How To Use Lice Comb: Wet Combing Step-By-Step Instructions

Combing is the most effective method of head lice treatment. If you know how to use lice comb correctly, you can eliminate lice without chemicals. Read on to learn how to comb out head lice!

How to Comb Out Head Lice?

With this guide, you’ll discover both how to comb for lice and how to comb out lice eggs. You’ll need a metal-tooth lice comb, regular comb, shampoo, conditioner, olive oil, drop cloth, paper towels, plastic hair clips, patience, and time. You also need bright lighting and either excellent vision and/or magnifying glasses.

Step 1 –  Wash and Condition Your Hair

• Can you comb out lice with wet hair more easily than with dry hair? When using a lice comb wet or dry hair makes a big difference in comfort and effectiveness! ((Hint: wet hair is the way to go!).
• Leave enough conditioner to make your wet hair very slippery.
• Alternatively, saturate dry hair with olive oil.
• Enough conditioner or oil will immobilize the bugs so you can comb them out harmlessly.

Step 2 – Remove Tangles With The Wide-Toothed Comb

• The longer the lice have been there, the more the hair tends to tangle, which will cause your lice comb to get stuck!
• The conditioner or oil should help you remove tangles without causing discomfort.
• Lice cannot infest combs or other items, but if you’re worried you can boil the comb or freeze it overnight to sanitize it.

Step 3 – Comb Through Your Hair With a Nit Comb

• Section the hair using clips.
• The more textured the hair, the smaller the sections should be.
• Start the comb at the scalp and pull it through the section all the way to the tips.
• Combing from the top, bottom and both sides of the section is the most thorough way how to comb for lice.

Step 4 – Clean Your Comb

• Wipe your comb on a paper towel after each swipe through the hair.
• If you’re wondering how long to comb for lice – keep combing each section until you are not getting any eggs or bugs on the paper towel after several swipes.

Step 5 – Repeat

• Continue steps 3 and 4 through each section of hair.
• Keep checking for a few weeks! There may still be nits too underdeveloped to see.
• It’s important to understand how often to comb for lice.
• Combing every few days (or at least once a week) will help ensure nothing recurs.

Step 6 – Check Everyone’s Head in Your House

• Lice spread among family members long before symptoms start so don’t wait!
• Use wet-combing to check everyone in your household for lice and nits.
• Using the comb instead of your eyes will allow you to find nits that aren’t even visible yet, and catch bugs while they’re immobilized.

Don't Have Time to Remove Lice By Yourself? Call us!

If you don’t have the time, patience, or expertise to do this yourself (most people don’t!), call LiceDoctors at 800-224-2537. We exist to help families like yours!