How can lice be combed out at home? - briefly
Wet the hair, apply conditioner, and run a fine‑toothed nit comb through each small section from scalp to tip, repeating several times. Rinse, clean the comb with hot water, and launder bedding and clothing to prevent reinfestation.
How can lice be combed out at home? - in detail
Removing head‑lice with a fine‑toothed comb can be performed safely at home using a systematic approach.
First, gather the required items: a metal nit comb with 0.2 mm spacing, a regular fine‑tooth comb, a bowl of hot water with a few drops of shampoo, a clean towel, a disposable container for collected lice, and a pair of disposable gloves.
Begin by washing the affected hair with regular shampoo, rinsing thoroughly, and gently towel‑drying until damp but not soaking. Apply a small amount of conditioner to reduce tangles; this also helps the comb glide more easily.
Proceed with the combing process:
- Separate the hair into sections of 2–3 cm using hair clips.
- Starting at the scalp, run the nit comb through each section from root to tip in a slow, steady motion.
- After each pass, wipe the comb on a paper towel, then dip it in the hot‑soapy water to kill any captured insects.
- Repeat the pass three times per section before moving to the next.
Once the entire head has been treated, repeat the whole procedure after 24 hours to eliminate newly hatched nymphs. Continue daily combing for a total of seven days or until no live lice are detected.
For clothing, bedding, and personal items, wash in hot water (≥ 60 °C) and dry on high heat, or seal non‑washable items in a plastic bag for two weeks.
Maintain vigilance by inspecting the scalp every other day for at least two weeks. Prompt removal of any newly observed lice prevents re‑infestation.
Following these steps consistently eradicates head‑lice without resorting to chemical treatments.