What are they used for?
Lice combs can be used as an independent method of treating head lice, as well as as an addition to chemical medications. Its advantage is that it does not cause side effects, so the comb can be used even by allergy sufferers, pregnant and lactating women, and can also be used for therapy in small children.
However, using a mechanical method of combating parasites, it is necessary to do regular combing over a long period of time. Only in this case can a positive result of therapy be achieved.
Combing
Experts recommend complex treatment using chemicals and a comb.
Types of lice combs
Combs for combing out lice can be of different types, based on the material from which they are made, as well as the principle of operation. Each of the existing models of fine combs has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, before making a choice, you should consider each option separately.
Electric
This model of a comb for combing out lice and nits appeared not so long ago. The principle of its use is not only combing, but also exposing the parasites to a weak current discharge. The electric comb is completely safe for humans. The teeth of the device have additional protection, which prevents the possibility of current passing to the skin.
The disadvantage of this device is that it is expensive, so its purchase is not always justified when the number of parasites is small.
Metal
This comb for lice and nits is perhaps the most popular for combating head lice. A metal comb is highly practical, as it does not break when combing your head, and the gaps between the teeth do not expand. After special treatment, all family members can use it in turn.
The metal lice comb has long, frequently spaced teeth, the distance between them is about 0.9 mm, which allows you to comb out parasites without much difficulty. They also have additional notches that contribute to high-quality treatment of the affected areas and damage to the oviposition.
Wooden and plastic
They are the most budget-friendly option for a lice comb. Plastic combs are not particularly practical, since the gaps between their teeth quickly expand, which is why they are not able to show good results.
Wooden lice combs are also not the best option. Their teeth, due to the characteristics of the material, are not too close. There are also no notches on them, which reduces the effectiveness of using such a comb for head lice.
Combing tools
To make the combing process more efficient and faster, it is recommended to use special combs. An ordinary comb for lice is completely unsuitable, because the distance between its teeth is too large and will not be able to catch not only small eggs, but even adult lice.
Therefore, experts recommend purchasing a special lice comb at the pharmacy, which has the following differences:
- small and long teeth are often located, the space between them is minimal;
- the teeth are made of durable medical steel and have special spiral notches that help comb out nits and adult lice;
- the comb blade is made rigid so that the teeth do not diverge;
- each clove ends with a rounding so that when combing it does not injure the skin under the hair;
- Some types of combs can kill parasites using a small electrical shock.
Combing combs
Very often, such combs are included in the pediculicide kit, which is very convenient. However, they are of lower quality compared to special, more expensive accessories.
The most popular combs are from AntiV and LiceGuard, and among electric ones - Caremaxx, RobiComb and RobiComb Pro, you can buy them by order on the Internet or in any large city (Moscow, St. Petersburg, etc.).
To make it easier to comb out lice and nits with a comb, there are special shampoos and medications on the market that reduce the adhesion of the capsules to the hair and weaken their adhesive properties. You can also use home-prepared remedies.
The advantage of using special combs is their absolute safety for the health of adults and children, since the use of insecticidal preparations is completely excluded. Electric combs are also popular and allow you to speed up the process of fighting lice, but users note their significant disadvantages: high cost and too short teeth, which creates inconvenience when combing.
How to use and frequency of procedure
For the therapy to be effective, you need to use a comb to comb out lice and nits correctly, otherwise the procedure will be useless. Therefore, before starting treatment, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of its implementation in advance.
Procedure for using a lice and nit comb:
- Wash your hair with antiparasitic shampoo, which will reduce insect activity.
- Rinse your hair with warm water and vinegar, which will loosen the sticky substance that holds the nits.
- Lay a white cloth on the floor and on your shoulders, tilt your head forward.
- Divide the curls into small strands and comb them thoroughly with a fine comb one at a time.
- At the end of the procedure, collect the tissue and, best of all, dispose of it.
Shampoo treatment
Varieties of combs
Modern pharmaceuticals have 3 types of combs:
- Plastic and wooden comb for combing out lice. They have been used for hundreds of years.
- Metal lice combs, released several decades ago.
- Electric comb for combing out lice and nits - the most innovative model
Removal with plastic and wooden comb
A plastic or wooden lice comb is included in the kit, usually along with a chemical product to combat lice. The comb is also purchased separately, its cost is low. If you comb out weekly, you can get rid of lice if there are any remaining nits.
Metal combs
A special metal medical comb for combing out nits and lice increases the reliability of combing due to its design. If the teeth of an ordinary comb are able to bend around nits and adult insects, then in the metal version the teeth are often located in such a way that only hair can pass between them, eggs and adult parasites are combed out.
