How To Detect Lice In Blonde Hair

Let's face it. No one wants parasites crawling on their head. But troublesome caput lice feed off human being blood and tin can simply survive on our scalps, latching onto a overnice strand of our hair equally their home. Yuck!

But have you e'er been curious to know for sure if yous're more or less likely to take an infestation based on your hair type? Here, nosotros'll notice where your pilus type ranks on the "ideal home" scale for head lice.

Showtime off – permit's hear from one of our mums regarding the 'dos and don'ts' of hair when it comes to nits and head lice (not that y'all get much of a selection ?).

Over on our forum, mum Claire-Abelle wonders if her son'due south hair type is a gene when it comes to lice infestation:

"Shea's hair is quite long and curly. Husband now wants to become accept information technology cut so he doesn't go them over again merely I… beloved his gold locks."

Should she cut Shea's hair to adjourn the nits? Find out here every bit we comprehend blonde hair, long hair, curly hair and more…

1. Can you get nits and head lice in blonde pilus?

The bad news is that lice similar blonde pilus just as much as other hair colours.

The adept news is that a lighter pilus colour can sometimes at least make information technology easier to place the lice.

At a maximum length of 3mm, lice tin be hard to spot, and their eggs are very small, but irresolute from translucent to white in one case hatched.

For all hair colours, the search for nits and lice is fabricated a whole lot easier past shining a bright light on the scalp so you lot tin can spot where they are.

2. Nits and head lice in long versus brusk hair

Having short hair makes it harder for our little friends to transfer from one head to another.

As they are wingless, they take to walk from caput to head, and then if you have short hair you need to become very close to an infested head for the transfer to happen.

That'due south i of the chief reason immature kids get lice the most – their lack of personal infinite etiquette!

As MadeForMums' favourite GP, Dr Philippa Kaye, tells us, caput lice can exist passed on easier if the hair is longer, because there is more hair which could come into contact with infested pilus.

Over on our forum, mum Rhian2-50156 shares her own experiences of having long hair and caput lice equally a child, saying: "I cannot count how many times I had nits every bit a child – tens of times!

"I was never allowed to go to school without my ponytail in a plait because equally soon equally I wore it loose, I would go them!"

3. Are nits and caput lice more common in curly hair?

It'due south the man blood from our scalps that nits are interested in and having curly hair doesn't put them off.

Curly pilus may make transfer harder, if there is less hair hanging downwards for lice to use as a "ladder" – or if curly hair has been styled differently so it's swept up or braided for example.But lice will still brand the journey to your head even if you have the curliest of curls.

If yous have an infestation in curly pilus, it can be more challenging trying to get a fine-toothed nit comb through your luscious locks, too.

Combing through any tangles first and using a thick balm to assist the rummage "sideslip" can help.

four. Nits and head lice in thick versus thin pilus

Again, the thickness of your strands won't cease lice from coming after your scalp with their teeny tiny fangs!

Lice accept perfected their technique – over centuries – with just the right physique to hold on to a hair strand. Hanging out on hair is their purpose in life – so thick or thin pilus is no obstacle.

v. What about nits and head lice in African-Caribbean hair?

Afro hair is essentially a glorious mane of curls, coils and ringlets. Just like other curly hair, afro hair is not exempt from unwelcome visitors.

There'southward a common myth that lice don't like afro pilus. They DO. The reason for less cases of lice in afro hair is that the pilus is oft plaited away in immature children so there'due south less pilus-to-pilus contact.

vi. Do nits and head lice similar dreadlocks?

Yep – lice like dreads as well! Dreadlocks are interlocked strands of hair. And if there are strands of hair, there'south a domicile for head lice.

One of the challenges of lice in dreadlocks is that you tin can't run a nit comb through them and there are more places for the lice to hide there.

If y'all take lice in your locks, get advice from a professional loctician and explore other eradication methods such every bit soaking overnight.

Dhara Patel of Lockyer Pharmacist in Deptford, London, explains: "Shampoos get diluted very fast. When you put a balm in overnight it means there's longer for it to human action.

"Manifestly bear in heed if your child is asthmatic, has eczema or a item skin type."

7. Will dyeing/highlighting my hair stop nits and caput lice?

Alas, hair that's gone through a colouring process – whether bleach, henna or something else entirely – isn't exempt either.

Every bit long as there'due south the opportunity, lice enjoy colour treated hair too – it'south simply unlike wallpaper for their new domicile!

So, is whatsoever pilus safe from nits and head lice?

In a word, no. Pharmacist Dhara offers some final words of communication: "As long as you take hair y'all may get nits. The myths virtually whether yous've got afro hair or silky pilus or the color of your hair is irrelevant.

"Any shut contact with lots of school kids tin can hands cause nits for anyone."

And don't our mums know information technology? As mum thentherewere5 on our forum says: "[Nits] are a pain in the butt.

"Hoping she never gets them again but pretty much guaranteed to happen xx ?"

**How to care for nits and caput lice if you get them (whatever your hair type)**

If you've got an infestation it needs to be treated promptly. You can find a range of headlice solutions (from spray, to shampoo to lotion) that are suitable for all the hair types mentioned hither.

Lice don't discriminate. They tin brand a happy home as long every bit in that location's a strand of hair and admission to their daily meals via your scalp.

Tying dorsum and plaiting hair is advised for all hair types – and so release your inner hairdresser and larn some new styles!

Pics: Getty

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