Head lice don't care how "old" your hair is

I was speaking to a parent the other day while removing head lice from her daughter and she was under the impression that adults don’t get lice as much because their hair is “old.”  Lice do not discriminate by age. To them, hair is hair.

Lice are, however, particular about the kind of hair they live in. There are several types of hair they can’t tolerate.

• People with hair that’s less than ¼” long. Lice need hair and warmth to survive.  Therefore, no hair means no lice.
• Some African American hair does not seem to get lice especially if it’s short/corn rows and has lots of hair product/oil in it.  It is a myth that African American hair will never get lice.
• People with balding or thinning hair don’t typically get lice.
• Hair on babies that is thin and wispy.
• Head lice only like head hair, not other types of body hair. There are different types of lice for different types of hair on the body.

Lice heaven would be long, straight, thick hair.  If I were a louse and I made it to the pearly gates of lice heaven, I would want to be in an 8-year-old’s thick long hair. I could set up shop and no one would be able to find me for months!

Head Lice Love Clean Hair

What’s better for repelling lice, clean hair or dirty hair?  Most people believe that having lice is a dirty person’s problem. That’s why there’s the entire stigma about lice.  I always hear, “Lice couldn’t possibly live on my child since I wash her hair every day!” or “Lice only live on the dirty and unkempt.”

Lice Like Clean Hair

Lice thrive on clean hair. When hair is clean there are no oils, dirt, dandruff, and debris in the hair so the lice have an easier time feeding and laying their eggs on the hair. Dirty hair makes it difficult for lice to eat, since lice eat blood by biting on the scalp. When there’s lots of oil and dirt in the hair they can’t get down to the scalp as easily.

That doesn’t mean that your child won’t get lice if you only wash their hair once a month, but it does mean that the lice won’t be as happy there.  So please keep washing your kids. No one likes a stinky kid.

Head Lice Prevention

To prevent lice, put hair products in their hair, such as gel, mousse, and hair spray. When hair is stuck together, they can’t navigate through the hair as easily.  Also, keep girl’s hair up in ponytails or braids so it will have less contact with other people and other’s people’s things.  Boy’s hair should be kept short – the shorter, the better.

Lice affects the rich and the poor, the clean and the not-so-clean. Anyone (except the shaved heads!) can get lice.  Remember, it is not a reflection on you.