The use of a comb eliminates the need for removal with chemicals that have a toxic effect not only on parasites, but also on their host. But for greater effectiveness, metal combs are used in combination with antiparasitic agents. If a person's hair is infested with lice, first use shampoo or spray, and then comb out the insects. This allows you to more thoroughly comb out living and dead parasites.
You can fight lice and nits as a preventive measure. Use a comb to comb the hair or coat weekly and check for parasites or nits. The use of steel branches in the comb prevents premature breakage, so a metal comb for adult lice and nits can be used indefinitely. Fighting these parasites is not only possible, but even necessary for a person of any age. Some models are equipped with magnifying lenses for a thorough search for parasites.
The metal type of comb has its disadvantages:
- low effectiveness when there is a swarming colony of insects (it is wiser to first treat the head with an anti-pediculosis agent)
- long-term use with time consumption. The method is not suitable for a busy family, when you need to devote at least an hour to the comb procedure every day
- It’s inconvenient to process your hair yourself, looking at it strand by strand in the mirror. For this reason, another family member will need to be involved in combing.
- in single cases of use, the cost of the instrument will seem expensive compared to anti-pediculosis drugs. You can determine how much a comb costs by looking at the manufacturer. The estimated cost is 1000 rubles, but the specific price depends on the manufacturer’s model
- although the manufacturer denies hair damage, some of it does not fall into the opening between the teeth and is pulled behind it
- the thickness of the teeth does not guarantee the capture of parasites on the hair roots
- long hair is difficult to comb out from insects
- small adults and eggs remain after combing
Electronic comb type
The electronic lice comb does not have the disadvantages of its predecessor. Using an electric comb is based on weak electric current discharges, which are safe for anyone, even a child. An electric comb eliminates the need for chemicals against parasites. When the teeth come into contact with the insect, the latter dies. Already dead parasites are combed out. In just 1 week of using the tool, it is possible to remove even a huge colony of parasites.
The battery-powered comb makes a slight buzzing sound. When the buzzing stops, the instrument needs to be cleaned. Planned prevention is possible when the child is placed in a nursery or kindergarten. The only drawback of the electric comb type lies in the price of the product. After learning how much the tool costs, some users refuse to buy it. You won’t find a tool cheaper than 2000 rubles.
Combs that modify over time allow you to quickly defeat lice without any side effects.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=E7O1POleh-g%3Frel%3D0
How to choose a quality product?
When choosing a comb for combing out lice, you should give preference to more expensive options. Therefore, it is best to buy an electric or metal comb. In the first case, the use of such a device allows you to quickly remove lice and nits from the hair, since this is facilitated not only by the frequency of the teeth, but also by a weak electrical discharge, which has a detrimental effect on parasites.
A metal comb for head lice is also no less effective. The material from which it is made is durable, so this comb can be used without fear that it will break or the gaps between its teeth will widen over time.
Wooden and plastic combs, as mentioned above, do not have such advantages. This means that when buying them, the money will be wasted.
Popular models of combs for lice and nits
There are several models of combs that have been able to prove their effectiveness in the treatment of head lice and, accordingly, are in demand among buyers.
Antiv
This metal comb for lice and nits has long, fine teeth. The production process uses a laser method for their production; this model is durable and practical.
The upper part of the ridge is rounded. It is equipped with a silicone pad that prevents your hand from slipping while combing. The teeth of this comb are not sharp, so they do not damage the scalp. It also does not cause dandruff or hair breakage.
You can use a comb to quickly cure head lice several times a day.
Liceguard
This model of comb for lice and nits is also highly effective. The comb is distinguished by its versatility of use, as it is suitable for combing hair of different lengths. The comb handle is made of high-strength plastic, and the teeth are made of high-carbon medical steel, which contains chromium.
Liceguard
The anti-pediculosis properties of this device are achieved due to the close arrangement of the teeth. They are also notched, which help comb out adults and nits from the head. Its use does not disturb the hair structure and does not injure the skin. The Lysgard comb is sold complete with anti-parasitic shampoo, which allows you to quickly and without much difficulty cope with head lice.
Nitfree
The Nitfree comb is no less effective against lice than the two previous models. It is made of durable metal, which guarantees the reliability of the design. The tooth size is designed to suit any hair length. The comb handle is equipped with a notch, which prevents your hand from slipping while combing. When used, the structure of the hair is not disturbed, and the tool does not irritate the scalp. At the same time, it helps to quickly and effectively remove lice and nits.
Electric comb Robicomb
This model is a modern development, therefore, when creating it, all the features of the process of destroying lice and nits were taken into account. The Robicomb Electric Lice Comb effectively kills both adults and nits. The combing effect is enhanced by the weak discharge of current produced by the device, and the frequent teeth allow you to remove parasites from the hair.
The Robicombe comb helps to quickly get rid of pediculosis at any stage of its development. Moreover, the device is completely safe for human health.
