Finding head lice
Half of the people who have head lice never scratch their head, so itching is not a reliable sign. Lice
can be hard to spot because they move quickly. The easiest and most effective way to find head
lice is to follow these steps weekly:
Step 1 Comb hair conditioner on to dry, brushed (detangled) hair. This makes it difficult for lice
to grip the hair or run around.
Step 2 Wipe the conditioner from the comb onto a paper towel or tissue.
Step 3 Look on the tissue and on the comb for lice and eggs.
Step 4 Repeat the combing for every part of the head at least four or five times.
Step 5 If the person has been treated recently and only hatched eggs are found, you may not
have to treat them again since the eggs could be from the old infection.
Step 6 If lice or eggs are found, the person should be treated.
Treating head lice
The two preferred treatment options available for treating head lice are the ‘conditioner and comb’
method and the use of an insecticide.
Using insecticide products
Any head lice treatment product you choose should carry an Australian Registered or Listed
number.
If you use lotions, apply the product to dry hair. For shampoos, wet the hair, but use the least
amount of water possible.
Head lice live in the hair and go to the scalp to feed. Therefore, head lice products must be applied
to all parts of the hair.