Blooming nits !!!

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, I've just trated my 6 year old daughter for nits. I used Lyclear mousse and I'm not sure if it's done the job or not. I used the nit comb and got loads of fully grown nits out. I then washed her hair twice and conditioned it and as I was drying it, she was still scratching! I can't see any more but I'm not convinced. Her hair was so greasy after I dried it, it looks as if I haven't washed it in years. I've used most of the bottle on her as she has such thick hair, so I won't be able to do it again without spending another £12. What should I do if she's still scratching tomorrow? Is there any other way of making sure I've killed all the little bleeders?
My daughter thinks I'm really nasty by the way for killing them, she says she wants them as pets. I think she has issues!

at 'killing them!

I used to use lotions and mousses until a wise mumsnetter recommended I buy a 'nitty gritty' comb. I've been really impressed with it and it only costs £10 and no need to ever buy anything else.

If your DD has had lots of fully grown lice her hair will need treating again IMO a one off treatment is never enough to get rid of them completely.

Get a Nitty Gritty comb. Get some Hedrin. IMO the leave in overnight variety is best, but it is hell to wash out the following day, you will need lashings of the cheapest, most grease-stripping shampoo you can get.

You put the Hedrin in and comb it through. You will see the live lice fall out, struggling ever more feebly (don't tell your DD this, you can enjoy the satisfactio yourself ). Keep combing until you stop finding live ones.

Repeat a week later for any eggs that have hatched.

Then wet comb every week with the Nitty Gritty plus conditioner - that way you will catch new infestations early on.

When your DD goes to school, tie her hair back and spray with cheap unscented hairspray.

I follow this preventive regime and haven't had critters for 2 1/2 years now, and the Hedrin has been a really quick and efective way of clearing the little blighters. Hedrin isn't a pesticide, it works by drowning/choking the nits so they will not become immune to it.

Thanks, I saw one of those and nearly bought it. I think I will go back and buy one tomorrow, and give it another going over with that.

She will still be scratching for a couple of days even if you have got rid of all the lice, as the scalp will remain irritated.

The Nitty gritty comb is great as long as you can use it properly - unfortunately it's like an instrument of torture on my children's thick hair, and I can't use it on my hair at all (long and thick).

I tend to do the treatment three weeks running with lots of combing in between. It is expensive.

I had to do Ds2 last week. To my horror today I found a headlice in my own hair. Did both of us again this evening.

Im too embarrased to go and get my hair cut at all now in case they see the eggs. Mortified.

Thanks for the preventive regime, that is usefull to know. I would've thought un sented hairspray was hard to find.

I might do mine as well just to make sure. I forgot to change her bedding too. DH put her to bed tonight.

Try this link for unscented hairspray - they shoulld have this one in Boots:

this

We get one on a US airbase near where we live, but it doesn't cost much less - one spray will last about 7 months for 2 children.

DS2 was scratching for a few days after I de-loused him!

We used head start (and as a pp I also found lice in my hair too ) but on the advice of MN'ers I have invested in a Nitty Gritty comb for the future!

I thought having 2 ds's with short hair, we would be immune from these pests, he only 2 and has proved me wrong already!

Thanks, I'll have a look in boots.

My daughter has very thick, just below sholder length hair. She hates having it brushed normally, so this was a nightmare! She used to have a bob, but decided to grow it to look like Rapunzle. I suppose it's easier to tie it back though.

I feel your pain, OP - DD1 has very thick, curly hair and until not so long ago had it long - below shoulderblades long, that is. She was good about having it brushed, though. She's now got it bob length (just above shoulder) but still has to have it tied back for school. I used to make her sleep with it in plaits as otherwise the morning hair routine took ages, and I didn't want to get up any earlier than 6...

Schools recommend having hair tied back during a nit outbreak.