How to comb out nits and lice from long hair at home

Lice and nits

Combing combs

Means for combing out nits

Combing out parasites

Combing out parasites on long hair

Treatment of head lice involves not only the destruction of adult lice and their larvae, but also the labor-intensive and lengthy process of combing already dead lice out of the hair. Recommendations on how to comb out nits and lice in the most optimal way will interest any person, especially those with long hair.

Nits: description and features

When lice reproduce, they lay eggs or nits on human hair. In shape they are similar to elongated capsules no larger than 1 mm in size, and their color is whitish or light yellow. The female attaches each nit to the hair with the help of a sticky secretion so firmly that even with the help of a nail it is very difficult to remove this capsule with the larva - this is the main difference between dandruff and nits.

Each nit is glued close to the base, one on each hair. After gluing, the nit shell hardens within a few minutes. In its front part there is a lid through which the mature larva will come out in a few days, and the empty capsule will still remain hanging on the hair.

Interesting!
An adult louse is capable of laying 3-7 eggs per day; during its short life, it manages to give birth to up to 140 young individuals, each of which matures for at least 16 days, i.e., in almost a month a person will have a fairly large colony in his head lice and nits hanging on hair.

Lice and nits

Nits on hair

Nits are lice eggs that are laid by adults for reproduction. The eggs are laid directly on the hair, tightly attaching to it.

In shape, they resemble a drop a millimeter in length, which has a dense shell on top.

It is quite difficult to eliminate them with your fingers; in addition, lice eggs do not fall off the hair even after the action of various aggressive chemicals, any traditional medicine or medications.

They can only be eliminated with the help of specialized combs or combs.

To carry out the combing procedure, the best option is to use a specialized comb.

Such combs differ from ordinary combs in their more rigid design and very close arrangement of teeth to each other. The use of such combs makes it possible to thoroughly process the hair without missing any nits.

There are special electrical devices - combs, which operate due to an electric discharge. During combing, a discharge of electric current that comes from the comb affects the nits, they die and are simultaneously removed from the hair.

If none of the listed tools is at hand, then an ordinary comb, which has closely spaced teeth, will do. It is better to use a small comb; in extreme cases, you can remove nits with your fingers.

However, this is a rather labor-intensive process that will take a lot of time, patience and effort.

How to get rid of lice and nits

To completely destroy all the parasites that have settled in the head, you should approach the problem comprehensively:

The first step is to get rid of lice and, if possible, most nits, for which various pediculicidal agents are used in the form of emulsions, ointments, sprays, shampoos or traditional methods.
The next step will be to comb out nits and dead lice using combs or special combs. Moreover, this must be done over several days, since it is impossible to remove all parasites in one procedure.

How many procedures will be needed

The amount of time spent combing out nits will be influenced by factors such as hair length, whether there are many pests or not.
There is no guarantee that parasites can be completely eliminated in one day. For a week, you need to repeat the combing procedure daily to gradually get rid of nits and prevent lice from multiplying. It's hard to comb yourself. Other types of treatment are recommended to remove lice and nits. When no nits are visible when examining strands of hair, it means that the process of fighting parasites can be considered successfully completed.

The fight against pediculosis is considered the most labor-intensive and painstaking task. First you need to carry out primary processing, then perform mechanical actions.

In the process of fighting, it is important to disinfect the personal belongings of not only the patient, but also his family members; it is necessary to carry out wet cleaning of the room daily. It is enough to encounter the problem of lice and nits once, and a person gains invaluable experience and a desire to maintain personal hygiene, because the fight against lice is not a pleasant matter.

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.

Combs for combing
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.).

On a note!
Even if you buy an expensive comb, you need to prepare for the fact that you won’t be able to quickly comb out nits and adult insects from your hair in one go. Several procedures are required that will have to be done daily.

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.

Hair treatment after

After removing lice and nits, hair loses its shine, becomes dull and is not always pleasing with its appearance.
To restore hair follicles, you will need to make strengthening masks, lubricate your hair with special oils, and rinse with infusions of medicinal herbs. It is important to prevent lice from reoccurring. To do this, the child needs to be told in detail how and where he can become infected with parasites. In addition, you need to wash your hair regularly, change your underwear and change your bed linen weekly.

