We all Know Lice
Lice are annoying, and they get in the way of our daily routine, they aggravate our kids and keep them out of school. There’s no reason to go into too much detail about it when you’re browsing a site called Lice Troopers. However, it’s essential to know and identify our enemy to express the strengths and weaknesses of Lice Shampoo as a treatment.
Lice, of course, make their nests, eggs, entire existence in the beds of hair that we all have. Whether they are hanging on the individual stems of the nose or nestling into the scalp, they are present at any given section of the scalp and hair.
With this in mind, we know that short of shaving our heads, we need pretty aggressive chemical treatment if we are going to wash them out, and we certainly can’t put a tent around our head for a week while the situation figures itself out, and therein lies the problem.
Why Should I Buy Lice Hair Treatments?
Lice Treatments are ideal for prevention and maintenance before they are ideal for extermination.
If we are doing a comprehensive lice treatment on a child, we can be sure with 90-95% certainty that the pests are gone, but the reason they aren’t completely extinct is that they are so crafty.
So post-treatment or pre-infestation, shampoos, and hair treatments that prevent lice are great for making the environment untenable, for lack of a better phrase. But this isn’t the kind of situation that you want to keep going year-round unless you want to fry your hair.
Will Lice Shampoo adversely affect my hair?
You don’t call Loreal when you have a lice problem. There are prescription and non-prescription lice shampoo, and both have plenty of chemicals to make it an un-fun experience.
Since most prescription lice shampoos will be oriented on eradication, they are going to be plenty strong on your scalp since they are effectively trying to burn down a bunch of critters’ houses.
With prescription strength, you can anticipate dry scalp and possibly rashes on your head, depending on skin sensitivity. While this isn’t the case for everyone, it is the case for someone.
For non-prescription based shampoos, you can still expect some sensations, but I would liken it to the experience one gets by using any strongly medicated shampoo. There will be some menthol-tingling on the scalp, and if left in too long, you can do some unnecessary damage to your hair.
Will Lice Shampoo dry My Scalp?
Since the scalp is the main point of attack, it is the primary target for most hair products for lice. Now each has active ingredients, but the main point of using the hair products is to stop all means of production on your head.
With that being stated, you can expect most of the lice shampoos to focus on doing their job and getting rid of lice instead of keeping your scalp nice and moist, the two work against each other for an average manufacturer.
So most shampoos on the market will try to make the scalp a little uncomfortable, which can, of course, lead to dandruff and flaky skin.
Will I know if it’s Lice or Dandruff?
The easiest way to determine if you’re dealing with Lice or Dandruff is that one jumps, and the other one doesn’t.
In all seriousness, you have two white particles that cause itchiness in the scalp, the most significant difference being that ticks act like living things, and dandruff doesn’t.
If you see a white fleck in hair and you try to pull it out and instead it’s clinging, then it might be lice. Dandruff, while being flakes and small, can sometimes have a little bit of cling if your hair has some perspiration to it, but mainly lice is going to be the one that is going to put up more of a fight and even hop away in some instances.
We put together a in-depth guide “
Lice vs. Dandruff: Spot the Difference, Stop the Infestation.”
Is there a Lice Conditioner?
No, and I don’t think there should be. There are already shampoos and hair treatments that are heavy on the scalp and can do some serious damage if mishandled or inappropriately applies.
But if you are looking for a hair conditioner that will keep your hair nice while you are undergoing Lice Conditioner, I’d recommend a leave-in conditioner mainly because you want to add as much time in between the lice shampoo and any additional products before you begin throwing other things in the mix.
I feel as though there might be a way to create a lice conditioner that genuinely has some of the best of both worlds, but we are talking major breakthroughs in the field of lice treatment before that happens.
Are They Safe For Kids?
Most of the shampoos and hair treatments on the market are “safe for kids.” But that doesn’t mean it won’t cause discomfort. It’s like when the doctor says that you’re going to feel a pinch when in actuality, it’s a needle stabbing your arm, and it feels like such.
You are dealing with chemicals that are designed to kill a lot of hard to kill bugs, and they are made for walking that fine line between deadly for them and long-term harmless for you. But that doesn’t mean they don’t pose short-term risks, especially for a child whos scalp will probably be more sensitive than an adult.
Should I Consult a Doctor before Buying Lice Shampoo?
