If your child is in school, daycare or summer camp, you’ve probably been told to check their hair for lice. By doing this, you can identify the presence of lice before they cause an infestation. But, do you know how to check your child for these tiny parasites? Years ago, visual inspections were enough to track down lice, but a recent study found that wet combing is a more thorough and effective way to identify head lice.
What is Wet Combing?
Wet combing is a technique used to identify lice. It involves using conditioner and a head lice comb that can be purchased online from My Hair Helpers. Wet combing is done safely in the home and comes highly recommended for children with recurring lice infestations, children with allergies or asthma and parents who want to avoid the use of chemicals.
For wet combing to be reliable, you must be diligent. If you find a louse, remove it to prevent an infestation. However, if you only comb through your child’s hair once in a while, you might miss a louse that can reproduce quickly. The good news is that wet combing is safe and has no adverse effects, so this is something you can do weekly.
How is Wet Combing Done
Wet combing is an easy method, but there are still some things to know. Here are the steps to follow:
- Wash the hair using shampoo. Add conditioner for straightening and detangling.
- Use a wide-toothed comb to brush through the hair until it’s smooth and sleek.
- Switch to a head lice comb. Comb through the hair, starting at the roots and drawing the comb down to the ends of the hair.
- After each stroke, check the comb for lice. If they show up, remove them by wiping or rinsing the comb.
- Once you’ve worked through all sections, wash out the conditioner.
When to Use Wet Combing
Wet combing can be used to check for previous infestations. Comb your child’s hair regularly, from two weeks to every week, until no further lice are found. Wet combing is also a great prevention technique. If you know that your child has been exposed to lice in school or daycare, you can check their hair once a week to ensure no lice are present. Again, this is a simple, risk-free method that is highly effective (though not 100%), as long as you are diligent with it.
If you believe that your child has head lice, contact My Hair Helpers for immediate treatment. We can usually see people the same day, and our services are provided in the comfort of your home or our beautiful salon.