Benefits of a lice comb
- Efficiency thanks to the following advantages:
- Optimal spacing between teeth. Nits are oval in shape and range in size from 0.4 mm in length, 0.2-0.3 mm in width. The distance between the comb teeth is 0.09 mm. This is smaller than the smallest size of nits, so this product effectively removes parasites from the hair.
- Sufficient length of teeth. Long teeth increase the working surface of the comb, thereby allowing you to remove more nits in fewer movements.
- The teeth have a microscopic notch. Due to the fact that a special spiral-shaped notch with cutting edges is applied to the teeth, the shell of the nits is damaged during their removal and makes them unviable.
- Absolute safety and harmlessness. Hair is not exposed to chemicals and poisoning with toxic drugs. The tips of the teeth are microscopically rounded, which prevents injury to the scalp during combing, and the steel used to make the comb has an optimal ratio of flexibility and rigidity. Thus, by using an anti-lice comb, you prevent damage to the hair when combing.
- Suitable for everyone without exception. Almost everyone can use a special comb: from 0 years to any age, even during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- There are no contraindications for using the comb when taking any other medications or if you have allergies.
- The negative consequences of using a comb against lice are completely excluded.
- This method is suitable for treating head lice at home.
- Reliability. The comb can be used repeatedly and for quite a long time. The quality of the steel that is used to make the comb is such that the product can come into contact with various chemicals without harm to humans and the comb itself.
- The only harmless alternative to chemical parasite repellents. If the patient is a small child or an allergy sufferer, then an anti-lice comb is the only absolutely harmless remedy against parasites. In addition, after the bites of bloodsuckers, wounds remain, and the chemicals that get into them quickly penetrate inside and not only spoil the hair or scalp, but also intensify the itching.
- Ease of use. Thanks to the presence of special strips that prevent it from slipping from your hands, the comb is convenient to use when treating head lice at home and even when combing and processing wet hair.
- Ideal for prevention.
Advantages and disadvantages
Using a special comb for head lice has a number of advantages. The comb helps not only to carry out treatment, but also to diagnose the disease at the initial stage of development. But its use also has certain disadvantages that you should also know.
The main advantages of a comb against lice and nits:
- ease of use;
- does not cause side effects;
- suitable for treatment, prevention, diagnosis;
- safety;
- long service life.
The disadvantages of this tool include the need for long-term daily use. Therefore, as noted earlier, it is better to use it in combination with chemical anti-pediculosis drugs. You should also keep in mind that a high-quality comb is not cheap, which requires significant costs.
Instructions for use
Before you start combing, treat your hair with a product that will destroy the adhesive substance that attaches nits to your hair. This is cherry water (1:3 with plain water), a solution of vinegar and water (1:3), a solution of hydrogen peroxide with water (1:3), a special anti-lice shampoo or olive oil.
Before applying any of the above products to your scalp, be sure to read the instructions
This is especially important if a child is to be treated. After applying the product to your hair, it is important to wait the required time - no more, no less.
The favorite habitats of insects should be taken into account - this is the back of the head and the places behind the ears. If products with a viscous consistency and fat content were used for treatment, they are washed off with regular shampoo. If too large clusters of lice are found in the hair, then treatment with a head lice composition will be required before all subsequent procedures.
It is advisable not to stop them for some time to prevent relapses of the disease.
To begin combing out lice, choose an area with good lighting. If the hair is short, then it is carefully combed with a comb a large number of times. Before you start combing, your hair should be completely dry - if you try to carry out the procedure on wet hair, it will not bring any benefit, but will only lead to splitting of the ends. On long hair, use a comb especially carefully - comb each individual curl several times. Combing operations must be carried out either over a spread sheet or over a bathtub. Combing out is complicated by the fact that the appearance of nits is similar to ordinary dandruff.
It is important that during the first procedure you comb out small strands of hair, then take thicker strands. Each subsequent manipulation will be more difficult than the previous one - this is due to the fact that the remains of nits will be more difficult to detect on the hair
A regular comb cannot achieve even a tenth of the effect that is achieved by using a comb for combing. When the gap between the teeth becomes invisible due to accumulated insects, the comb needs to be cleared of them, soaked in a vinegar solution and wiped dry with a rag. You can treat your hair with weak vinegar before combing - this will greatly facilitate the combing process. After the procedure, be sure to disinfect the comb and all items used in the process. To do this, simply use hot water or ammonia solution. One combing procedure takes about an hour. It is recommended to carry out combing for at least a week.
Get rid of lice and nits immediately upon detection. In addition to the fact that lice quickly spreads to others, parasites crawling around in the head look simply disgusting. Fortunately, there are special tools and equipment that facilitate the process of eliminating them, among which combs are especially effective.