Head Lice Signs, Treatment Options, and Prevention Tips

A professional lice removal appointment is designed to take the stress and guesswork out of the process. Instead of spending days combing, re-treating, and hoping it worked, a trained technician can fully clear the infestation in one focused visit. Here’s what you can typically expect:

1. A thorough, accurate head check
Professionals know exactly where lice hide and how to spot even early-stage nits. This helps confirm whether it’s truly lice — which many parents understandably misdiagnose.

2. A clear explanation of what we’re seeing
You’ll learn what stage of the life cycle the lice are in, how long they’ve likely been present, and what the treatment plan will look like. This gives families clarity and confidence right from the start.

3. Professional-grade lice and nit removal using effective products
We use dimethicone, a non-toxic, highly effective treatment that works by suffocating and immobilizing live lice — making it one of the most reliable solutions available today.
We also use a specialized enzyme spray that helps break down the glue that holds the nits (eggs) to the hair shaft, allowing them to be removed more easily and thoroughly.

From there, we work section by section, carefully combing through the entire head while checking and re-checking our work to ensure every visible louse and nit is removed.

4. Guidance on at-home steps and recommended follow-ups
We’ll explain exactly what to do at home — and what you don’t need to stress about — including simplified cleaning instructions and how to prevent re-exposure.

For cases with higher exposure risks (such as multiple children, school outbreaks, or ongoing contact with untreated individuals), we may recommend a follow-up visit to ensure everything stays clear.

5. A complete plan to stay lice-free
Before you leave, you’ll know what to look for, how to monitor the scalp, and the best steps to protect your family moving forward.

A professional appointment takes out the overwhelm, shortens treatment time, and gives families a fast, reliable solution — without the trial-and-error of over-the-counter products.

A little preparation helps your appointment run comfortably and efficiently. Here’s what to have ready before your technician arrives:

• Tangle-free hair
Please make sure the hair is brushed out and free of major knots. This keeps the appointment moving smoothly and also helps protect your technician’s hands. Lice removal requires constant, repetitive combing, and heavy detangling adds extra strain to the wrists and hands, which can slow the process down.
If detangling takes more than 15 minutes, a $30 fee will apply.

• Bath towels
Have a few towels available to cover and protect your floors or surfaces. Since we use oil-based treatments, towels help keep your space clean.

• A well-lit treatment area
Choose a spot with strong lighting and enough room to work—kitchen tables/islands or bright bathrooms with counter space are ideal.

• A comfortable seat for kids
For younger or smaller children, a stool or booster seat helps keep them stable and comfortable during the service.

About 50% of people with lice experience an itchy scalp, especially around the neck and behind the ears — these are often the first signs of an active case.

However, not everyone itches, so it’s always important to check these areas even without symptoms. Look for tiny eggs (nits) that are attached to the hair strand close to the scalp. They’re oval-shaped, like a sesame seed, and often match the color of the hair, making them easy to miss without a close inspection.

Head lice spread most commonly through direct head-to-head contact. They cannot jump or fly, but they can crawl quickly from one strand of hair to another when heads touch — which is why lice are often shared among children, families, and close contacts.

While it’s less common, less than 2% of lice cases are caused by shared personal items such as hairbrushes, hats, pillows, or headphones, especially soon after use.

Because lice rely on human warmth and blood to survive, they begin to die within a few hours off the scalp and rarely survive longer than a day. Regular checks and quick action after known exposure are key to preventing a full infestation.

Once lice are gone, the main goal is to avoid re-exposure. Because lice spread through direct head-to-head contact, prevention is mostly about protecting the hair and staying consistent with routine checks.

Here’s what you can do to help prevent lice from returning:

Keep hair up and contained. Braids, buns, or ponytails make it harder for lice to transfer from head to head.

Use a prevention spray or repellent. Products with mint, tea tree, or rosemary oils can help deter lice from the scalp and hair.

Avoid sharing personal items such as brushes, hats, helmets, or pillows.

Do quick weekly head checks, especially after playdates, sleepovers, or school events. Early detection stops a small case from spreading.

Educate your child to avoid direct hair contact with friends — simple reminders can go a long way.

Even with the best prevention, lice can still happen — they’re more about contact than cleanliness. Regular checks and quick action are the best way to stay lice-free.

For added peace of mind, you can also book a professional lice check. Some families prefer to schedule monthly professional screenings to ensure everyone stays clear and to catch any early signs before they spread.

No

Head lice only live on humans. They are a human-specific parasite, meaning they need the temperature, scalp oils, and blood found only on people to survive.

Pets such as dogs, cats, and other animals cannot get or spread human head lice. Likewise, the types of lice that live on animals are different species that cannot survive on humans.

If lice are found in a household, there’s no need to treat pets — focus instead on checking and treating all household members who may have had direct contact.

Lice are not like bedbugs. Bedbugs can live in furniture and feed at night, but head lice can only survive on the human scalp. Once off the head, they begin dying within a few hours and rarely last longer than a day.

If you’re experiencing repeat cases, it’s almost always due to re-exposure from an untreated person — not from your home.

