What do lice look like on black hair? - briefly
Head lice are tiny, tan‑brown insects about 2–3 mm long that move rapidly across the scalp and can be seen as small, translucent bodies. Their eggs are oval, roughly 0.8 mm, firmly attached to dark hair shafts and appear as dark, cigar‑shaped specks near the scalp.
What do lice look like on black hair? - in detail
Adult head‑lice are about 2–3 mm long, flattened laterally, with a crab‑like shape. Their bodies are translucent to gray‑brown, allowing underlying scalp blood to tint the abdomen. Six legs end in clawed tarsi that cling tightly to hair shafts. Antennae are short, and a pair of tiny, pointed mouthparts project forward. When placed on dark hair, the insect’s semi‑transparent cuticle blends with the background, appearing as faint, slightly darker specks near the scalp.
Nits (lice eggs) measure 0.8 mm, are oval, and have a smooth, glossy surface. Freshly laid nits are pale yellow; they darken to tan or brown as embryos develop. Each nit is cemented to the hair shaft about 1–2 mm from the scalp, forming a line of tiny, bead‑like objects that may be mistaken for dandruff or hair debris. Their attachment is firm; manual removal requires pulling the hair close to the scalp while applying steady tension.
Detection on black hair relies on contrast under magnification. A fine‑tooth lice comb, drawn through damp hair, separates the insects from strands and exposes nits stuck to the shaft. Under bright, direct light, adult lice appear as tiny, slightly darker dots moving slowly across the scalp, while nits show as stationary, oval, glossy beads. Examination should focus on the nape, behind ears, and the crown—areas where lice and nits concentrate.
Effective identification combines visual inspection with tactile confirmation: a live louse will shift when disturbed; a nit will resist removal unless the hair is pulled close to the scalp and the cement is broken. These characteristics allow reliable recognition of infestations on dark hair despite the limited visual contrast.