How to comb out lice?

How to comb out lice? - briefly

Use a fine‑toothed nit comb on wet, conditioned hair, starting at the scalp and moving toward the ends, rinsing the comb after each pass. Repeat the procedure every few days for two weeks to ensure complete removal of insects and eggs.

How to comb out lice? - in detail

Removing head‑lice with a fine‑toothed comb requires systematic preparation, precise technique, and thorough follow‑up.

Begin by selecting a metal lice comb with teeth spaced 0.2 mm apart. Ensure the hair is clean and completely dry; wet hair reduces friction and hampers the comb’s ability to capture insects. Apply a detangling conditioner sparingly to the scalp, avoiding excess product that could conceal lice.

The combing sequence proceeds as follows:

  1. Divide the hair into sections of approximately 2 cm width using hair clips.
  2. Starting at the scalp, draw the comb through each section from root to tip in a slow, steady motion.
  3. After each pass, wipe the comb teeth on a folded paper towel to remove captured lice and nits.
  4. Repeat the pass on the same section three times, rotating the comb 90° after each iteration to address different angles.
  5. Continue the process until every section has been treated, covering the entire head from crown to nape.

After the initial combing session, rinse the comb in hot, soapy water for at least five minutes. Launder bedding, hats, and clothing in water no lower than 60 °C; items that cannot be washed should be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks.

A second combing session should be performed 7–10 days later to eliminate any newly hatched nymphs that survived the first treatment.

Consistent application of this method eliminates the infestation without reliance on chemical agents.