HEAD LICE ARE
- 1 of the top 3 reasons kids miss school.
- Extremely common. Estimates are 6 million to 12 million U.S. kids 3-11 years old get head lice each year.
- Not dangerous, but are contagious (and annoying).
- NOT signs of unwashed or unclean hair. They thrive in clean hair!
- Unable to jump, fly or swim.
- Unable to live on your pets.
- Unable to live in your environment (couch, carpet, car movie theater, airplane).
LICE DO’S
- Use proven manual head lice removal methods and all-natural products.
- Daily wash only the clothing, bedding, brushes and hair accessories used during your head lice infestation.
- Screen your entire household once one child has head lice.
- Tell your school and friends you have head lice to avoid cross-pollination. Spread the word, not the lice!
- Relax and take a deep breath!
LICE DONT’S
- Don’t replace your furnishings (including your mattress).
- Don’t wash your entire wardrobe.
- Don’t use toxic products or ineffective home remedies for head lice. Some over-the-counter shampoos can be highly toxic, especially for kids, yet many strains of lice are immune to the chemicals
- Don’t cut your hair or pour oil, Vaseline, mayonnaise, vinegar or gasoline on it — these methods don’t work.
- Don’t panic! Hair Fairies is here to help! Call us at 877.285.0069.
THE LIFE CYCLE OF A LOUSE
Illustration and info with thanks to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
EGGS: Head lice eggs (called “nits”) are hard to see and often confused for dandruff or hair spray droplets. Nits may be found at the base of the hair shaft nearest the scalp (1).
NYMPHS: The egg hatches to release a nymph (2). The nit shell then becomes a more visible dull yellow and remains attached to the hair. Nymphs mature after three molts (3,4) and become adults about seven days after hatching.
ADULTS:The adult louse has six legs, each with a claw, and is tan to grayish-white (5). In people with dark hair, the adult louse will appear darker. Adults multiply fast, laying up to eight eggs a day, and living up to 30 days on someone’s head. A louse can go two days without blood meals.
If you suspect someone in your family has head lice, act quickly so these parasites don’t spread! Come into a kidfriendly Hair Fairies salon, or call us, and we’ll be more than happy to help.
DIY TREATMENT VIDEOS
We’re determined to help you manage your head lice problem. Our No. 1 mission at Hair Fairies is to help families help themselves.
We have packed more than a decade of experience into our free, step-by-step tutorial. In this and our other how-to videos, you will learn how to identify a head lice egg and adult head lice. And you’ll get easy-to-follow tips on head lice treatment and prevention products.
- Step-by-Step Tutorial – Head Lice Treatment: The Safe and Natural Way
- Get Rid of Head Lice: An Introduction to Hair Fairies Products
- Hair Fairies: the Head Lice Helpers
- Instrucciones en la eliminación de piojos
Questions or concerns? Visit our DIY section. Or call the free Hair Fairies hotline at 877.285.0069.
PREVENTION TIPS
The sooner head lice are detected, the better. Quick action and preventive measures can minimize their spread and chance of returning.
Parents
Preventive Measures:
- Screen your child for head lice once a week.
- Be extra vigilant after returning from any school, camp or holiday break (places where outbreaks tend to occur more often).
- Promote lice screenings at your school/camp — they will help limit outbreaks.
If you hear of a lice outbreak
- Keep long hair pulled back in a braid or ponytail. (Long hair is more susceptible to lice.)
- Apply Hair Fairies Nit-Zapping™ Clenz Prevention Oil onto scalp.
- Spray Hair Fairies Nit-Zapping™ Lice Repellant Spray throughout your non-washables at home, such as your kids’ backpacks and sports caps.
If you find head lice on your child:
- Notify your school, friends and family immediately to help curtail spread.
- Wash all affected clothing with Hair Fairies Laundry Detergent.
- Use Hair Fairies all-natural Nit-Zapping™ Clenz Cream and Nit-Zapping™ Lice Comb to remove lice, then treat with Nit-Zapping™ Clenz Shampoo. Or come to a Hair Fairies salon near you.
- Wash your family’s hands with Hair Fairies Foaming Eucalyptus Hand Soap to prevent transfer of head lice.
SCHOOLS/CAMPS
- Screen your school/camp for lice once a month.
- Remove any negative stigma attached to contracting head lice by educating families and staff and promoting speedy notification of parents.
- Use Hair Fairies Nit-Zapping™ Lice Repellant Spray in your school/camp environment, such as on stuffed animals, pillows, uniforms and caps.
- Use Hair Fairies Foaming Eucalyptus Hand Soap to prevent transfer of head lice.