How does hair with lice look? - briefly
Hair infested with lice appears normal in length and texture but may show small, grayish or white nits attached tightly to the shaft near the scalp, and the scalp can look irritated with tiny red bumps or visible adult lice moving quickly.
How does hair with lice look? - in detail
Hair that is infested with head‑lice displays several visual indicators. The strands often appear laced with tiny, grayish‑white insects that move slowly across the scalp. These lice are about the size of a sesame seed, roughly 2–4 mm long, and can be seen clinging to hair shafts near the scalp or farther down the length of the hair.
Typical signs include:
- Small, oval bodies attached to hair shafts, sometimes visible as moving specks.
- Nits (lice eggs) attached firmly to the hair shaft at a 45‑degree angle; they look like tiny, translucent or white pinheads and are difficult to dislodge.
- Clusters of adult lice and nits forming a “lice carpet” near the roots, especially behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.
- Scalp irritation that may cause redness or small bumps, though these are not visual traits of the hair itself.
The overall appearance often resembles a hairline dotted with minute, moving particles, with a subtle sheen where nits reflect light. In severe infestations, hair may appear tangled or greasy due to scratching and the presence of debris from dead lice.