Head Lice Combs
There's no doubt that using a comb is one of the most effective ways to get rid of both head lice and nits. This way of dealing with lice comes highly recommended by health care professionals.
Combs come in a variety of styles and are made out of either metal or plastic. Plastic ones are fine if you're just using them for detection but you really need a metal one if you're treating an infestation. A good metal comb will last you through the "head lice years". The main advantage that a metal comb has over a plastic one is that the teeth don't splay or break something which will reduce the effectiveness of a comb.
The most thorough way to get rid of head lice and nits with a comb is to use it in conjunction with conditioner. It doesn't have to be a particular type of conditioner, any one will do but you will need a lot so a cheap brand is ideal.
Brush the hair through first to get any tangles out. Wrap a towel around the child's shoulder to catch any drips and have them sitting in front of you. Apply a liberal amount of hair conditioner to the head and gently massage it through the hair shafts. Don't skimp on the amount of conditioner you use. It isn't necessary for the whole length of the hair to be covered by the conditioner as the combing itself will help spread it through the hair.
Once you've applied the conditioner, separate the hair into sections. The best place to start is the neck area. After each comb through wipe the head lice comb on a paper towel (a plain white one is best). You will be able to see any lice and nits you may have found on the paper. As an alternative you can dip the comb into a large bowl of water to clean it off. Keep combing the section until there are no lice to be seen on the paper towel then move on to the next section. Once all sections are done give one last general comb through, wash the conditioner out the hair and you're done.
Many people complain that combing is time consuming. The trick is to be through but not obsessive about the combing. Don't comb slowly through the hair. Try and keep a steady, methodical pace.
To be most effective repeat this routine every 3 to 4 days. If you want to comb through every day but don't have enough time then try combing through dry hair. It's not as effective as the full conditioner and comb method but it will knock out the larger lice that are capable of breeding. The trick is to comb quickly. If you do it after school then you can catch any new lice that your children may have picked up whilst away from home.
Very curly or Afro hair can be very difficult to comb through with a head lice comb. Your best chance of success is to use copious amounts of conditioner but even this may not work. Using one of the new physical products like Hedrin may be the least painful option.
In recent years electric combs have appeared. They are meant to zap the lice. They shouldn't be used by anyone who suffers from epilepsy or has a pacemaker. They can produce a tingling sensation that you may or may not like. Some people find them bulky and uncomfortable to hold and although you can use them when testing for infestations they tend to give a lot of false positives. However, they are greatly loved by some and boys in particular will probably enjoy the idea of "zapping" head lice.