How do you get rid of head lice?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Two proven routes: wet-combing with a nit comb every 3 to 4 days for 2 weeks, or a pharmacy lice treatment applied twice, a week apart - and check every head in the house the same day. Wet-combing works by removing every louse before it can breed; pharmacy lotions (dimeticone or insecticide types) kill on contact, with the second application catching new hatchlings. Treat everyone with live lice together or you will pass them back and forth. Skip the panic moves - no fumigating, no head shaving - lice barely survive a day or two off the scalp, so hot-washing recent pillowcases and brushes is plenty. Keep weekly checks going for a few weeks after. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you plan the blitz.
What to do
- Comb wet, conditioned hair in sections: every 3 to 4 days, at least two weeks.
- Or use a pharmacy treatment twice: the second round catches the hatchlings.
- Check and treat the household together: same day, every head.
- Wash only what heads touched recently: lice die off-scalp fast - the house does not need fumigating.
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