Probably. Lice Shampoo contains a lot of chemicals and really acute pesticides in order to rid your scalp of lice.
If you are pregnant, nursing, someone who is prone to skin conditions, or even unsure of what your kid could be potentially allergic to on any given day, you will want to consult a doctor.
If you are a relatively healthy person and you know none of the above categories apply to you, it still wouldn’t hurt to send them a message or give the office a call just to confirm. Maybe it won’t prompt a doctor’s visit, but maybe the doctor even has some recommendations or warnings about the products you’re about to purchase. After all, a blog post is not a replacement for a doctor’s note.
How Often Should I Apply The Treatment?
This is a really difficult question to answer because it depends on what brand you’re using, what you’re susceptible to, and what kind of active ingredients are being implemented.
That being said, if you are going to read the labels for a better understanding, start with the warning. It’s best to hit the notes that are going to get you in serious trouble before trying to figure out what applicator to use or whether it’s best after or during a shower.
What are the Best Hair Treatments I can Buy?
I do not recommend or endorse any over the counter Lice Shampoo. If you are on the fence about what kind of treatment goes best with your lifestyle, consult a doctor.
At Lice Troopers we carry our own Lice Shampoo but should only be use in combination with a combing technique explained below.
Our pesticide free Lice Treatment Shampoo helps to soften and detangle hair while making it easier to remove nits and head lice.
Unlike commercial lice products, this shampoo hydrates and nourishes, leaving the hair lustrous and lice free (after thorough combing).
You can order our Home Kit or Shampoo, comb individually by visiting our online store at
shop.licetroopers.com, at this time we are offering a
Free Same Day Delivery for Local Areas close to our Lice Treatment Centers, if you need to find a center near you can do so by visiting our
find nearest clinic page.
If you have any questions please feel free to give us a call 24/7 at
1 (800) 403-5423
How Effective Are Lice Shampoos?
Preventative Lice shampoos do a pretty decent job of stopping an infection from starting, but it’s common for things to happen. If your child is surrounded by kids with lice, it’s bound to jump onto the clothes, take deep root in the body hair and then spring itself post-shower.
I would say they are a worthwhile investment if you are the action-taker in the family, but fighting an active infestation might prove to be a little futile.
It’s best to manually comb through your hair and try to pick out major sections then hit with shampoo for a secondary attack.
In summary: It’s great for prevention, but as a standalone measure to fight off an infestation, they often fall a little short.
The Advent Risk of Using For-Home Lice Treatments
They might not do the job ‘enough.’ If you have hit a section of lice with hair shampoo and they have the opportunity to repopulate and escape, you risk doing long-term damage to future treatments.
Ultimately, this is an issue that a lot of people are dealing with when it comes to antibacterial solutions for everyday things. If you are exposing the lice to weakened versions of treatments that would otherwise eradicate the lice, then you run the risk of them growing an immunity and the need for a stronger medication down the line.
If you are concerned about those implications of using at-home lice treatments, we encourage you to consult your doctor once again first.
How to Treat a Lice Infestation By Yourself
First, it’s incredibly hard, nearly impossible to remove 100% of Nits and Head Lice with over the counter or prescribed Lice Shampoos, the best way to treat yourself is utilizing the combing method we follow at our clinics which takes time practice to master.
Combing Technique
If your child (for example) has head lice, then you want to take a fine comb and go through the hair in a sterile environment with gloves and preferably a hairnet.
You want to rake through the hair and try and pick out as many lice eggs and ‘nests’ as you can to remove as much of the present threat as possible. You should take about 20-30 minutes to do this.
When you’re done, please dispose of the waste thoroughly and get the child to take a shower and wash their hair thoroughly.
After 7 days you need to perform thorough visual check (screening)
There is a chance that they might survive and will have to perform the combing technique again, and if that’s the case, you might want to call a professional.
When Should I Call a Professional?
If all the above failed, if you’ve tried a bunch of the above methods or you worry, you don’t have all the time to do the research and try to follow up with all the control elements involved with lice treatment, you should call a professional.
We can’t speak for all the professionals, but our service typically involves a direct treatment and a clear-cut guide on when and how to follow up so you don’t need to manage a dozen alarms but follow a simple guide.
If you have any questions please feel free to give us a call 24/7 at
1 (800) 403-5423
