Fact or Fiction: Do Lice Love Clean Hair?

“Don’t go near them, they’re unclean and might have lice!”

Growing up, if you’ve heard your mother say this, you’re probably aware of what follows. That’s right. Playground bullying.

Whether it’s someone you knew since you were a kid or a new kid on the black, the unspoken rule was to never talk to someone with head lice. If you got caught talking to an infected person, you were considered infected too.

So if you wanted to survive school until graduation, the rule of the thumb was to never be seen with someone who had head lice. And that meant to steer clear of them completely.

A person with head lice is considered unclean. You probably remember your parents and friends telling that little Timmy had head lice because his parents never washed his hair or he took a bath once a month.

But in reality, that simply isn’t true. In fact, that logic doesn’t add up because lice don’t breed by surviving on dirt. They breed by surviving on human blood.

·         How Lice Function

The problem with lice is that once they latch onto a scalp, they’re difficult to remove. They’re stubborn, pesky creatures that don’t leave you alone. Not only that, they’re great at camouflaging! They’re the masterminds behind ‘Hide and seek’.

Since they’re brown in color, they can hide into the black strands of your hair. This is why most people are unaware that they have been infested.

According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lice infestation has nothing to with cleanliness. According to the same report, 6 to 12 million infestations occur every year in the U.S.

So the problem isn’t uncommon. But more than that, the problem is lack of awareness. Most people believe that if they keep their hair clean, they won’t be infested. Not only is this not true, lice have a happier time cruising through a clean scalp!

It makes life easier for them because they don’t have grease or dirt getting in the way. Since their movements aren’t restricted, they’re able to lay eggs easily. Within 24 hours of mating, female lice lay up to 10 eggs along hair shaft. The nest is 1/4 inches away from the scalp. A nit takes 7 days to hatch and within 10 days, the baby lice become old enough to lay eggs of their own.

·         The Right Temperature

According to Springer Link, a journal, lice need the right temperature, humidity and exposure time to breed. According to a research, 18C was the favored temperature, with 97 percent humidity at 18h of exposition. Therefore, tropical places like Florida have the perfect temperature for lice to breed.

The heat released through the body helps the nits to hatch. Furthermore, during hot temperatures, we tend to drink more water. Since water improves blood circulation, summers are epitome of comfort for lice.

·         Getting Rid of Lice

Getting rid of lice is tricky but it’s not impossible. The process doesn’t have to be as difficult as climbing a mountain. With a few simple steps, you can effectively get rid of the pesky critters that have nested your mane:

Avoid OTC Products Like the Plague: If you or someone you know has lice, it’s important to keep this in mind: Avoid OTC products like the plague. In fact, you should avoid them more than you would avoid a person with head lice. Why? This is because they’re laden with harsh chemicals that damage the scalp. When your scalp is damaged, you become vulnerable to burns and permanent hair loss!

Consult Professional Lice Removal Services: You’re probably wondering what that is. Lice removal services are professionals who clean head lice. They’re known for using natural products and special combs to get rid of each and every nit and louse from your hair.

Not only that, they hire experienced and certified experts to get the job done.

We offer exclusive lice removal packages. If you’re struggling with lice, come visit our clinic in Hollywood, FL for a quick head lice screening! You can also call us at 800-748-9451 for any questions/queries!

We also offer in-home treatment services for busy individuals and parents!