The Essential Steps You Must Take in Controlling Head Lice Infestation
Even if you kill all the adult head lice, and the second stage nymphs, but don’t get rid of the nits, you will not get rid of head lice.
Hair combing is an important part in getting rid of head lice. It may be a time consuming process but it is an essential step in controlling the lice infestation. If the hair is not thoroughly combed each day the chance of reinfestation is much greater.
You may purchase a nit comb with packages of special shampoos or you can buy one separately at most drugstores. Metal combs tend to be more effective than plastic at removing the nits. You may also use a new pet flea brush to brush out the nits.
You will need a few more items before you begin the tedious process of removing nits. You will need a box of tissues, a plastic bag, a pair of safety scissors, a bright lamp, and hair clips for dividing the hair into sections.
It is usually a good idea to provide entertainment, especially if the person treated is a young child. Be prepared for a long first session, especially if the hair is long! It will require some patience for both the person infested and the one combing the hair.
Combing should be done after using a head lice shampoo the kill the lice. Use regular shampoo and conditioner after treatment with the head lice shampoo. Leave the conditioner in the hair.
The temperature of the water should be as hot as is bearable, but be careful with a child because they will be more sensitive to the heat than an adult. To untangle the hair, and prepare it for the use of the special nit comb, use a regular comb.
Start from the crown of the head and separate the hair into sections. Using the nit comb, start as close to the scalp as you can and slowly pull the comb through the hair. Wipe the comb or dip it into hot soapy water to remove the dead lice and nits that have been gathered up.
If it appears that there are still some nits in the hair, comb that section again. If you are wiping the comb clean each time with a tissue, put the used tissues in a plastic bag for disposal. Do not go to the next section of hair until you are sure that you have removed all the lice and nits.
Once you have finished with a section use hair clips to put it out of the way and start the next section. If the hair begins to dry during this process then you may need to wet it again so that you can comb through it much easier an avoid pulling out any hair.
It shouldn’t necessary to cut the person’s hair any more. You should be able to control nits and head lice with special shampoos, home remedies and by combing the nits out of the hair.
If you find a nit is stuck to a hair shaft and is especially difficult to dislodge you may use your fingernails to pull it off. The shorter the hair is, the easier it will be to conquer head lice.
If reinfestation occurs many times, you may consider cutting the hair short so that the treatment and the combing procedures will be more effective.
You can find more information on how-to manage head lice by reading this article: The Do’s and Don’ts of What You Need to Know About Treating Head Lice
