Argh, nit advice please!!!

[PenguinBear]

I have caught them from the children at work. I have very thick hair, almost down to my waist although it's always tied up and now I have them!

None of the DC had any trace Thank goodness and neither did DP. Dd1 had to help me with the nit comb in my hair, we each did a side and swapped. It took over two hours and I had Atleast 30 live headlice. We combed till we found no more and will repeat daily! dd1 is thrilled
There was also brown shells/ thin skins combing out, not egg shaped and definitely not lice. Anyone know what they were?

Anyone got any top tips on how to get rid? I'm thinking I might also need some form of chemical treatment to kill the eggs as dd1 thought she saw them near by scalp (although I also have dandruff and I don't think she would know the difference).

All tips appreciated!

I would treat the kids and your DH as well just to be on the safe side. My DD had nits for the first time at 17 and she has really thick long hair. We treated it and then nit combed it every night for about a week and then every other night for about another week or so. We took the view that we would do everything to ensure she got rid off themin one batch IYSWIM.
It took hours of brushing though.

Good luck

Hi Penguin. The thin shells are the nit eggs....they don't look like eggs at all. Dry comb with a nitty gritty comb every night in front of the telly and do a wet conditioner comb through every 3 mights in the bath as well. As soon as you've got rid of the live lice (and you'll stop itching then!) then you can just do the dry combing and they do go I promise. I've had them once and this worked on my long hair.

wash and condition well in the shower, comb conditioner through with a wide tooth comb, then ordinary one, then fine tooth metal. See if you can get a decent one with a good handle to make it easier to use on yourself. (something like this: www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Flea-Lice-Comb-21/dp/B0029F2W2S/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0GAD19G6HMXXMZYNSMN4 I have had much more success with flea combs because they have a handle and are bigger than those credit card size things they sell for humans ).

One mega effort should do, but if you do it every couple of days or so, that should be fine. If you use nice conditioner that makes your hair slippy, they cannot bind the eggs onto the hair quite so well.

Thank you.

I can't dry comb it unfortunately as it's so curly, all has to be wet combed!

I did it again today and found about 10lice and around 50 eggs! Eww [boak]

I think it helps if you can leave conditioner on for half an hour before combing. It loosens the eggs. I'm sure it must drown a few of the buggers too.

We once accidently killed one by smothering it in that cheap Boots hair gel. Found it stiff and immobile in DD's hair, which was satisfying. DD used to get big ones from her friend, who must have been the source for the whole school, poor child. They didn't half gallop around! So we used to gel her fringe and put her hair up in a tight pony tail (with gel).

Someone I talked to (a zoologist) reckoned they have a 2 week lifecycle, so if you comb once a week, they should never get a secure foothold.

Don't panic, they will all be gone soon :)

Combing on day 3 has revealed 1 live one and around 20 microscopic eggs!

That is fewer eggs too! Definitely on their way out

Don't forget to wash all bedding, cushions etc to help stop the cycle

Found 1 live one again today. It was tiny (pic attached). I found one dead one too and a few eggs but defiantly less than previous days!

How often should I wash the bedding? I washed it all Sunday but haven't since!

I would keep washing the bedding and keep checking everyone else in the family. I KNOW its overkill but when this happened to us I wasn't going to risk the tiniest chance of us getting reinfected. I actually changed the bedding every day. yes, I know that's daft

Luckily I am off with the children for Easter so can wash the sheets everyday. Luckily it's just mine and dp's bed as amazingly the rest of the family remains clear!
I will be checking everyone's hair again tomorrow as well as mine for that crucial day 5!

It's a lot of work isn't it. It will all be over soon enough.

I dont think there is a need to wash bedding all the time as any lice that leave the head voluntarily are normally old/dying. There is also no need to check every day but if you are happy with that then you can continue. The dates you should check on are days 5,9 and 12/13 to break the life cycle.

from the bug busting website

They usually travel from head to head and prefer to be warm.

I think they usually die if they are cold for long (unlike cat fleas!) so just give the bed a good airing and wash at the end of the week.

Today is day 5 and haven't got round to it yet as dd1 is out and I can't manage it all in my own. I'll give it a go myself but if I have to wait to tomorrow do you think hat will still be okay?