Guide to combing

It is best to check for head lice using a comb made for the purpose. Ideally it should be white, so that lice can be easily seen, and with teeth no more than 0.3mm apart in order to trap head lice. Research has found detection combing was nearly four times more effective than visual inspection for finding live lice.

Hedrin louse detection comb

Fine-toothed detector comb, also suitable for removing nits and dead lice after Hedrin treatment — available from pharmacists, pharmacy counters and medicine aisles in-store.

How to check for lice with a Hedrin louse detection comb

• Choose a comfortable, well-lit area
• Hair can either be dry or wet (use water or conditioner). Comb through the hair with an ordinary comb to get rid of any tangles
• Divide the hair into sections
• Gently insert the detection comb at the bottom of a section of hair. Comb with the logo facing the head and almost parallel with the scalp so that the specially designed rounded ends of its teeth glide over the scalp without scratching
• Comb lightly outwards for the whole length of the hair
• After each stroke wipe the comb with a tissue and examine any debris found
• Repeat this process over the whole scalp paying particular attention to the areas behind the ears, at the back of the neck and under the fringe
• You may find a magnifying glass helpful to check that what you have found is an insect rather than a flake of skin or dirt
• If you are using conditioner the comb may need rinsing during checking
• After use, wash the comb with clean soapy water and then thoroughly rinse and dry before storing in a dry place
• Treatment should only be undertaken if live lice are found. If nits, but no lice are found after thorough checking then these are likely to be from an old infection which is no longer current and treatment is not necessary