How to Remove Head Lice and Nits
Systematically remove head lice and nits using wet-combing, sectioning clips, and a fine-toothed metal comb to clear hair from scalp to ends.
This guide shows how to remove head lice and nits in 45-90 minutes. Start with set up workspace and drape shoulders; follow the safety notes and step checkpoints below.
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- Read the tools, materials, safety notes, and steps below for free.
- Tap See 20-second demo if you want to understand it first.
- Tap Start Camera Coach when you want hands-free help, or Voice-only if you do not want to use the camera.
- Allow camera and microphone. Point your phone at the work; the coach watches your progress and tells you the next step.
🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Fine-toothed metal lice comb
- ✓ Wide-tooth detangling comb
- ✓ 4-6 plastic sectioning hair clips
- ✓ Bright directional task lamp or headlamp
- ✓ Small bowl of hot water
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Thick white hair conditioner
- ✓ White paper towels
- ✓ Towel or disposable cape
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Keep conditioner and treatment products strictly away from the eyes by draping a washcloth over the forehead.
- • Do not cross-contaminate tools; immediately isolate used towels and sanitize combs in hot water (at least 130°F/54°C) for 10 minutes.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Set Up Workspace and Drape Shoulders
Position the person under bright, direct lighting so individual hair strands are clearly visible. Fasten a towel or plastic cape tightly around the shoulders to catch falling debris and protect clothing.
- • Shoulders covered completely by towel or cape.
- • Bright light focused directly onto the crown and nape of the head.
- • Working under dim room lighting where tiny translucent nits are invisible.
Saturate Hair with White Conditioner
Apply a heavy amount of thick white conditioner from the scalp all the way to the ends until the hair is completely soaked. The conditioner immobilizes live lice and allows the fine-toothed comb to glide without snagging.
- • All hair strands coated heavily in white conditioner with no dry patches visible.
- • Applying too little conditioner, causing painful pulling during combing.
Detangle and Section the Hair
Comb through the entire head with a wide-tooth comb to eliminate all knots and tangles. Divide the hair into four to six distinct quadrants and secure each section firmly with a plastic clip.
- • Hair split into neat, twisted buns pinned flat against the head, leaving one quadrant free.
- • Skipping sectioning, which leads to missing infested patches behind ears or at the nape.
Perform Fine-Tooth Scalp-to-Tip Passes
Unclip one section and take a sub-section no wider than the metal comb and no thicker than 0.5 inches. Place the metal lice comb teeth firmly against the scalp at a 45-degree angle and draw it smoothly through to the very ends of the hair.
- • Comb teeth touching the scalp before every stroke, pulling a thin veil of conditioner through.
- • Starting the stroke 1-2 inches away from the scalp where nits are actually glued.
Wipe and Inspect Comb After Every Stroke
Firmly wipe both sides of the comb against a clean white paper towel after every single pass. Visually inspect the towel under bright light for crawling lice (sesame seed size) or oval-shaped nits.
- • Comb wiped completely clean of conditioner residue before touching the head again.
- • White paper towel showing conditioner smears with visible captured debris.
- • Re-inserting a dirty comb back into the hair, reintroducing lice to cleared sections.
Rinse, Re-check, and Sanitize Tools
Once all sections have been combed clean, rinse the hair thoroughly with warm water. Submerge all combs and clips into water heated to at least 130°F (54°C) for 10 minutes to kill any remaining parasites.
- • Hair rinsed clear of conditioner.
- • All combs and clips submerged fully in steaming hot water.
- • Rinsing tools in lukewarm tap water, which does not kill lice or destroy nits.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by roobibeauty — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Thick white hair conditioner? Olive oil or generic hair detangling cream
- No Plastic sectioning hair clips? Standard plastic claw clips or non-snag hair elastics