Can You Kill Lice Eggs?

Our fully inclusive guide on whether or not you can kill the eggs of head lice.

When talking about head lice, there is usually a fairly large focus on the itchy bugs which are crawling around the scalp, and causing the issues. But what about their reproductive cycle, and the subsequent eggs that they lay?

Lice eggs, which are commonly referred to as nits, are just as important to get rid of as their adult counterparts, because without doing so, they will hatch into adults. Who will reproduce and birth eggs again. Which will then hatch into adults – and so the cycle continues. Do you see the problem here?

The main question we get asked, is whether you can kill lice eggs, or if you simply have to get rid of them.

Read on for our fully inclusive guide which aims to answer the question, can you kill lice eggs?

Can the Nits be Killed?

First things first, we’re going to be outrightly answering the question, can you kill lice eggs?

The answer is no. considering that lice eggs have not hatched, and are therefore not living, they cannot be killed, however this doesn’t mean that they can’t be eradicated in one way or another. Removal tends to be the most efficient way of ensuring nits aren’t left around long enough to hatch into adult head lice.

Read on for more information on how to get rid of them!

How Can I Get Rid of the Nits If I Can’t Kill Them?

As we mentioned above, the nits cannot be killed, but must be gotten rid of to get rid of the infestation in its’ entirety. But how do you get rid of the eggs of head lice?

Below we’re sharing our four step process for getting rid of nits.

STEP ONE: Do Your Research, and be Well Equipped

The first step in being successful in getting rid of the nits, is to know your stuff, and have the right equipment at hand.

First up, you need to know where the nits are, and what they look like. The nits are typically at the root of the hair, and look like tiny little yellowish / white oval eggs. They glue themselves to the hair, which can make them more difficult to remove. This glue – like solution the lice produce is called chitin. There are plenty of images of nits on google if you want to look further.

Equipment – wise, you’ll want to invest in a special lice comb – the steel combs being the most effective. You’ll also need vinegar, a white towel, and warm water.

STEP TWO: Ungluing the Nits

In order to unglue the nits from your hair, you’ll have to apply vinegar to its’ roots.

You should wet the hair with a solution made up of six parts water, and three parts vinegar, and cover the shoulders with the towel. The glue will dissolve, because of the vinegar, making the nits easy to comb out.

STEP THREE: Combing Out the Nits

Step three is the combing out of the nits.

You should be sure to divide long hair into sections in order to be thorough. It’s also best to do this under bright light. You should dip the comb in the vinegar / water solution after every stroke.

Be sure to go through the entire head!

STEP FOUR: Monitoring

Finally, you’ll want to wash the hair well with regular shampoo, as well as sterilising the comb and towel, washing your clothes, and vacuuming the floor where this was done.

Repeat the treatment once more after seven days, and keep a close eye.