Do Head Lice Live in Dirty Hair?
WouterPeople often ask, “Do head lice live in dirty hair?” The truth is that they do not care if your hair is dirty or not. These tiny insects feed on human blood, so the cleanliness of your hair is of no concern to them. Furthermore, washing your hair repeatedly will not kill the lice. This is because head lice have a very strong grip on the hair follicle.
The first step to catching lice is identifying nits. Although louse nymphs and adults are quite small, you can easily mistake them for dirt or dandruff. In order to distinguish between them, you should use a fine-toothed comb or magnifying glass. Look for nits attached within 1/4 inch of the base of the hair shaft. If they are further away, they are dead.
Another important step is to wash all items you’ve used in the past two days. You can also dry clean items if they aren’t washable. Usually, home treatments will eliminate the head lice, but if you aren’t able to do so, you should consult a dermatologist.
Washing hair is an essential part of personal hygiene. However, how often you wash your hair depends on your lifestyle and hair type. Regardless of hair type, the key to eliminating lice is to focus on cleaning your hair and sanitizing your home. The main problem people have with head lice is a lack of information and satisfaction with available treatments.
