Severe Nit Infestation

[loulou111]

I am a foster parent. Yesterday a little girl of 10 arrived at my home with the worse case of nits i have ever seen. I don't think your average run of the mill lotion will work. Has anyone got any recommendations of any tried and tested products remedies please?
To be honest its the empty eggs that are the real problem they are stuck like concrete. She starts school next week so i have a real battle on my hands to clear them. Thanks in advance.
This is my first question on this site i was not sure which section to post it in hope its ok posting it here ?.

[sandyRoe]

Buy a fine comb from the local chemist?

[ummmm]

I would go to the pharmacist first and seen what s/he recommends.

I think it might be a case of treating the hair daily and brushing through with a nit comb and lots of conditioner.

[grasscarp]

I would suggest you go to chemist and buy a nitty gritty comb. Get conditioner - any make will do and after washing the hair put on lots of conditioner and get combing. This site tells you all about it
http://www.nittygritty.co.uk/site/

[mallyh]

conditioner and fine comb

[Paulsy]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that using loads of ordinary hair conditioner and a fine nit comb works if you just keep combing it through then maybe use the nit lotion?
I'm so lucky we've never had them so good luck

[mallyh]

ps welcome x

[roopower]

Previous answers seem like a good idea. It will take time but the nit comb/conditioner combo is the best in my view. You'll catch any lice as they hatch daily and the empty eggs should loosen with the conditioner. Any chance of the little girl having a good hair cut too - or would that be too traumatic for her?

[nannybooby]

mhttp://www.fairytaleshaircare.com/y old hairdresser ,who had children used to swear by this

[sebhfhion]

Hi. If you can get to a chemist buy some lavender and rosemary essential oil. Mix ten drops of each into 1/4 cup of baby oil and rub through the hair. leave for about an hour then comb through to remove nit eggs. When washing the hair put a few drops of the essential oils inito a jug and use in the final rinse and leave in. Ifyou have these herbs in the garden you can make a tea with them and use this for rinsing the hair. This is also a natural repellant.

[loulou111]

Oh lots of good advice thank you everyone. I will have a go later with the conditioner and comb. Her hair is very long. Getting it cut is a good idea but i would like to clear it before a trip to the hairdressers i think.

[EvianBaby]

You'd struggle to find a hairdresser who will touch a child with nits anyway.

[loulou111]

Thats true Evianbaby. Will just persevere with the conditioner and comb and go from there.

[MrIncredible]

Dilute some tea tree oil with water in a spray bottle- section the hair in small manageable sections (starting in the nape) and comb through each section thoroughly with a nit comb whilst spraying the hair with the tea tree/water solution.

I have in the past refused to do hair on a child whose has nits, never want to make a child feel self conscious but sometimes they are so badly infested.

[rockyracoon]

White vinegar helps to loosen the glue in the eggs, use after treatment.

[Sharingan]

Can I just say that I would really get the little girl's opinion on cutting her hair whenever you decide to because I can't think of anything more horrible or traumatic than being made to have your hair cut if you are already in a vulnerable situation plus it doesn't help to clear nits at all. Hope she's okay and you get them cleared before she has to go to school. xx

[sherrardk]

One of my children is allergic to the chemical nit killer and came out in a terrible rash when I used it on her. I used Neem oil on her and although it worked it stank to high heaven (we had to sit her under an open window). I haven't done it myself, but I have been told that mayonnaise works (if suffocates the nits). Whilst it is a pain that she has got nits, kids with short hair get them too so I, personally, wouldn't get it cut (one of my children has hair down to her wits and she would be devastated if I had it cut shorter). Good luck, it's never ending with nits.

[sherrardk]

Waist ^ even

[BlueToffee]

I can't add any more advice than you've already been given.

Horrid little critters. Very, very good luck!

[DaisyNonna]

Agree with you Sharingan. Poor little soul must be feeling very vulnerable.
May we shorten your name? Bit fiddly for non-typists like me.