Head lice are a common problem, particularly among children of primary school age. The best way to deal with or avoid a head lice infestation in your family is to know what you are up against and how to treat them effectively.

Head lice do not discriminate between short or long and clean or dirty hair. However, they are more common in washed hair.

Head lice can’t swim. However during contact with water, they go into a state of suspended animation but remain firmly locked onto the hair. That’s why we can get them in pools or near the beach.

Head lice can’t fly! However, they spread through direct head-to-head contact between people. That’s why they love schools and children!

Head lice have 6 legs that end in hook-shaped claws which they can use to tightly grasp the hair.

Female head lice can lay up to 10 eggs a day. The eggs are usually found near the hair root, close to the scalp. Head lice are difficult to remove.  So, the earlier you detect them, the easier you can get rid of them.

Head lice feed from the scalp up to four times a day. Once out of the hair, they won’t survive more than 2 to 3 days.

Head lice are transparent. This makes them difficult to detect in your hair. Once head lice have fed, they turn into a brown-red color.