Category Archives: Head Lice Help

How to Clean Hairbrushes and Combs During a Head Lice Outbreak

howtocleanbrushesduringaliceoutbreak

Many are concerned about cleaning hair brushes during a lice outbreak. Hair brushes and combs easily collect debris and can transmit buildup onto your beautiful tresses so weather or not you have an active head lice case at home it’s always a good idea to keep your brushes and combs clean. Regular cleaning will help hair styling tools last a lot longer. It’s recommended that you remove all the hair from brushes at least once a week or more. During a lice outbreak be sure to dispose of the tresses in the outside garbage.

When there is a lice outbreak soak combs in hot water (not boiling – this will ruin them) (130°F) for 15 minutes. Many people like to use the dishwasher on a high heat dry for cleaning brushes! This might damage some of the handles, but we know in a case of a lice infestation combs are thrown out multiple times and most Moms prefer to throw them away and get new ones! In the event someone has a favorite brush or you’d like to try to keep them, read on. For items that cannot be soaked in hot water place them in a tightly sealed plastic bag and put them in a freezer for 10-12 hours to kill the lice and eggs and then presume with ordinary cleaning of your hair brushes.

How to Clean Hairbrushes during a Lice InfestationFor Ordinary Hairbrush Cleaning:

Gather you hair brushes and combs and wet the bristles (not the bodies) of the tolss under warm water then place a small dab of shampoo onto the bristles or comb and carefully rub the bristles together for two combs or gently for a comb brush combination. Run under water rubbing gently until all the suds are gone. Dry the brush or comb on a towel. If there is still leftover grime on hair styling tools, use a cotton swab to get any left over product from in between bristles and repeat the process above.

Using baking soda to get rid of product’s chemicals remaining in hair tools is yet another great use for Baking Soda. See our Head Lice Home Remedies board & 51 surprising uses for Baking Soda  Start with what was mentioned earlier and take all of the unwanted tresses out of hairbrush or comb and dispose of them into the garbage. Then, soak hairbrushes and combs in the bathroom sink with about one half cup of baking soda and warm water for about fifteen minutes. The final step is to let the hair-styling tools air dry on towel.

Remember not to immerse certain types of brushes or combs in the water. These types are the following:

Rubber- cushioned brush
Wooden bodied brushes or combs
Natural boar bristle brushes.

Permitting water to get through the vent hole on cushioned brushes will erode the cushioning of the brush. A wooden bodied brush or comb may cause wood to absorb water and damage the finish or make the body swell and break. Natural boar bristle brushes contain natural hair that would take in moisture as would other types of natural hair. The bristles on boar bristle brushes would twist or curl if dampened.

How To Deep Clean Combs and Hair Brushes Regularly or during a Head Lice Outbreak

You Will Need:

1/4 cup Borax

Squirt of Dawn Dish Soap (or other dish-washing liquid)

Sink of warm water

1. Begin by filling your sink about a quarter full with warm water.

2. Add the 1/4 cup of Borax and swish it around with your hands to help it dissolve.

3. Squirt some dish soap in the sink and then finish filling the sink with warm water until it’s about 3/4 full. You don’t want it so full that it will overflow
when you add your combs and brushes.

4. Particularly for the hair brushes, remove as much of the hair that may be stuck in them as possible before adding them to the water.

5. Place the combs and hair brushes in the soapy borax water and let them soak for a while. About 30 to 45 minutes should do it.

6. After that time has passed, you should find that your combs and brushes are clean again and that all the product build up is gone.

7. Rinse the combs and brushes with clean warm water and then dry them off.

Now you’re all set until the next lice outbreak – oh that’s right we are supposed to be cleaning our brushes and combs REGULARLY!

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Contributor:   Julie B, Let’s Be PALS

 

How to Prevent Lice – Regular Head Checks

Head Lice Prevention VirigniaLice Prevention – Is it Possible?

Did you know that 3 percent of the kids at most schools have lice at any given time? And that’s when there isn’t a major outbreak.

