If you’re a parent whose child has had head lice in the past, or if you’ve heard about recent cases in your child’s school, you may be wondering what you can do to help prevent an infestation. It’s important to check your child’s hair weekly using a professional lice comb. If you’re worried about what you see, call our specialty clinic at (805) 334-0951 x1 and get an appointment for a screening the same day.

As head lice mature and establish themselves in the hair, adult lice will lay 3-10 eggs a day while they automatically seek opportunities to move on and infest other heads. They don’t jump and they don’t fly, but they crawl fast, so leaving hair loose and flowing provides an ideal opportunity for them.

The hairstyle you choose can play an important role in protecting hair from head lice. Keeping the hair back and away from the face and neck makes it much harder for lice to crawl across and up onto the scalp. By keeping the hair back or in a tight bun, you can help prevent head lice from reaching the hair.

You may also consider using “preventative sprays” or “preventative shampoos” in the hair before braiding or any other style that helps to keep lice away from head to head contact.

Try a French braid (or 2), a fishtail braid, double dutch braids or a rope twist hairstyle! 

Remember, lice are almost as contagious as the common cold. If your child already has lice – you will want to schedule an appointment with us immediately. Schedule your appointment today! We have same day appointments, have the lowest costs available and our full signature treatment usually takes less than an hour.