I am a Lice Lady. AMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, my cat had fleas once and I got fairly good at using the flea comb on him. How does using a louse comb compare? dd is 1 and we have not had a lice issue yet but I am reading this thread with interest assuming I'll want to know someday!

I had a flea comb once, it was very short and stubby. A lice comb that has longer tines is a better design for human hair. It's not that costly so why skimp?

Lol, I may be speaking out of turn, but I don't think she's trying to recycle her cats flea comb, but just wondering how the process compares.

LOL, it is the same process, really.

original pp here. yes, I was just curious (note the bolded), not trying to reuse my cats comb. Sheesh!

[Anonymous]

Do you think tea tree oil is beneficial as a preventative repellent, i.e., keeping lice away from child's head in the first place? I really think it's helped our kids avoid lice thus far...

[Anonymous]

I personally have not seen evidence that it helps. The NIH says it's inconclusive.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/113.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age(s) do you see the most incidents of lice? have a seven-year-old that has not had it yet, but this thread makes me think it is coming soon...

With my kids, it started in about 2nd grade. It has continued now through the fifth grade.

In the last week, however, I have seen three girls in about the 8th grade.

Some kids in our preschool have had it. Most likely came from older siblings. We also know of many in kindergarten through fourth grade during this past school year, apparently continuing now through the camp season.

[Anonymous]

I have the Nit Free Terminator Lice Comb (from a lice professional after caring for a child with lice but thankfully didn't have it) and it has many great reviews as well.

OP, I had lice when I was 4 then continuously for about 3 years, probably because I had 3 sisters at the time and we kept reinfecting each other as whatever my parents did -olive oil, Rid, mayo, prescription shampoo, etc - didn't work. I remember having sores in my head. Do you think lice can damage the scalp like that? I'm not sure if it was because of them directly or because I scratched so much.

[Anonymous]

Yes, lice can and do cause sores. I believe it is from the scratching.

[Anonymous]

How much can you earn on a lousy day?

[Anonymous]

For those who are purchasing lice combs, I recommend buying two. That's what we did so DH could comb one kid's hair and I could do another. With our DD (who had the worst infestation), We both worked on her hair. It made it go much faster.

If you discover your child has lice, please notify the camp/school/daycare they attend. I'm sure my DD picked her infestation up at a camp. We believe she had it a good month before we noticed it. We immediately notified her camp and they were so very appreciative. Two other campers had it as did one staff member. I don't believe my DD was the source of their infestation because it was only the second day of camp but it's nice to be alerted that it's going around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much can you earn on a lousy day?

The companies charge $80 to $100 per hour. The lice lady keeps about $30 per hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who are purchasing lice combs, I recommend buying two. That's what we did so DH could comb one kid's hair and I could do another. With our DD (who had the worst infestation), We both worked on her hair. It made it go much faster.

If you discover your child has lice, please notify the camp/school/daycare they attend. I'm sure my DD picked her infestation up at a camp. We believe she had it a good month before we noticed it. We immediately notified her camp and they were so very appreciative. Two other campers had it as did one staff member. I don't believe my DD was the source of their infestation because it was only the second day of camp but it's nice to be alerted that it's going around.

OP again, my advice to parents who care is start advocating for a school wide, classroom wide, camp wide "lice check". An experienced mom in your group can do it if you don't want to pay! But I really believe that screening and treating the whole group at one time is a HUGE help in combating the spread of lice. People are just too mortified to do this, which is silly. Would you be mortified if you caught a cold?

[Anonymous]

What can be done if a mother picks up lice from a child while pregnant? Are there any pregnancy-safe treatments?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What can be done if a mother picks up lice from a child while pregnant? Are there any pregnancy-safe treatments?

Yes, all you have to do is lice comb with conditioner. As safe as washing your hair on any other day.

[Anonymous]

Do you think using a hot 400 degree flat iron would kill nits and lice? My DD (biracial hair- AA/W 3c curls) has not had them yet but it's gone around a few times in her class this year. I cannot imagine trying to get through her long natural hair with that comb...TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think using a hot 400 degree flat iron would kill nits and lice? My DD (biracial hair- AA/W 3c curls) has not had them yet but it's gone around a few times in her class this year. I cannot imagine trying to get through her long natural hair with that comb...TIA

I have not done an AA person. While a flat iron will kill the bugs and eggs it touches, it will not kill the live bugs on her skin - you would have to burn her too.

If it happens to you, I would recommend you find someone experienced in lice removal for AA hair, there must be someone out there who has done this. I would to it for free for the opportunity to learn, actually. But You'd have to sign some kind of waiver, I'd be afraid of damaging her hair. Isn't AA hair prone to breakage?

[Anonymous]

With 3c curls maybe she can only get African lice? I'm not the OP but my kids are also 3c and I've wondered about this. I'm not sure I could comb my own thick 2a hair with a lice comb, let alone theirs.