Approaches to removal vary but all have to include manual removal of lice and their eggs to have complete success.
Pesticide based products are applied as shampoos or lotions to the scalp, and are left on for an instructed period of time, then thoroughly rinsed off. A second application 7 to 10 days follows. These products do not kill the nits (eggs) and you will still need to manually remove them with a high quality lice comb. Follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully when using these products as they are potentially harmful pesticides and can have adverse affects.
Your safest approach is an all-natural one.
The Greater Vancouver Lice Clinic promotes education and the Wet-Combing Method of removal as the safest and most reliable method of treatment. This method can be used on any person regardless of their age or heath concerns. Also it is the most reliable way to detect head lice.
Even if you chose to use a pesticide product to kill most of the live lice, manual removal is necessary to address the eggs or they will continue to hatch.
The Wet-Combing method is designed to break up the life cycle of the louse by manually removing all live lice and their eggs. Lice that hatch after the first comb-out are removed with each following comb-out and long before they have a chance to reproduce and continue the life cycle.
When using a high quality comb like the LiceMeister® or Terminator there is no need to use pesticide products to address the live lice. A good comb removes both lice and their nits.
High quality tools and knowledge of the louse life cycle is all you need to successfully eradicate head lice!
Keep in mind that head lice removal is a process. There is no quick fix to eradicating these pesky critters but it can be done in a safe fashion.