What do lice and nits look like on the head? - briefly
Adult lice are gray‑brown, 2–3 mm long, wingless insects that move quickly and cling to hair shafts, while nits are tiny, oval, white‑to‑tan eggs firmly attached to the base of each strand, often appearing as a thin, stippled line near the scalp.
What do lice and nits look like on the head? - in detail
Head lice are small, wingless insects measuring 2–4 mm in length. Their bodies are flattened, facilitating movement through hair shafts. Color ranges from grayish‑white to brown, often appearing translucent against the scalp. Six legs end in claw‑like tarsi that cling tightly to hair strands. Live specimens may be seen crawling, especially near the ears, nape, and crown, and they often leave a faint, reddish‑brown residue from blood meals.
Nits are the eggs laid by adult females. Each nit is oval, about 0.8 mm long, and firmly attached to the hair shaft at an angle of roughly 30–45°. The shell is smooth, translucent to white or yellowish, and may show a tiny dark spot where the embryo develops. Because nits are cemented to the hair, they cannot be brushed off easily; they remain in place until the embryo hatches, typically after 7–10 days.
Key visual differences between nits and common scalp debris:
- Attachment: Nits are glued to the hair shaft; dandruff flakes off easily.
- Shape: Nits are oval and uniform; dandruff is irregular and flaky.
- Color: Nits are translucent with a possible dark dot; dandruff is white or yellow.
- Location: Nits cluster close to the scalp, often within ¼ inch of the skin; dandruff may be spread throughout the hair.
- Movement: Live lice are mobile; nits are immobile until hatching.
Detecting these characteristics during a thorough scalp inspection—using a fine‑toothed comb on a well‑lit surface—provides reliable identification of infestation.