How to Comb for Nits

Head lice - or 'nits', as they are often known - are common in young children, due to their frequent interaction with others of the same age. Lice can transfer from one head to another very easily, and once your child has head lice, they can be tricky to remove. There are a number of ways you can get rid of head lice, but one of the simplest is to use a nit comb.

Things You'll Need

• Nit comb
• Towel
• Bowl
• Water with mild detergent

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Instructions

• 1

  Purchase a nit comb, preferably one with metal teeth. Plastic teeth are not quite as effective and are prone to becoming bent.

• 2

  Sit your child under a bright light and tuck a towel around her shoulders to prevent lice from falling onto her clothing.

• 3

  Prepare a bowl of water mixed with a mild detergent. This will be used to clean your comb and help kill lice and their eggs.

• 4

  Separate your child's hair into sections that are the same width as the comb. Pull the comb through the hair, starting at the top and working down. Repeat this three or four times.

• 5

  Clean the comb in the water and continue to the next section of hair. Repeat this process until all of your child's hair has been combed.