Combing aids

Means for combing out nits
To soften the nit capsule and act on the gluten that attaches the egg to the hair, you can use the following means:

acetic acid solution at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. you can use apple, wine, etc. in a basin of water, in which you need to immerse your hair for 3-5 minutes;
mixture 1 tbsp. vinegar, 1 tbsp. l. salt and 1 tsp. alcohol is applied to gauze compresses and applied to the hair and places where nits accumulate, you need to keep it for 30 minutes;
rub cranberry juice into your head for 30 minutes, then rinse with clean warm water;
make an onion mask, for which you mix finely chopped onion and egg yolk, keep it on your head for 1.5 hours;
Hellebore water is applied with a gauze swab to damp hair along the entire length for 30 minutes, then the head should be rinsed. This remedy also helps to restore and strengthen hair, treat skin, however, the drug can only be used in children over 3 years of age;
Listerine and other products containing alcohol are applied to the hair for 30 minutes. under the film, then wash off.

When choosing the necessary product, you should take into account the age of the child or adult, possible allergic reactions, it is recommended to be careful when using them so as not to cause harm.

Getting rid of pediculosis using folk remedies

Getting rid of lice is easier than getting rid of nits. Many people wonder why they can't get nits out of their hair using regular shampoo.

The fact is that nits - lice larvae - are securely attached to the hair shafts. They are held in place by a special composition that only strong chemicals can dissolve.

Such means include:

hellebore water;
food vinegar;
cranberry juice.

In the list, these compounds are arranged in descending order of their power. You can find out more about their action below.

If you want to get rid of lice and nits in one go, use a product such as hellebore water.

Please note that this product is extremely toxic to the body, so it must be applied to hair with great care. Video:

Video:

Hellebore water is a mixture of equal parts of the medicinal plant Hellebore Lobel, infused with alcohol, and distilled water.

Natural alkaloids contained in the drug have effective insecticidal properties.

The toxic effect of these alkaloids extends not only to insects, but also to humans.

Hellebore water can only be used to treat adults, whose bodies have stronger immunity compared to children.

This drug should be distributed using a cotton swab over the entire area affected by lice and nits.

After applying the composition to your hair, you need to wrap your head in polyethylene and do not remove it for half an hour.

Many people who have tried to kill parasites with this remedy say that hellebore water helped them get rid of lice in one application.

However, there are other reviews of the effect of this drug, which report that in severely advanced cases, a single procedure for using the drug is not enough.

Another effective way to kill lice and dissolve the glue that holds nits to the hair shaft is a hair mask containing regular vinegar.

To prepare this remedy, you need to use food vinegar, the acidity of which is nine percent.

To treat head lice, you can use any version of this remedy: alcohol, wine, apple, rice vinegar, etc.

Mix two parts warm, but not hot, water with one part vinegar.

To treat children's hair, half a glass of water with vinegar or even a smaller amount of solution is enough.

Distribute the vinegar and water mixture over your head and hair. Don't forget about polyethylene. Adults can keep the vinegar and water on their hair for at least an hour.

If you are treating a child’s head, do not leave the composition on the hair for more than half an hour.

Some people use freshly squeezed cranberry juice, which immobilizes but does not kill lice.

The acid contained in this juice dissolves the glue that lice use to attach their eggs to the hair, so it will be easier to comb them out.

Cranberry juice is non-toxic, so it can be safely used to treat head lice in children.

It will not be possible to cope with the disease at once using such a solution, but freshly squeezed cranberry juice will not have any harm on the health of children.

Combing rules

Combing out parasites
To properly comb out lice and nits, you need to prepare:

a white towel or sheet on which insects will be clearly visible;
hairpins to support the treated part of the hair;
shampoo with conditioner;
a special comb or comb with fine teeth;
soap solution or boiling water for washing the comb;
good lighting fixtures.

It is easiest for another person to do the combing, who will be able to clearly see the head lice in the hair. However, you can do it yourself with the help of a mirror. You should first wash your hair with balm or conditioner, which will make it easier for the comb to glide through the hair strands and prevent them from tangling.

With the correct procedure, first, all the hair is collected in a bun on the side. Then each strand needs to be separated and combed with a comb; it is better to shake off the lice and nits on a towel, where it will be clearly visible whether all of them have died and their number. The treated strand is pinned to prevent parasites from untreated hair from getting on it. The comb must be washed in a solution or dipped in boiling water after each strand to get rid of surviving insects.

Instructions for combing at home

The effectiveness and speed of the entire treatment depends on how correctly the cocoons with larvae (nits) are combed out.

Preparatory stage

Provide good lighting in the room.
Cover the patient's floor and body with a plain, light-colored cloth. If during the procedure live individuals or cocoons with larvae fall out, they can be quickly detected and destroyed on light-colored fabric, preventing them from spreading to the carpet, furniture or other family members.
Prepare a small container with vinegar solution. A vinegar solution must be prepared before the procedure. To do this, table vinegar (9%) is diluted with a small amount of water, approximately in proportions of 1:1.
Ensure the safety of infection to the person who will directly carry out the procedure itself. To do this, you need to put thin rubber gloves on your hands and tie a sheet or a large piece of light fabric over your clothes.