To keep things clean and fresh:

• Wash and dry bedding as normal. If you’re only using the dryer, run it on high heat for 10 minutes to sanitize items like bedding or stuffed animals.

• Rinse combs and brushes, remove any hair, and place them in the freezer for at least two hours or overnight.

• Vacuum as normal — this helps maintain cleanliness and can remove any stray bugs or debris from surfaces.

For severe infestations, especially with children, a lint roller on car seats or couches can help pick up any remaining bugs or debris from recent contact.


These simple cleaning steps are mainly to give you peace of mind — lice don’t infest homes, they infest people. The most effective way to stop the cycle is by checking and treating all heads that may have come into contact.

Yes 

Even infestations that have been present for months can be treated successfully, though long-standing or severe cases may require multiple treatments. We work closely with each family to ensure every head becomes lice-free, following a plan tailored to the situation.

The main challenge in some cases is the condition of the hair. Extremely matted or tangled hair can make it difficult to completely remove lice and nits. In these situations, we consult with families to develop the best plan, setting realistic expectations for what can be achieved.

With persistence, careful treatment, and proper follow-up, most infestations (even severe ones) can be resolved effectively.

Repeated lice outbreaks at school can be frustrating, but there are steps you can take to protect your child and the community:

Talk to the school administration. Speaking with the principal, school nurse, or director can help coordinate professional lice checks to address outbreaks promptly. Our checks are thorough and effective, using specialized lice combs for detailed inspections. We also offer different package options depending on the school’s size and needs, helping ensure early detection and proper management.

Coordinate with other families. If the school isn’t proactive, work with parents whose children may have been exposed. Families can organize group screenings at home or at school to catch cases early and prevent further spread.

Provide referrals and resources. Share information about professional lice services — parents can be referred to us for thorough checks, treatment guidance, and follow-ups.


Taking these steps can help reduce repeated outbreaks and give parents confidence that proactive measures are being taken, even when schools have limited lice prevention policies.

Over-the-counter lice treatments don’t always work, and it’s often not your fault. Here are the most common reasons:

• Many lice are now resistant (“super-lice”).
Studies show that about 98% of lice in most U.S. states carry gene mutations that make them resistant to the active ingredients in popular OTC treatments. Globally, resistance rates range from 60% to over 80% in some areas. This means the shampoo may stun the lice — but not fully kill them.

• The timing wasn’t perfect.
Most OTC products require a second treatment 7–9 days later to kill newly hatched lice. Missing this window can allow the infestation to start right back up.

• Not all the nits were removed.
Even if the treatment kills the live bugs, any remaining nits (eggs) can hatch. Using a high-quality lice comb and doing focused, thorough comb-outs is essential.

• Re-exposure happened.
If someone in your home, school, or close circle still has lice, it’s very easy to get reinfested — even after doing everything right.

Bottom line:
OTC treatments struggle because today’s lice have evolved to survive them. Combining proper timing, nit removal, and avoiding re-exposure can help — but if OTC products continue to fail, professional comb-outs or non-pyrethroid prescription treatments are usually much more effective.

Many people wonder if coloring their hair can also get rid of lice. Hair dye cannot reliably kill lice or nits. While the chemicals may kill a few live lice, lice eggs (nits) are very resistant, and infestations often come back quickly.

The most effective way to get rid of lice is through professional treatment. Professional lice removal ensures:

• All live lice and nits are carefully removed

• Safe, effective methods are used that work even when over-the-counter products fail

• Guidance on preventing reinfestation for your home and family


Trying to treat lice at home with hair dye, store-bought shampoos, or DIY methods is usually ineffective and can prolong the infestation.

Schedule a professional lice treatment to ensure complete removal.

A common question is whether lice are attracted to clean or dirty hair. Lice do not care whether hair is clean or dirty, as they feed on blood, not hair oils or dirt. Interestingly, lice have a harder time thriving in very dirty hair, since excessive buildup can make it difficult for them to move and attach their eggs (nits) to hair shafts. While clean hair may make it slightly easier for them to attach nits, infestations can happen regardless of hygiene.

You can also take preventive measures: applying natural oils like tea tree, peppermint, or rosemary to your hair may help deter lice from settling. These oils are not a replacement for professional treatment but can provide an extra layer of protection.

Professional lice treatment is the most reliable way to remove lice. Unlike at-home shampoos or DIY methods, a professional service can:

• Detect lice and nits in all areas of the scalp, even hard-to-see spots

• Use precise combing and removal techniques to ensure nothing is missed

• Provide guidance on preventing reinfestation in your home and family


Even with clean or dirty hair, untreated lice can spread quickly.

Book a professional lice treatment today for fast and complete removal.

We understand that professional lice treatment can come up unexpectedly, and cost can be a real concern for many families. If lice treatment is not currently in your price range, please know you still have options. Our company offers monthly giveaways, discounted services, and special promotions throughout the year. Be sure to follow us on social media to stay updated on any opportunities for free or low-cost lice treatment.

If your family is low-income or going through financial hardship, we encourage you to contact us directly. We are committed to helping our community and are always willing to work with families to create affordable lice treatment options that fit their budget. Your child’s comfort and safety are our priority, and we’ll do everything we can to support you.