Lice actually prefer clean hair-so getting lice is nothing to be ashamed of. Best Advice?
1. Light bulb light is junk when trying to see lice and nits- outdoor light( or florescent light) is best.
2. Buy yourself a comfortable pair of magnifying/reading glasses- sometimes available in dollar stores. Wear these to help you see the nits.
3. If it is a girl with long hair who has lice- use a flat iron ( a hair straightening device). Use EXTREME CAUTION near young children- it gets hot and stays hot for a while even when off- so it can burn someone if not used correctly! It cannot be used on the scalp because it would burn the scalp, but a good flat iron, in my opinion, used correctly on the rest of the hair will fry the lice and nits when dragged along the hair strands. Because you cannot do the entire head at the same time, it is not a foolproof way to eliminate the lice-lice may jump from one area to another- but a flat iron can probably save hours of Nit picking! To get lice to get away from the scalp and go onto the hair strands before you flat iron-aim a very warm blow dryer at your child’s scalp- the lice will run from it!
4.Use spiking gel- a hair product not usually used in frum families- to make hair stiff. If it can immobilize hair, I can’t imagine that it won’t immobilize the louse as well and prevent it from attaching to the scalp to feed. Unlike vaseline, spiking gel should be able to wash out of the hair when it is no longer needed.
5. If your child has lice- focus your time on the child’s hair and bedding. Don’t worry about cleaning and dusting the house, vacuuming all carpets etc. It is highly unlikely that these areas will reinfect your child- or infect the others( unless there is one very favorite spot where your child usually lies down or sits.) You will have enough to do- so spend your time on the child’s hair.
Also, if you google “head lice remedies”, you may find some more good ideas. Good luck-I do not envy you- lice is no fun!