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Find out the right way to inspect your scalp and hair for lice
Few things are as annoying as an itchy scalp that turns out to be lice. Though they're more common in children, lice can affect anyone—and as an adult, it’s not always easy to get someone to check for you. Thankfully, self-checking is simple. This guide walks you through how to examine yourself for lice, treat an infestation, and prevent them in the future. You’ll also learn the key signs of lice and when it’s time to contact a doctor.
How to Examine Yourself for Head Lice
Wet your hair and use a fine-tooth comb to part and inspect it. Go section by section, watching for tiny brown insects or white oval eggs. Use a mirror to check behind your ears and the back of your neck. If you find any lice, remove them and flush them away. Then, apply lice-killing shampoo to eliminate the rest.
Instructions
Steps to Check Yourself for Head Lice
Dampen your hair first. Lice are fast movers, which can make them tough to spot. Wetting your hair slows them down and makes detection easier. Use water along with conditioner or detangler—especially if you have thick or tangled hair—to help the comb glide through more smoothly.
Position two mirrors and ensure good lighting. Use a setup where you can view both the front and back of your head by angling two mirrors. Sit beneath a bright light to better catch movement or spot eggs. A magnifying glass can also help.
- Self-checks are trickier than having someone else help, but with the right setup, it’s definitely doable.
Divide and comb your hair carefully. Put on disposable gloves and use a lice comb or a fine-tooth comb. Part your hair and run the comb from the roots to the ends in small sections. After each stroke, inspect the comb for any lice or eggs. Keep going until you’re sure whether lice are present.
- No comb? Use gloved fingers to part the hair manually.
Watch for lice along the scalp. As you go, scan for live lice crawling on the scalp or hair shafts. Adult lice usually appear tan to dark brown and are similar in size to sesame seeds. Since they prefer warmth, inspect closely near the neck and behind the ears.
Inspect for nits (lice eggs) near the scalp. Lice tend to lay their eggs—called nits—within about 2 mm of the scalp. These eggs are usually white or yellowish-brown and look like tiny seeds, while hatched ones appear translucent. Nits are typically easier to see than adult lice because they stay in place.
- Nits are often mistaken for dandruff, lint, or debris. To tell the difference, try flicking it off—dandruff comes off easily, but nits stay stuck to the hair.
- Using a magnifying glass can help confirm whether what you’re seeing is a nit.
Manually remove any lice you find. If you spot lice or nits, pick them off and either seal them in a plastic bag or flush them down the toilet. Once you've confirmed their presence, you can stop searching and move on to treatment with lice shampoo.
- After you're done, discard your gloves and wash your hands thoroughly.
Treating Head Lice
Follow the directions on lice shampoo carefully. Remove any clothing you want to keep clean, then apply the lice shampoo or pediculicide exactly as instructed. After 8–12 hours, use a fine-tooth lice comb to remove dead lice or leftover eggs. Continue inspecting your scalp every 2–3 days for the next 2–3 weeks.
- Don't wash your hair for 48 hours after treatment to ensure the medication remains effective.
- Avoid using conditioner or 2-in-1 shampoo before applying the treatment.
- Individuals with long hair may need more than one bottle of shampoo.
- If lice are still active after 12 hours, the treatment may have failed. Consider contacting a healthcare provider.
Skip unproven home treatments. While remedies like mayonnaise, tea tree oil, neem oil, or vinegar are sometimes used to fight lice, they aren't backed by science. For reliable results, stick with medicated treatments or seek help from a medical professional if needed.
Trim or shave your hair if necessary. If you're struggling to eliminate lice with traditional methods, think about cutting your hair short or even shaving your head. Lice depend on hair to survive, so removing it takes away their environment.
- Usually, medicated treatments work well. If you prefer long hair, don’t worry—cutting it isn’t always required.
Preventing Head Lice
Steer clear of direct head contact. Lice spread easily through hair-to-hair contact. To lower your risk, avoid touching heads with others—whether at home, school, the office, or anywhere else.
Refrain from sharing personal headwear or accessories. Items like hats, scarves, hair clips, and jackets can carry lice from one person to another. Keep these to yourself and avoid borrowing them from others.
- Regularly washing these belongings can also help reduce the risk of lice transmission.
EXPERT TIP
Tiffany Jumaily, MD
Board-Certified Pediatrician
Board-Certified Pediatrician
Make sure children don’t share hats, combs, or similar items. Head lice spread easily, especially in places like schools where coats and hats are hung close together. Lice can move between clothing, so it’s smart to check and wash any garments that may have been exposed.
Avoid sharing brushes, combs, or towels. Just like hair ties and clips, lice can cling to personal items like brushes, towels, and clothes. To clean suspected items, soak them in hot water to eliminate any lingering lice.
Thoroughly clean all items that came into contact with lice. If you’ve been near someone who has lice, act quickly to disinfect everything. Soak grooming tools in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5–10 minutes and wash clothing, bedding, and towels on a high-heat cycle. Dry them using the hottest dryer setting.
- For items that can’t be washed or dry cleaned, seal them in a plastic bag and leave untouched for a minimum of two weeks.
- Avoid using carpets, furniture, or bedding that hasn’t been disinfected after lice exposure.
Vacuum all areas where lice might be lurking. Focus on spots where the infested person sat or slept. Vacuuming removes stray lice and nits, helping stop the cycle before it starts again.
- Cleaning expert Laura Smith advises, “You can find sprays designed for couches, carpets, bedding—anything fabric. Vacuum everything thoroughly: all upholstery, mattresses, and carpeting. Wash bedding and soft items in hot water, then spray them. Finally, inspect everyone in your home to make sure the lice don’t return.”
Lice Symptoms
Persistent itchiness is the top clue you may have lice. If your scalp is itchy, it might be an allergic reaction to lice saliva. You may also notice a crawling sensation. Other common symptoms include:
- Feeling cranky or restless
- Trouble sleeping, since lice are more active at night
- Scratching sores on your scalp
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
When to Contact a Doctor
Consult a doctor to confirm lice and discuss treatment options. If you think you might have lice but aren’t sure, a medical professional can quickly diagnose the issue. They’ll let you know if lice are the culprit or if another issue is causing your symptoms. Doctors can also prescribe stronger treatments if drugstore options aren’t doing the job.
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Lice are more frequently seen in children, so if you have kids, make it a habit to inspect their hair routinely to catch an infestation early.
What You’ll Need
- Two mirrors
- A strong light source
- A lice comb or a fine-toothed comb
- Disposable gloves
- A magnifying glass
