It's time for the right advice on HEAD LICE

After owning and operating a kids hair salon for 3 years, and providing a much needed lice treatment service for parents, I understand the difficulties parents have in dealing with head lice.

Let me say firstly that there is no quick or easy way, other than being persistent. This doesn't mean spending hours of precious time, that includes both yours, your childs & your families time, but it does mean being persistent with the timing.

What you will find is that you will become more efficient at the combing technique as your confidence and skills increase.

Let me explain now about the timing:

• 1 mature head lice = lays 10 - 12 eggs per day
  
• Eggs take between 7 - 10 days to hatch
  
• Head lice start laying eggs 7 -10 days after hatching

Example: 12 head lice x 10 eggs p.d = 120 eggs pd x 7 days = 840 eggs pw

So you could possibly have up to 840 eggs that will be hatching over a 7-10 day period.
The number one aim of this program is to get rid of the hatchlings before they start laying eggs.

This is what breaks the cycle.

NOTE: White eggs are empty egg cases (they are white because the light reflects through the egg shell & they are often found away from the scalp attached to the hair strand) Brown or dull grey eggs close to the hair line are the ones that will hatch.

Of course there is always the possibility that you will be dealing with a re-infestation, try not to get too caught up with a blame game at this stage. It may take a little longer to get rid of the hatchlings, but if you follow the steps you will considerably reduce the time that you will need to manage the infestations and be better prepared to manage any future cases.

Head Lice DONT:
Live in sheets, pillows, brushes, combs, hairbands, jump
Visit http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/phtm/PHTM/hlice/hlinfo1.htm


Head Lice DO:
Lay 10-12 eggs per day, start laying eggs after 7-10 days from hatching, become resistant to different products
Visit http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/phtm/PHTM/hlice/hlinfo1.htm

What you will need:

1 small white bowl
1 small pastry style brush
(think of the tint brushes hair dressers use
for applying colour to the roots of the hair)
Shampoo
Conditioner (cheap ALDI product is best)
Wide tooth comb
Lice comb
White fabric / towel / cloth

THE TREATMENT PLAN

DAY 1: Do Treatment & Conditioner Comb through
DAY 5: Do Treatment or Conditioner Comb through

• If you find any mature lice go to Day 10
• If you find any tiny lice go to Day 10

DAY 10: Do Treatment or Conditioner Comb through

• If you find any mature lice go to Day 15
  
• If you find any tiny lice go to Day 15

DAY 15: Do Treatment or Conditioner Comb through

• If you find any mature lice go to Day 20
  
• If you find any tiny lice go to Day 20

Continue with treatment or conditioner comb through every 5 days until no lice are seen.


1.How to Apply a Commercial Treatment to the Hair:
My preference is the PPS Fried Lice Product

• Tip about 1/4 cup of product (short Hair) into the white bowl
• Start applying the product with the brush around the hair/scalp line.
• Work from the front to the back on both left & right side.
• Part the hair like you are going to do two ponytails.
• Apply the product along the part line.
  

There is no need to apply the product to the full length of hair as the lice mostly live very close to the scalp. Any floating through the hair length will generally fall out & onto the floor or be removed with shampooing and the conditioner comb through.

• Working on the Right Side
• Part the hair from the centre top crown to the ear
• Apply the product along the part line as before
  
• Continue parting the front triangle section in 1cm wide sections until complete
• Start the bottom triangle section in the same 1cm wide sections until complete
• Continue with the same process on the left side.
• Wait the time recommended for the product
  
• Shampoo the product out - lots of foam (2 washes is good)
  

2. How to do a Conditioner Comb Through to the hair
IMPORTANT: If no treatment product is used, this MUST BE completed within 20 minutes. Conditioner makes lice drunk, but for only 20 minutes. After this they start moving around the hair and you have a greater chance of missing mature lice.

• Apply lots of conditioner on the scalp of the hair
• Fill white bowl with fresh water (hand/wash basin can be used as well)
  
• Comb out knots with wide tooth comb
• Rinse comb roughly in bowl or wipe on white towel (this is so you can see what size the lice are that you are coming out eg: larger lice = eggs laid, tiny lice = no eggs laid)
• Follow the same parting as when applying product
• On each parting use the head lice comb and comb away from the part, on both sides of the part. (this can be done quickly, but ensure you always follow the same line e.g. top to bottom or bottom to top, this way you will cover all the hair)
• Have your child take a shower to rinse out the remaining conditioner
  
• Turn the shower pressure on as hard as possible and/or have your child stand on a plastic chair/stool to get closer to the nozzle (this will allow a greater amount of water to rush through the hair & rinse away any remaining dead or stunned lice)