Lice and hair: complete guide and action plan to get rid of them for good!

How are lice transmitted?

Lice are mainly spread through direct head-to-head contact. During play, hugs, or any moments of close proximity, they can move from one scalp to another in an instant. Transmission can also occur via contaminated objects. Sharing items such as hairbrushes, towels, helmets, pillows… in short, anything that comes into contact with hair, can spread lice.

Lice do not fly or jump; they move slowly along the scalp. However, close and repeated contact allows them to easily pass from one head to another. This need for proximity explains why nurseries, schools, or group activities are common places for infestation. Through play, hugs, and sharing objects, children can easily pass these little creatures to each other.

The family unit is therefore, logically, also a prime environment for transmission. Generally, when a child catches lice at nursery, school, or during an extracurricular activity, they bring them home, and no family member is safe. Adults can also catch lice if their child is infested.

Note: Contrary to popular belief, lice have nothing to do with poor hygiene. Anyone can catch them, whether the hair is clean or dirty.

Comment repérer les poux chez un enfant?

• Il se gratte le cuir chevelu : c’est souvent le premier signe. Les démangeaisons sont dues à la piqûre des poux qui se nourrissent de sang. Elles sont généralement plus intenses derrière les oreilles et à la nuque. Si votre petit bout se gratte, sortez le peigne, c’est l’heure de l’inspection.
• Présence de lentes (oeufs)  : ce sont de petites pellicules ovales, de couleur blanchâtre ou translucide, fixées fermement à la tige des cheveux, près du cuir chevelu. Elles ne tombent pas facilement et donnent une sensation de grains de sable dans les cheveux.
• Présence de pou adulte : on peut parfois repérer un pou adulte à la racine des cheveux ou en fouillant minutieusement le cuir chevelu. Les poux sont rapides, mais visibles si on regarde bien. Une inspection attentive vous éclairera.

How to properly check for the presence of lice

The best way to check is through a careful inspection of the scalp using a lice comb. Seat your child in good lighting and part the hair, section by section. If lice are present, they will be on the scalp, and are generally easier to spot behind the ears.

If combing doesn’t reveal anything, still examine the scalp visually. As explained above, there may also be nits, which don’t always come out with the comb.

At the slightest doubt, carry out a preventive treatment. We recommend checking your children’s hair once a week during high-risk periods, such as the start of the school year. The earlier the problem is detected, the sooner it can be solved.

How to effectively get rid of lice

Oh no, you’ve found lice and/or nits in your children’s hair. One of the first things to do is inform the school or daycare. There’s no shame in it; it happens to everyone. To eradicate lice, it’s necessary to treat all people and all objects that may have been contaminated. Lice are highly invasive, and if everything and everyone is not properly treated, the result is an endless, vicious cycle of re-infestation.

It is therefore important to inform the school so they can anonymously alert other students. On your side, it is essential to treat your entire family. If one member is infested, the whole family is at risk.

Anti-lice shampoo: the best solution?

By reflex, we often turn to an anti-lice shampoo from the pharmacy or supermarket. Packed with pesticides and ultra-powerful chemicals, it is indeed effective, but it is also highly harmful to the scalp and to your children’s health, especially for very young ones.

In addition to the obvious toxicity of pesticides for your child’s body, it’s not uncommon to see side effects such as scalp and hair irritation, or allergic reactions. In some cases, these aggressive anti-lice shampoos can even cause neurological disorders.

So, yes, anti-lice shampoo is effective, but at what cost? Fortunately, there are natural alternatives that are just as effective and much more respectful of your child’s health.