Head lice: how to get rid of them (and what you don't need to do)

July 27, 2026

Short answer: Head lice are common, harmless and nothing to do with dirty hair. Check by wet-combing with a fine-toothed detection comb. To treat, wet-comb the whole head on days 1, 5, 9 and 13, then check again on day 17; medicated lotions or sprays are an alternative if combing doesn't work or isn't suitable. Check everyone in the household and treat anyone with lice on the same day. There's no need to keep your child off school, cut their hair or hot-wash all your laundry.

The letter is in the book bag: head lice in the class. Within ten seconds, your own scalp starts itching.

First: don't panic

Head lice are small insects that live in hair and spread by head-to-head contact. Having them doesn't mean your child is dirty or your home isn't clean. They're annoying and spread easily, but they're not dangerous.

How to check

Itching isn't a reliable sign — not every child itches. The only way to know is to find a live louse by combing:

Wash the hair with ordinary shampoo and apply plenty of conditioner.
Untangle with a normal comb.
Using a fine-toothed detection comb, comb from the roots to the ends, section by section, over the whole head.
Wipe the comb on white paper after each stroke and look for lice.

Lice are small, greyish-brown and move. Nits are the empty egg cases, stuck firmly to the hair close to the scalp. Flakes that brush off easily are more likely to be dandruff.

Treatment: wet combing

The NHS recommends wet combing on days 1, 5, 9 and 13 to catch newly hatched lice before they can lay eggs, then checking again on day 17 that everyone is clear.

Each session takes about 10 minutes for short hair, and 20 to 30 minutes for long, frizzy or curly hair.
Comb through the whole head twice each time.
Missing sessions is a common reason lice seem to “keep coming back”.

Combing isn't just the check — done on the right days, it is the treatment.

Lotions and sprays

If wet combing hasn't worked or isn't suitable, medicated lotions and sprays from pharmacies and supermarkets can kill head lice. Some need repeating after a week to catch newly hatched lice. Follow the instructions carefully, and ask a pharmacist if treatment doesn't work or for advice about babies, pregnancy, asthma or skin conditions.

What you don't need to do

Keep your child off school. There's no need.
Hot-wash all your laundry or deep-clean the house.
Cut your child's hair.
Treat people who don't have lice — only treat those where you've found a live louse.

Preventing spread

Check everyone you live with, and treat anyone with lice on the same day.
Let the school or nursery know, even if it feels awkward — quiet cases keep lice circulating.
Tying long hair back can reduce head-to-head contact.
Regular combing checks, for example once a week, help you catch lice early.

Try not to make it a big drama in front of your child. Embarrassment helps no one, and lice really can happen in any family.

When to get advice

Ask a pharmacist if you've tried treatment properly and lice are still there, if your child's scalp becomes very sore or infected, or for advice on treating babies or anyone pregnant.