It’s lice season in So Cal. Here’s a round up of hair lice prevention tips to keep from getting infested!
Not one, not two, not three, but ALL FOUR of my kid’s schools have sent home notices and shared information about outbreaks over the last month or two. Are you itchy yet? I sure am. To make matters worse, the lice that are out there right now are superlice. They don’t seem to mind the common drugstore remedies usually used to escort them out.
The best way to prevent hair lice is to avoid getting them in the first place
My inbox is full of pitches about how to avoid holiday hair woes. I wasn’t going to go there, but with all the parking lot talk and whispers in the Starbucks line, I decided to address this shame-laden, ticklish (itchy) topic head on. Pun intended.
Although we are (hopefully! knock wood!) lice free at present, my family has not been spared in the past. I’ve had to treat my children for lice more than once over the last four years and let me tell you, it is not fun. The combing, the vacuuming, the laundering of everything that fits in the washer and dryer and bagging of the rest. It’s enough to derail your holiday plans. I now live in fear of lice outbreaks like the ones in the schools right now.
With all the traveling and family visiting from here, there and everywhere, and all the persistant super lice out there, it makes sense to take precautions against lice.
Here are some of my favorite products that we have used for past outbreaks and that we will be using to prevent a lice outbreak over here, over the holidays.
May your holidays be itch free as well with these lice prevention tips!
Happy Heads Shampoo and Sprays: This shampoo can treat and kill existing lice, without exposing your family to toxic chemicals. Plus it isn’t too hard on hair so it’s a good idea to break it out and use it for a few weeks whenever there is an outbreak in your child’s class. The pleasant smelling spray (includes geranium oil) keeps lice at bay.
Fairy Tales Shampoos and Sprays: Their Rosemary and Mint smelling shampoo already smells vaguely holiday-esqe. Bonus points that it keeps unwanted visitors away
Lice Shield Shampoo and Sprays: We keep this spray in our car for a final spritz before entering preschool!
If you are unlucky enough to get infected with hair lice, I suggest the following:
LiceMD: This dimethicone based product smothers lice without exposing you to harmful (and often ineffective against superlice) pesticides. It’s also not too hard on long hair.
Robi Comb: Zaps lice and eggs. Not sure how effective it is for eradication but it certainly makes sport of an already unpleasant situation.
Terminix Professional Lice Combs
Hair lice prevention tips for after you treat: To avoid a reinfestation keep combing and do your wash
Even after treating, your child will need multiple combing sessions for the next week or two to remove all nits and prevent re infestation. A professional nit picker recommended this routine to me, as the most effective way to remove ALL the nits. Do this after shampooing and towel drying. You will need: White Vinegar, a spritz bottle, baking soda and your choice of conditioner.
1. Separate a small section of hair and spray with vinegar to saturate. The vinegar dissolves the “glue” that attaches the nit to the hair shaft
2. Work a small amount of conditioner into the section (pea sized). Comb conditioner through with a normal comb
3. Dip dry lice comb into baking soda. The baking soda helps the comb to grip the smallest of nits, some of which might otherwise slip thru the teeth of the comb
4. Wipe the comb frequently, after each pass, on tissue or toilet paper and discard the paper in a sealed bag.
5. Rinse hair thoroughly
While treating lice you might want to reduce bedding (and laundry) by bagging and setting aside regular bedding and stuffed animals for at least two weeks, opting instead for a sleeping bag that can be washed easily and frequently in hot water.
A limited wardrobe may also be in order. Don’t forget to treat backpacks, hats, scarves and jackets. Limit each family member to one designated comb or brush. No sharing. It may sound austere, but it’s a lot kinder than shaving your daughter’s heads.
Leave a Reply