poster
Cha · 05/01/2006 17:43

As we HAVE to do the combing thing, is there a stay in conditioner that doesn't cost too much? What I really hate is sitting in the bath with dank, wet locks across my shoulders as I comb. There is a nit conditioner, Nice something, that you put on damp hair and can sit in front of the telly and do your hair as you don't have to wash it out, but it costs £10 a bottle!!!!!!!

OP posts:
Blandmum · 05/01/2006 17:52

Cha, combing doesn't break their legs

What it does is remove the adult lice (which are big enough to be combed out). The immature lice don't leave the head until they are fully grown.

You don't have to use conditioner, that just makes it easier to comb though the hair. What you must have to soaking wet hair. When the head is wet the lice don't move, and you can comb the buggers out. On dry hair they would just hop away.

the conditioer just makes the combing easier.....it doesn't tug on the hair so much. This is particularly true of curly hair.

twirlaround · 05/01/2006 17:54

Deterrant sprays & dry combing don't work.
Wet combing only needs to be done every 4 days though to be effective.

I think the best plan is to raise awareness at your school and get them to join in the bug busting programme
bug busting

Original poster
Cha · 07/01/2006 10:36

Oh god I hate nits. I hate the way they HIDE (ffs) when they see the nit comb coming or when they feel fingers prying. I HATE the way one pioneering b**d still manages to survive despite combing for weeks. I hate the way that the only time that you are not thinking about them, one bites your head. I hate the way they make you view all small children (belonging to Someone Else) with suspicion or guilt (if they are Yours and they are playing with Someone Else's).
I HATE NITS!!!!!!

OP posts:
LadySherlockofLGJ · 07/01/2006 11:36

Sorry Cha, but you made me LOL at pioneering bas**ds.........

Original poster
Cha · 07/01/2006 16:51

I know. I made myself laugh too. But they are, aren't they? There's always One.

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