I am a Lice Lady. AMA

[Anonymous]

OP here, I guess I'd be more or less worried depending on how many kids around them have the same hair type. Same hair type equals greater likelihood of being exposed to "your" brand of lice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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...

I used to think so . . .

until this year

[Anonymous]

Here's a video of AA lice removal. Looks like straightening is a first step - OP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEPj0vrwygw

[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

We went to a specialist, and people on these boards were laughing at me after I told them how much we spent after a 4-hour treatment for 4 people. Well, so far, the lice have not reappeared.

They did say that using a hairdryer will kill the eggs, as I had four (shudder) aborted eggs in my hair. Heat will kill them, as will extreme cold. So we wrapped our brushes and combs (after washing them) in a plastic bag and kept them in the freezer. I religiously ran linens, towels, and pillows through the dryer on a daily basis. (Thankfully, as a teacher, I had my summer off.) I vacuumed furniture made of cloth and wiped down leather furniture. I also wiped down and vacuumed car seats. (and a reminder when going to the movies - Wrap the back of the seat with a plastic cover.)

I combed through the kids' hair twice a day using a thick conditioner (Pantene) and the lice comb. I combed through my hair in the shower. My husband, for whatever reason, was bug-free. On day 10, we used the Rid again. They take on average btw 7 to 14 days to hatch, and b/c the eggs are basically impervious to anything (and I mean anything), it was safer to use the Rid after the eggs (if any remained) hatched.

To this day, we continue to use the nit comb once a week, as prevention is the only way to ensure you won't have infestation.

And by the time the kids are scratching, it's too late. Infestation is your enemy.

[Anonymous]

Is there a bed bug AMA? We had a scare- luckily it was a false alarm.. but with our travels I'm on high alert.

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

Oh OP - I hope you are still around. I have a quesiton regarding the need for using a conditioner to do the comb out --

If I wash and conditon my hair in the shower, and rinse it, do I need to add extra conditioner for the comb-out?

Also, does it matter what kind of conditioner?


Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh OP - I hope you are still around. I have a quesiton regarding the need for using a conditioner to do the comb out --

If I wash and conditon my hair in the shower, and rinse it, do I need to add extra conditioner for the comb-out?

Also, does it matter what kind of conditioner?


Thanks.

not OP - But I'm thinking she'll agree with me.

You need your hair saturated with conditioner. So instead of showering first, coat your hair in conditioner and do the comb out. Then, shampoo it out. You'll need a rat tail comb, too, to comb the conditioner through - and a spray bottle to add some moisture when necessary.

Pantene was the recommended brand. It's thick, which means it can coat the hair well, and it's so white that any little speck shows up, which is what you want.

During maintenance on my kids and myself, I've found mosquitoes, specks of dirt, pieces of grass, you name it. It's amazing what gets caught in our hair!

[Anonymous]

So - we had a lice lady who showed us how to do the comb-outs. I can handle my DD (who had a number of lice and nits) no problem.

But DH can't do a good job combing my long, thick hair. He basically doesn't know how to use a comb and I can tell the comb doesn't touch my scalp. So I've been doing it myself. The lice lady found only a single adult louse on me, and no nits - so we're hoping it just an adult male. But I am worried. Am I doomed to miss something? Any suggestions on the best way to comb one's own head of hair?

[Anonymous]

OP here. As long as the hair is lubricated and snarl free, lice combing with a licemeister comb should be effective. Do it daily if you must.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. As long as the hair is lubricated and snarl free, lice combing with a licemeister comb should be effective. Do it daily if you must.

Not the person you're replying to, but: are you saying that you think people can reliably do their own comb outs? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
So - we had a lice lady who showed us how to do the comb-outs. I can handle my DD (who had a number of lice and nits) no problem.

But DH can't do a good job combing my long, thick hair. He basically doesn't know how to use a comb and I can tell the comb doesn't touch my scalp. So I've been doing it myself. The lice lady found only a single adult louse on me, and no nits - so we're hoping it just an adult male. But I am worried. Am I doomed to miss something? Any suggestions on the best way to comb one's own head of hair?

suggestion, small sections. Also, I have combed my long thick hair under water, believe it or not. Try it. -op

[Anonymous]

I think once you learn the technique, regular combing stops infestations. The problem is, most people are not experienced with combing now a days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Np here. I got it. Good pun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a video of AA lice removal. Looks like straightening is a first step - OP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEPj0vrwygw

Thanks for this- I'm the PP with the biracial DD. This makes perfect sense and is the only way I could ever get a lice comb thru her hair.