To get rid of hair lice, the nits which are eggs of the adult lice need to be removed as well. A lice removal shampoo will do away with the adults but is ineffective on the eggs. These eggs bond like glue to the hair shaft as a result of the substance excreted by the female adult. They usually hatch in about one week. They are very difficult to remove but unless removed, the lice infestation will continue

There are different ways to help remove nits, but all of them can be time consuming. The easiest way is to brush through every strand of hair with a fine toothed metal comb after wetting the hair. If even one of the nits remains, re-infestation is likely. Therefore, examining every last strand of hair is critical to ultimate nit removal success. To make the eggs easier to see, a magnifying glass may be helpful.

Once the louse eggs have been removed, it is important the all clothes and linens be washed because those may also contain eggs or even adult lice. Use bleach if possible to be absolutely certain that all the eggs and adults have been destroyed. Also use bleach on any combs or hair accessories that may be harboring nits. Any items that cannot be soaked in bleach or washed should be placed in a sealed plastic bag for several weeks.

It is a difficult process to remove louse eggs from hair, but there are easier ways of removing them. If the infested person's hair is soaked in white vinegar before removing the eggs, the process will be easy as it will loosen the glue that holds the eggs tightly to the hair. It is of help if the comb is soaked in vinegar before the eggs are removed. If heat is applied to the hair just prior to removing the eggs, the eggs will get loosened.

Consider the negative possibilities when attempting "alternative medicine." Although drugs and harsh chemicals may seem drastic, often the holistic alternatives are unproven. An example of this is mayonnaise as a cure. It quickly congeals, becoming almost impossible to wash out, and leaves a residue that spoils. In the absolute worst case, some of these treatments may even be fatal.

There are different sources available to help you with an infestation of lice. Doctors and pharmacists can advise you on products for dealing with the louse eggs. Should your child become infected, the on-site school nurse will also have this information.