Bugs
crawling through a child’s hair—the thought alone is enough to make any parent
wince. While exposure is inevitable for young kids, especially as school swings
back in session and campers return from destinations both near and far, lice
evoke more fear than necessary. According to experts, there are plenty of
convenient and effective measures for prevention and, if need be, a foolproof
treatment plan. 

Many
of the common nit-driven misconceptions encompass the who and the how. To set
the record straight: kids can’t get lice from playing with animals, nor can
the tiny bugs fly (phew!) or even live for very long on furniture—they can only be
transmitted by close contact with other people. Dalya Harel, the CEO of LiceBustersNYC, a lice
removal service, can certainly attest to this as she’s seen heightened demand
after sleepover parties–“the more, the merrier,” she jokes. 

Contrary
to popular opinion, lice don’t like dirty hair—they prefer clean coifs where
they can easily hold onto hair follicles, and their eggs will stick to the scalp.  “Lice are very hygienic, they only come
to clean people,” Harel says. So letting
children’s hair stay a bit oily will help prevent lice from setting up
residence, but there are also shampoos, conditioners and sprays that contain repellent to keep the bugs at bay. Harel even recommends using a drop of garlic
extract on the hair.

Risa
Barash, the Founder of Fairy Tales Hair Care, emphasizes that “it’s really head-to-head contact” that causes lice. She
suggests keeping kids’ coats, hats and scarves away from others to prevent the
bugs from crawling over, as well as conducting bi-weekly head checks. “Just give a look, check behind the ears, check the back of
the neck, look at the part lines.”

For a
more comprehensive description of what to look for, the “Is it Lice?” App, now
available in the iTunes App Store from Hair Whisperers and the Kazu Agency,
provides step-by-step instructions and video demonstrations. It also shows what
to do if lice are found and provides links to local services that will assist
with treatment.

Got lice at home? Don’t panic. The standard remedy remains washing with a special shampoo
to kill the bugs and then thoroughly combing the hair with an extremely
fine-toothed comb to ensure the removal of every egg.

To help loosen eggs and
get them to stick to the comb, Adie Horowitz, the owner of Licenders, a NYC-based
head lice treatment studio, recommends using a thick hair conditioner mixed
with baking soda and combing small sections at a time. There are also products
which contain enzymes to break down the glue that attaches the eggs to
hair. If it all seems a little
overwhelming, her company is there to help. “Our goal is to take the horror
away from parents and give them their lives back quickly.”

September is National
Head Lice Prevention Month. For more information, visit headlice.org.

LICE FIGHTERS

Babo Botanicals Rosemary Tea Tree Lice
Repel Conditioning Spray

Clinically proven to be
95% effective at repelling lice, especially when used in combination with the
companion shampoo, this conditioner is certifiably organic.  Rosemary, mint and tea tree oils combine to
keep lice at bay. 8 oz. bottle, $18, babobotanicals.com

Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Leave-In
Conditioning Spray

The so-good-smelling blend
of rosemary, citronella, tea tree, lemongrass, peppermint and sage in this
repellent conditioner has proven to be 92% effective at preventing lice.
8 oz. bottle, $10.95, fairytaleshaircare.com

Licenders Lice Shampoo

An all-natural shampoo (containing
zero pesticides) that relies on enzymes to kill lice by dissolving their
shells.  And unlike pesticides, insects
won’t develop a resistance because they use the same enzymes.
8 oz. bottle, $34, licenders.com

So Cozy Boo! Shampoo and Conditioner

These all-natural hair care
products will not only clean, strengthen and detangle your kiddo’s strands, but
also contain tea tree, rosemary and lavender oils to spook the nits away—for
good.
8 oz. bottle, $14.50, socozy.com