Is flat ironing effective in killing lice and nits?

Fact or Myth: Is Flat Ironing Effective in Killing Lice and Nits?

Seeing a bug can really bug a person’s mood, but discovering lice or lice eggs woven into your child’s locks can truly make your skin crawl. It’s an itchy problem that is often hard to scratch at first, which is why parents quickly resort to home remedies to try to get rid of the pesky infestation.

A mixture of oils might seem to be the natural way to kill lice, but these solutions are messy, time-consuming, and ineffective. And for people battling “super lice,” these creepy-crawly villains nesting in your hair can really do a number on your patience, as they are immune to any over-the-counter treatments. One of the most popular “quick fixes” currently circulating on the internet is: using a flat iron to kill lice.

Why Is The Flat Iron Not the Best Tool to Get Rid of Head Lice?

Although it’s true that heat is an enemy of lice, a flat iron is not an effective (or safe) way of administering treatment. Here are the reasons that your flat-iron treatment is doomed to fail:

1. Flat irons have a narrow surface area. Flat irons are long and narrow, providing just a strip of heat that is usually sufficient for its intended purpose: straightening hair. However, while trying to treat lice with the same narrow band of heat, the lice can simply scatter. It would be like trying to gather ants with a spoon. You’ll never get them all.

2. You can’t get close enough to the scalp. On the heels of why reason number 1 will fail (that the lice will scurry away) is where the lice are headed, which is…closer to the scalp. Therefore you won’t be able to get the flat iron close enough to reach them, or if you do, you’ll burn your or your child’s scalp (the scarring from which can turn result in hair loss).

3. Too much / the wrong type of heat. Professional flat irons go up to 450 This not only makes trying to treat you or your child this way dangerous, but intense, moist heat is part of what drives the lice to scatter.

Long story short—using a flat iron to try to get rid of lice is virtually impossible, and trying will only lead you to burn yourself or your child. You’ll never get all of the lice, and leaving any lice at all will lead to another outbreak where these creepy-crawlies come back with a vengeance.

Getting Rid of Lice the Right Way

Everyone struggling with a lice infestation should aim to get rid of lice completely—which means adult lice and eggs. Don’t settle for ineffective, incomplete, or dangerous ways to try to deal with the situation. Opting for professional solutions is always the better choice, especially if you want to get rid of your itchy problems in a speedy yet safe manner.

Fresh Head’s revolutionary Air Allé is an FDA-cleared medical device developed by scientists to be effective against all lice eggs and lice, including super lice. The large application nozzle blows warm, dry air that dehydrates and kills the lice and eggs in one treatment.

Lice Removal in Orlando, Jacksonville, and Savannah

If you’re looking for professional lice removal in Orlando and Jacksonville, FL, and Savannah, GA, get in touch with us at Fresh Heads Lice Removal. We can help you get rid of lice quickly and safely. Ask us about our signature Air Allé treatment!


Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. By this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

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