Do You Have Lice? How to Check and What to Do Next

Quick take: don’t panic—confirm first

Head lice are common and fixable. Before you deep-clean the house or buy harsh chemicals, confirm whether lice or nits (eggs) are actually present. A calm, methodical check will save hours and prevent unnecessary treatments.

• They don’t jump or fly. Lice crawl and spread mostly through head-to-head contact.
• Not a hygiene issue. Clean hair is just as welcoming to lice as dirty hair.
• Symptoms vary. Itching can take weeks to start; some people feel nothing at all.

How to check for head lice (step-by-step)

You’ll need: bright light, sectioning clips, a stainless steel nit comb, and a white paper towel.

1. Light & prep – Sit near a window or lamp. Lightly dampen hair; detangler can help with slip.
2. Part at the scalp – Look within ¼ inch of the scalp, especially behind the ears and at the nape (back of the neck).
3. Comb from scalp to ends – Place the comb teeth at the scalp and pull in one smooth stroke to the ends.
4. Wipe & inspect – After each pass, wipe the comb on the white towel. Nits look like tiny tan/gray ovals; they don’t flick away like dandruff.
5. Repeat methodically – Work section by section. Finish with a quick magnified re-check if you have one.

Unsure after checking? Book a quick professional screening—it’s fast, discreet, and you’ll get a yes/no answer with next steps.

Choose a treatment that actually works

Skip harsh pesticides. The gold standard is a pesticide-free, strand-by-strand comb-out with a stainless steel nit comb under bright light. A pro sections hair, combs from scalp to ends, wipes and inspects every pass, then re-checks with magnification—so you leave clear.

DIY? You can follow the same process at home. Plan a short day 5–7 self-check to ensure nothing was missed.

Cleaning: smarter, not harder

Lice don’t live long off the head. Here’s the short list:

• Dryer (high heat 20–30 min): pillowcases, hats/hoodies, favorite plush items
• Brushes/Combs: soak in hot water or 70% alcohol, then air-dry
• Surfaces used today: a quick vacuum of car seats and sofas
• Skip: bagging toys for weeks, full-house deep cleans—unnecessary

Who to tell

Quietly notify people who had recent head-to-head contact: household members, sleepover friends, teammates, and your school nurse. They can get screened quickly and you’ll avoid a “ping-pong” reinfestation.

Do I need to treat everyone in the house?
No. Screen everyone first; only treat those with confirmed lice or nits.

Can I get lice from pets or pillows?
No. Lice need human scalps. Off-scalp survival is brief; light laundry is enough.

Will one treatment do it?
A meticulous comb-out typically clears in one visit, followed by a quick phone check-in and an optional self-check on day 5–7.

Local help (Temecula Valley & SoCal)

Prefer privacy and speed? We offer discreet screenings and pesticide-free comb-outs at home (unmarked arrival) or in our private salon bus. You’ll get a return-to-school letter, simple prevention tips, and a phone follow-up.

Call: 951-297-9297 • Book online: Click Here Now!