Ooooh, head lice. We hate ’em. We hate ’em so much. Hair Dryer To Get Rid Of Lice
It’s not just that the thought of lice crawling around on your head is gross. It’s also that they’re expensive to get rid of, and it’s hard to keep them from coming back.
And we don’t even like to talk about all the things you have to do to get rid of them, because we get grossed out just thinking about it.
There has to be a better way, right?
Well, there is. Turns out, a hair dryer is one of the best tools you can use to kill lice. And if you know how to use a hair dryer properly, you’ll be able to get rid of those tiny little buggers quickly—and even prevent them from coming back.
Ready to learn how? Let’s dive in.
So, How To Use A Hair Dryer To Get Rid Of Lice
It can be difficult to get rid of lice, which can cause painful sores on your scalp. There is one thing you can do that will give you an edge and might rid your home of them for good: use a hair dryer to kill lice.
Here’s how to use a hair dryer to get rid of lice:
1. Locate the eggs. Inspect the hair strand for white lice eggs. They look like clear jelly balls attached to the hair strand.
2. Dry the eggs out in an upright position. Use a blow dryer with a cool setting and aim it at the egg until it is completely dry. This takes approximately 10 minutes of constant exposure to the air flow from the blow dryer.
3. Apply oil on your hair strands and scalp, then cover your entire head with a bag or shower cap for two hours. The heat from your scalp will kill any remaining eggs and lice as well as soften the dried eggs.
4. Comb your hair strand with a fine toothed comb, being careful not to break any strands of hair or pull them out by force.
5. Repeat these steps every three days until you have no more lice or live eggs left in your hair strands or scalp
How To Use A Hair Dryer To Get Rid Of Lice – Things To Remember
You can use a hair dryer to get rid of lice, but you need to know just how far you can take it, what materials you need and how to properly handle them. Though, if you’re trying to remove lice from your hair and want a relatively quick result, then the device might deliver.
You should never use a hair dryer on your scalp for more than ten minutes at a time, as the high voltage could cause burns or even cause partial or full baldness.
When using a hair dryer on lice eggs, it’s important to set the temperature and airflow control at low levels. You’ll need heat that reaches between 100 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and needs high air pressure from 15-25 pounds per square inch (PSI).
You should also turn the nozzle away from your head so that you avoid inhaling any potentially dangerous steam. Above all else, be careful when handling the device — this is a powerful tool and is prone to heating up unexpectedly.
FAQ’s
How Does Blow Drying Help With Super Lice?
Blow drying, as a technique, has been around for a long time and is used by most people in the hair care industry. It has been around for so long that many of us take it for granted.
However, blow drying can be very helpful when dealing with head lice. It can help to remove the nits from your child’s hair, making it easier for you to comb through and get rid of the nits. Blow drying can also help to stretch out the time it takes to dry the hair, which makes it easier to comb through and kill all of the lice eggs.
While blow drying alone won’t get rid of all of the lice eggs, it can make it easier to remove them, so even if there are still some left in your child’s hair after blow drying, they will still be killed.
Does Blow Drying Kill Lice?
Blow drying is the most effective method of removing lice eggs (nits). It’s not as effective on the actual lice themselves, however.
Blow drying machines use a very high speed air flow, which can heat up the hair, “killing” lice eggs. However, this is only true for nits (louse eggs) and since blow drying kills so many of them, it is indeed highly effective at removing them from hair. For lice bugs themselves, you will have to resort to a chemical treatment or combing with a fine toothed nit comb to remove them from hair.
In one study of 169 children, the most effective blow dryers killed about 80% of all lice found on the head or body. The least effective ones only killed 10%.
How To Prevent The Spread Of Super Lice
Super lice is a very common problem in schoolchildren. It is caused by head lice, or the nits they leave behind, that have hatched into larvae. Although uncommon, super lice can cause severe infestation with crusted areas and intense itching.
If you suspect your child has super lice, don’t panic. Super lice are not contagious, but they can still be extremely uncomfortable. You can prevent the spread of super lice by taking these steps:
1. Treat all family members as if they have super lice
2. Wash all bedding and items used on the body with hot water for at least 15 minutes using a bleach product
3. If you think you have it, call your doctor immediately for treatment
4. Eliminate all other sources of infestation (e.g., hats, stuffed animals, etc.)
Final Words
In short, it is safe to use a hair dryer on your head and body to kill lice. However, it may take a few goes in order to get rid of them all and you should try not to leave the dryer unattended when using it on your child’s head or other sensitive areas. It can also be used in conjunction with other treatments. While this is an effective home remedy and one that can be utilized at the first sign of lice, it is still best practice to get your child checked for lice by a doctor if you suspect that your child has them, especially if they have more than one infestation, as this will require different treatment methods.