Most parents don’t want to talk about it but lice is a nationwide epidemic that gets a little worse every year. There is no way to completely protect your family against lice, but you can take some common steps to educate yourself and be proactive against the problem. Particularly going back to school. It’s head lice season (Get 10 Tips to Lice Prevention)  August thru October.

Trying to avoid head lice would be like trying to avoid catching a cold. The best thing you can do in the prevention of head lice is to check your child’s head regularly, because early detection is key.

Didn’t receive a notice from school that there is an outbreak? Check anyway! At least every two weeks & weekly head check would be better. What about cleaning? We can’t emphasize enough to spend time on the head not the home. This is to all  what we like to call the “cleaning Ninja Moms” (you know who you are, you go into a crazed cleaning mode, Spring cleaning on speed) Yes, if there is a confirmed infestation, wash the linens and recent clothes and soak the hair brushes (we know – Ninja Moms already threw those out!). Vacuuming is another safe alternative if you must spend time cleaning your home.

Remember lice isn’t hazardous to your family’s health it’s just a big nuisance.  Certainly staying informed is another key to prevention. Ask after school programs if they notify parents and what their protocol for head lice is and what your children’s school policy is concerning lice. Discussing precautionary steps with your children are important like no sharing of hats, hair brushes etc.

There are a variety of product treatments available. Read about Best Lice Treatment & The Truth about Lice Pesticide Treatments  or many Natural Head Lice Treatments are available. In all cases whether you choose a pesticide treatment (that lice are becoming increasingly resistant to) or an all natural treatment its important to understand that nits (lice eggs) need to be manually removed.

Families who have experienced lice know that it can sometimes interfere with the families fun time or other planned activities. Being proactive & diligent is the key to prevention. If you work and don’t have time, call in a professional service. Virginia Beach Lice Treatment – Let’s Be PALS  offers head checks and a neat Pay It Forward plan for your circles (to help keep lice away) & Lice Doctors also serves Virginia Beach & many cities & states. Google Lice Treatment for a professional lice treatment & removal service in your area.

Did you know?

Head lice is one of the top three reasons why children miss school.
80 percent of the time kids pass on a lice infestation to their siblings.
80 percent of the time mothers contract head lice from their children.
20 percent of the time fathers contract head lice from their children.

Sources: Virginia Beach Lice Treatment Let’s Be P.A.L.S
Author: Julie B

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Head Lice – Help!

Head Lice HelpHead Lice – Help!

At Let‘s Be P. A. L.S (Pros Against Lice Service) It’s a message we hear a lot. We always try to answer our phone but in the event that all of our lice technicians are out on Head Lice treatment calls a messaging system takes the call and “We have Head Lice – Heeeelp!” is one of the most heard messages we receive.

We listen to the messages with compassion and empathy. There are all kinds of phone personalities but always a hint of anxiety and that’s normal.  Head Lice can bring even the strongest person to their knees.

I was combing my hair out after an appointment and thought I saw a louse in the comb and I actually had a little gasp of shock where I lost my breath for a moment. I’ve been combing head lice out of peoples heads for over 10 years and have had cases where 50 or more lice/eggs came out per comb swipe.

Head Lice don’t phase me, I just like to help people get rid of them, but when it was my OWN head well the reaction was instinctively different.  The shock factor automatically took over. I went into super charge reaction mode.  So not only do I know what it’s like to have a child with head lice and battle it for months, I’ve also experienced (for a very looooonng moment) what it felt like to think I had lice myself.

I can’t really explain why the initial reaction was so shocking, but I know that it was and I can truly understand where Moms are coming from when they are looking for help with head lice.

You aren’t alone in your battle against head lice.  Summer & Fall are head lice season. Download a money saving coupon at Head Lice Season for head lice services in Virginia Beach.

You can download a FREE copy of Your Quick Family Guide to Lice Removal at Virginia Beach Lice Treatment

Join Our Group – Can We Talk – Lice for helpful hints/tips and just to talk with people going through the same experience as you.  It doesn’t appear on your timeline or any where else. It’s a private/secret group and a safe place to talk about head lice.