Non stop head lice

[Stepmama]

Doing the usual rounds at my daughter's school and I am having to treat her on a weekly basis now because she keeps picking it up ... any suggestions cos I am doing my nut with having to constantly treat the entire family!

[Alibobs]

This worked for my two
when they were younger

Twice or three times a week, when you wash their hair put conditioner on it. While the conditioner is on the hair sit thrm in front of the telly and comb through every bit of their hair with a nit comb.

Laborious I knw but it works by stopping the lice taking hold. Much better for you and cheaper than the proprietary products.

Unless everyone at the school treats their child properly and at the same time the infestation will go on and on . Even if it is cleared up they will come back. It is one of those things, but doing the above meant I only ever had to deal with one or two adult lice and a few eggs rather than a full blown infestation

[Stepmama]

Thank you for that - I agree that everyone needs to tackle it at the same time for it to work. But the school seem to just call me aside (plus a few others) and let me know. I don't understand why a very inoffensive note on the door saying there is a case in the class and that everyone should check is so wrong ...

[Huderon]

The conditioner and nit comb routine is very good, but may I suggest that you get a Nitty Gritty comb rather than the normal type of nit comb. They're expensive at just under �10, but they take out eggs as well as the lice. The last time one of ours had lice using that comb got her clear in a week rather than the usual two weeks or so it's taken in the past.

Also if your kids have long hair, make sure they tie it back and keep it that way while at school (less loose hair for the lice to transfer to), and tell them not to do the hugging thing or the heads close together bit at school for a while.

[BlueScorpion]

A few years ago my daughter was constantly afflicted with head lice, no sooner would we get rid of them than she'd pick them up from someone else.

I also used the conditioner and comb technique, although I did it every night, however someone suggested that I try Tea Tree oil. Either add a few drops when washing their hair or get a shampoo that is enriched with tea tree oil.

I don't know why it should work but I can safely say that since we tried this my daughter has been nit free.

Good Luck

[Lonnie]

My daughter attends a daycare centre, (adult), and was always getting them, but the last time was a couple of years ago, we use a Coconut spray, you can get it from a Chemists,
Use it after she is clear, it makes the hair slippery, not too much, but enough so the little darlings can't grip, they just fall off.
She's been clear since we started using it.

[~Wingnut~]

I have to back up what Huderon says about buying a Nitty Gritty comb. We bought one a few weeks back and it is just brilliant! All the other nit combs seem to do is take out the actual lice but the eggs are always so stubbon. Nitty Gritty gets the lot out!! Well worth the �10 it cost. I was totally amazed when I first used it.
Also washing your children's hair in shampoo and conditioner that is for coloured hair is suppose to help keep nits at bay. Conditioner is a must!

Good luck cos God knows parents need it when the fight against nits is on!! Damn things!

[spudqueen]

I have gone down the conditioner route, but use a stay-in conditioner which leaves the hair slippier than normal so it's hard for the little b*******s to get a grip. Avon do (or did do) one.

[Lil O'lady]

The overall problem is it only takes one family to do nothing and the infestation just breaks out again. It's often the posh ones who are the culprits - too refined to de-louse their kids

[Solarjunkie]

On my kids' fairly short hair I used the nit comb almost every day, even on dry hair.
Did the trick!

[toby99]

I had the same problem with my daughter; she had them every week and I spent ages combing them out, as I didn't want to use the solutions again. I then stated using Tea Tree oil and it worked brilliantly. I washed her hair in teatree shampoo and conditioner from Boots and then I rubbed in concentrated oil. I kept her hair plaited and applied more oil to her dry hair. They never came back, even though others in her class still got them.

[beejaybee]

Change the treatment shampoo you use often as the nits get immune to it.

[FUZZYBEE]

Just reaffirming what everyone has said with the conditioner thing, I have found that it works. I am very lucky in that all the Mums in my daughters class get on really well and as said before it seems to usually only one or two culprits, so we have set up one specific day when we all wash and treat at the same time. Usually the first of the month. I have to say in my first escapade with nits I was the one that ended up coming of worse....I was smothered.
nice

[Stepmama]

Thanks everyone ... let's hope this week is nit free!