Can I Get Rid of Head Lice with a Flat Iron?
How to get rid of lice with a flat iron?
If you find yourself struggling with head lice, know that you are not alone. Long gone are the days when you can pick up a lice removal kit at the local drug store and successfully get rid of head lice in one to two treatments. Lice have grown resistant and immune to treatments that have worked in the past. This is why so many people are on a mission to find alternative methods to head lice treatment and the topic of flat ironing comes up so frequently. Does flat ironing work to kill head lice? How does one use a flat iron to kill head lice?
Does flat ironing kill head lice bugs?
Lice bugs can die at any temperature above 135 degrees Fahrenheit and a flat iron reaches temperatures over 400 degrees. It is only natural that one thinks to turn to flat ironing to help eradicate their head lice infestation. Yes, it is true, if you flat iron over a louse, it will sizzle and die on contact. However, the big dilemma here is that most head lice like to stay on the scalp or close by as this is where they are feasting and laying their nits (lice eggs). To successfully kill head lice with the heat method, a louse has to come into direct contact with the high heat. Using the flat iron would be impossible as any direct contact with the skin would cause 3rd-degree burns. Using a flat iron will only kill the lice that are moving throughout the lower ends of the hair but the majority of head lice will remain viable.
Does flat ironing kill lice nits (lice eggs)?
Head lice, as yucky as they might seem, are part of creation’s intelligence. They lay their nits within 1/4in of the scalp as the nits need warmth from the scalp to incubate. Any nits that are further down the hair shaft are either old and have already hatched, leaving behind empty nit shells, or have been unviable from the beginning. Viable nits are only found right near the scalp and therefore using the flat iron to heat the nits will not be possible. Flat ironing lice nits that are further down the hair strands are going to create more problems than solutions. As mentioned above, the nit shells that are further away from the scalp are not going to pose a problem as they are either empty or deemed non-viable due to location. Adding high heat will bond the nits to the hair making it that much more difficult to remove with a nit comb.
Should you use a flat iron to remove head lice?
No! Flat ironing creates more problems than solutions. The use of flat iron will possibly kill some wandering live lice but the majority of head lice will be against the scalp. Furthermore, the high heat from a flat iron will bond lice nits to the hair and make it a real struggle to remove not only with a nit comb but also manually. There are no shortcuts to a successful head lice removal and no need to complicate the process. Reach out to Lice Free Noggins for a free consultation or to schedule an all-natural head lice removal session in the comforts of your home.
