Got the dreaded nits note from school? Take a breath. It happens to almost every family at some point, and it has nothing to do with how clean your kids are. Lice just love little heads that spend all day close together. Here's how we deal with it at home, step by step.
How to check properly
- Find good light. Sit your child near a window or under a bright lamp with a show on. A calm kid makes this much easier.
- Wet the hair. It helps the comb slide through.
- Comb in small sections. Use our fine-tooth lice comb from the roots right to the ends, and wipe it on a white tissue after each stroke so you can see what comes out.
- Look behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. That's where we find them most often in the salon.
If you find them
- Wash with a head lice shampoo, then use a treatment and comb out section by section. Follow the directions on the pack for timing.
- Keep combing every few days over the next week or two to catch anything that hatches.
- Check everyone in the house, even if they're not scratching.
- Pop pillowcases, hats and hair ties through a hot wash.
- Let the school know. Telling other parents helps stop it bouncing back.
- Tie long hair up in a plait or bun for school while it's going around.
What we recommend
Our Head Lice Bundle ($44.95) has everything in one box.
- The Head Lice Shampoo is easy to use and made for kids, with tea tree oil.
- The Head Lice Treatment helps break the bond between lice and the hair so they loosen and comb out without a fight.
- And you get our Head Lice Removal Comb, which is only available in this bundle.
Shop the Head Lice Bundle