How to make the process more efficient?

The procedure should be started after treating the patient’s head and hair with special preparations or traditional methods. After treating, holding according to the instructions and washing off the product, you can begin combing. The hair should be damp.
To simplify the procedure, you can treat your hair with a solution of vinegar or cranberry juice. They contain acids that reduce the effect of sticky secretions, making nits easily removed from the hair.
Before combing the strands with a special comb, you should straighten the curls using a simple comb. If your hair is long, you can use a smoothing balm.
Direction of combing: you need to start the procedure from one temple moving to the crown, then from the crown to the other temple. After this, proceed to the back of the head, moving to the crown, and at the end the bangs are combed out.
The entire hair is divided into small strands, each strand is combed on both sides with a comb. After each strand, the comb is dipped in a container of vinegar.
After completing the procedure, all the tissue is very carefully removed (from the patient, from the person who combed it, collected from the floor) and soaked in boiling water, then washed, dried and ironed on both sides. Only after all these procedures will the fabric be ready for the next combing process.
The comb also needs to be boiled. Larvae and living individuals die at temperatures above 45 degrees.
It is advisable to change clothes and wash them in the hottest water possible.
Water with a vinegar solution is poured down the drain; lice that fall into such a solution die immediately.

Important! The combing procedure should be carried out daily for 5-7 days. Only with this approach can you completely get rid of lice.

Not a single ready-made industrial product gives a 100% guarantee that all parasite larvae will be destroyed after use. If at least one nit survives, the lice population will quickly restore its numbers and lice will flare up with renewed vigor.

How many times should the procedure be repeated?

Combing is required until live larvae (nits) can be visually detected when examining the hair.

Many experts recommend doing this:

Treat hair with product and comb out immediately after treatment.
Brush daily for 5 days in a row.
Re-treat hair with product and comb out immediately.
Carry out a thorough examination of your hair every day; for prevention, rinse your hair with a vinegar solution and comb the strands every two to three days for 14 days.

The process of combing your hair is very important; you should not neglect this procedure. All the effort spent on getting rid of nits with the help of combing will turn into effective treatment. After all, you can get rid of lice only by using an integrated approach to solving the problem.

Combing long hair

Combing out parasites from long hair
The task becomes more complicated when you need to comb out nits from long hair at home. You will need the same tools, but it is recommended to treat your hair with balm, which will help make combing easier.

Each strand must be combed, starting from the very root and ending with the ends, and then rinse the comb in water or wipe with a napkin, shaking off lice and nits onto a white cloth.

After finishing the procedure, it is better to flush all the collected insects down the toilet, and watch carefully to ensure that no one is left. The procedure will have to be repeated several more times, since long hair is more difficult to comb out.

The answer to a completely logical question is also interesting: how to comb out nits if you don’t have a comb. You should either choose a comb with the most frequent teeth yourself, or try to pick out nits with your fingernails, dragging them through the entire hair. This method will be even more labor-intensive and time-consuming.

The more thoroughly the hair is combed after the destruction of parasites during pediculosis, the higher the effectiveness of the procedure and the greater the confidence that there is not a single nit or lice left in the hair.

Tip 4: Rinse your hair thoroughly with special shampoos

No matter how hard lovers of all things natural try to avoid pediculicidal shampoos, the nit comb still works more effectively with them. At a minimum, because the hair itself becomes softer and cleaner, as a result of which the comb glides through it more easily. And at the most, because the adult lice themselves quickly die from such shampoos, and all that remains to be done after that is to comb their mortal remains out of the hair.

It is also useful to read: What are lice afraid of and do they die from the cold

And one more thing: A very useful thing that allows you to get rid of lice and nits without any chemicals is a special medical comb...

It is important to understand that shampoos have virtually no effect on nits and do not poison them. Therefore, in any case, it will not be possible to comb out dead nits after washing your hair.

But after one treatment of the head with shampoo, there will be no more parasites left that these nits can lay. Therefore, after even one-time use of shampoo, adult lice are unlikely to appear on the head.

How to choose the right comb

Wooden and plastic lice combs are less effective than metal ones.
And in this regard, the choice should be made on an electric comb. Today this is the best option, although it is expensive. It effectively combs out lice and nits and kills them with an electrical impulse. It is absolutely safe and easy to use, as it runs on a battery. Some models, especially metal combs, are not suitable for long hair. Therefore, you should consider this point before purchasing. When choosing a comb, one must be guided by many factors; often the use of additional chemical control agents is impossible. This could be childhood or pregnancy, or simply a weakened body or allergies. Therefore, it is better to opt for wooden or electric combs.