checking for nits

iammumtoone

I just wondered how often and how parents check their child(ren) for nits. I only check when the school ask (a few times a year), I think I should be checking more often. I am lucky that my son has never had them (yet!).

What is the best way to check? I comb through whilst conditioner is left on his hair. My son hates washing his hair so he doesn't like after I have checked (whilst he sits and watches the tv) he has to go back upstairs to wash out the conditioner. Does anyone use a leave in conditioner to check to avoid having to do the second rinse, if so which one ? does it work with that method?

Thanks

McKneff

Just wash his hair as you normally do, why do you bother using conditioner !!! it has no bearing on finding nits at all. A child shouldnt need conditioner at all

Just check the hair when it is dry, nits are clearly visible, wet or dry, makes no dirrerence.

If you find some, ask the pharmacist which is best nit/lice shampoo.

We used to regularly get nits, on a weekly scale to be honest, when i was at school, and there was no cure then, it was a case of combing though with a proper metal comb with teeth so close together it would pull the nit of ususally some of the hair by the root and aind it was a very painful process lol. Youre all lucky these

iammumtoone

McKneff wrote: »

Just wash his hair as you normally do, why do you bother using conditioner !!! it has no bearing on finding nits at all. A child shouldnt need conditioner at all

I have always done it that way, think it was google that recommended it, something to do with the nits/eggs stick to the hair so the conditioner releases them so they come out with the combing.

I never said children need conditioner, I don't condition his hair every wash only when I do a nit check.

If there is no need to use to conditioner then it would be a lot easier I can just look when the hair has been washed or is it best to check on dry hair?

kacie

combing through after washing hair, so rinsing the conditioner out first. I would aim for once a month at minimum, he won't like it but he'll like it a lot less if you have to do it twice a day to get rid of anything

theoretica

You are checking for nits in a way I associate with removing them - just have a good look at the roots of the hair (my mum said especially behind the ears). Easiest with clean dry hair. Especially check if you ever think he is scratching his head more than normal.

pigpen

Daily.. they are disgusting!

meritaten

I used to check my kids on Sunday evening before bath and hairwashing - one child in the class constantly had nits!
dry hair - you will see the eggs clinging to the hair near the scalp and may also see the headlouse crawling. Behind the ears and the nape of neck and crown is usually where you will find them - although they could be anywhere on the head.

the conditioner method will only help get rid of the eggs - it doesn't kill the headlouse. You need the special lotion for that - although once used the conditioner is useful to get rid of the eggs.

iammumtoone

theoretica wrote: »

You are checking for nits in a way I associate with removing them - just have a good look at the roots of the hair (my mum said especially behind the ears). Easiest with clean dry hair. Especially check if you ever think he is scratching his head more than normal.

Thank you, yes it makes sense what you are saying.

I have never actually seem one, I assume you can easily tell if you see one without doing the conditioner treatment?

McKneff

they really are easy to spot, just little white eggs, sticking like blummin' concrete to the hair.

meer53

Just use a Nitty Gritty Nit Comb every couple of weeks, no need for lotions or conditioners. The comb gets rid of everything. Best £10 i ever spent.

NewShadow

If he's infested, it's fairly obvious, but if you're catching it at an early stage it could be easy to miss.

As had been suggested - nape of the neck or back of the ear is a good place to start.

If there are eggs (nits) they'll look like this -



The eggs are clinging to the side of the hair and are either white or translucent.