Lice are tiny parasitic insects that live on the scalp and feed on human blood. They are a common problem, especially among children aged 3-11 years old. Lice spread through close personal contact and by sharing hats, combs, pillows, and other personal items. They do not indicate poor hygiene and can infect anyone. An estimated 6-12 million infestations occur each year in the United States alone. Understanding what type of hair lice prefer can help people take precautions and treat infestations more effectively.
What Are Lice?
There are three main types of lice that infest humans:
- Head lice – Pediculus humanus capitis
- Body lice – Pediculus humanus corporis
- Pubic lice – Pthirus pubis
Head lice are the most common, infecting people of all ages, races, genders, and hygiene levels. Between 6-12 million people get head lice each year in the U.S. They are 2-3 mm long and grayish-white in color. Female head lice live for about a month and lay 3-5 eggs, or nits, every day. Nits firmly attach to the base of hair shafts, especially around the ears and nape of the neck. They hatch in 7-10 days.
Body lice are similar to head lice but are found mainly in clothing. They infect people living in unhygienic, crowded conditions. Pubic lice, also called crabs, infect the pubic area and other coarse body hair.
Do Lice Prefer a Certain Hair Color?
Many people wonder if lice have a preference for blonde, brunette, black, or red colored hair. Research indicates that in the United States, caucasian girls with long hair are most commonly infested. However, lice themselves do not favor any hair color specifically.
A few factors contribute to higher infestation rates among those with blonde or light brown hair:
- Caucasians have a higher percentage of fine, light-colored hair compared to other races.
- Blonde and light hair is easier to spot lice and nits on.
- Those with straight, thinner hair may be inspected for lice more frequently.
So while lice do not actually prefer blonde or lighter hair, higher detection rates in these groups lead to the misconception that they do. Lice feed on human blood, not hair, so color does not matter. They can infect all hair colors, types, and textures equally. Proper identification and treatment methods are necessary regardless of hair color.
Do Lice Prefer Clean or Dirty Hair?
Contrary to popular belief, lice outbreaks have nothing to do with personal hygiene or hair cleanliness. Both clean and dirty hair can become infested with lice. These tiny insects only require human blood to survive, which they access by piercing the scalp with their sharp mouthparts.
In fact, experts theorize that squeaky clean hair may even be more appealing to lice! Their legs are specially adapted to grip hair shafts very tightly. Oil and dirt may make it more difficult for them to attach firmly. A freshly washed, conditioned head of hair provides an ideal texture for them to cling to.
Lice spread primarily through close head-to-head contact. Children are most prone to outbreaks due to play activities like sports, slumber parties, and hugging or sharing hats and brushes. But people of all ages can get lice from contact at school, work, public transit, and other high-traffic locations. Proper identification and treatment, not shampooing, is key to getting rid of lice.
Other Factors that Influence Lice Outbreaks
While hair color and cleanliness do not directly impact lice, some other factors do seem to influence infestation rates:
- Age – School-aged children aged 3-11 years old have the highest incidence rates.
- Gender – Girls are more often infected than boys, likely due to hairstyle and play habits.
- Household income – Children from lower-income families tend to have higher infestation rates.
- Race – African-Americans have lower rates than other races, potentially due to textured hair.
- Hair length – Those with long hair are more prone to infestation.
Lice outbreaks tend to peak when children return to school after summer vacation. Day cares, preschools, and elementary schools provide prime conditions for lice to spread from child to child. Teenagers and adults are less commonly infected but can also pick up lice from close head contact.
Do Lice Carry Any Diseases?
Lice themselves do not directly spread any infectious diseases. However, their bites can cause itching and scratching which may increase the risk of secondary skin infections. In rare cases, streptococcal infections such as impetigo or cellulitis can develop if skin is broken.
Lice may also play a role in spreading certain bacterial diseases like trench fever, relapsing fever, or epidemic typhus in areas with poor hygiene and overcrowding. This is extremely rare in the United States today, but these diseases have impacted military personnel and refugees in the past under unsanitary conditions.
The biggest risk from lice is likely the social stigma related to infestations. Children may be subject to teasing from classmates or avoidance from friends. Some schools still have “no nit” policies excluding children until all nits are removed. Such measures may lead to lost classroom time and self-esteem issues. Proper education efforts are needed to ease unfounded fears about lice transmission.
How to Check for Lice
Due to close physical contact, anyone can get lice. Children and caregivers should learn proper screening techniques to identify infestations early and prevent them from spreading. Here are some tips:
- Use a bright light and magnifying lens to look closely at the scalp, especially behind ears and near the neck.
- Look for tiny tan or grey dots (nits) glued to hair shafts, small dark insects (lice), and itchy red bumps from bites.
- Slide metal nit combs carefully through small sections of hair to trap lice.
- Check all members of a household if one person is infested to prevent reinfection.
- Repeat checks weekly for 1-2 months if lice are found to catch any new nits hatching.
Early identification allows timely treatment before schools, sports teams, or other close groups are exposed. Look for crawling insects or nits stuck within 1⁄4 inch of the scalp, which indicates an active infestation requiring treatment.
Treating Lice Infestations
Several effective treatment options exist for eliminating head lice:
Medicated shampoos – Products like Rid, Nix, or store brands contain insecticides that kill live lice. Apply thoroughly on dry hair and leave on for 10+ minutes before rinsing out. Comb out dead lice and nits. Repeat 7-10 days later to kill newly hatched lice.
Wet combing – Using a nit comb and conditioner to remove lice/nits from wet hair. Takes more time but avoids insecticides. Must be repeated every 3-4 days for 2 weeks.
Oral medication – Ivermectin tablets (Sklice or Stromectol) kill lice by paralyzing their nervous system. Given as a single dose to all infected family members.
Natural treatments – Essential oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender, or ylang ylang applied to the scalp may help kill some lice. Not a standalone treatment.
Alternative remedies – Mayonnaise, vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, coconut oil, petroleum jelly, hot air, and electronic “zapping” combs have varying effectiveness.
No matter the treatment method, diligently combing out nits and repeating application is key to successfully get rid of lice. Check all close family members and schoolmates as well. Treating personal items like hats, pillows, brushes, towels, and bedding may also help decrease reinfestation risk.
Preventing Lice Outbreaks
While lice cannot be fully prevented due to their contagious nature, the following tips can reduce the risk of infestation:
- Avoid direct head-to-head contact during an outbreak.
- Do not share personal items like combs, hats, helmets, or hair accessories.
- Check children’s heads regularly and after sleepovers or camp.
- Tie back long hair or braid it to reduce exposure.
- Use a repellant spray or shampoo containing tea tree, eucalyptus oil, menthol, or thyme.
- Soak combs, brushes, headbands, and other hair items in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5-10 minutes.
While annoying, lice are treatable and not harmful. Staying vigilant with thorough checks and early treatment can help manage infestations. Correct identification, combing, and medicated shampoos or oral meds will eliminate an outbreak. If lice persist despite correct use of pediculicides, prescription treatment may be needed. See a doctor for any secondary infections. With patience and diligence, lice can be successfully conquered!
Conclusion
Lice do not actually prefer any particular hair color or type. They feed on human blood and spread through close head contact. While blonde and light hair may show lice/nits more easily leading to higher reported cases, lice can infect all hair equally. Proper identification and treatment methods work on all hair types. Checking children’s hair regularly, especially during lice season as school starts, allows early treatment. Medicated shampoos, combs, essential oils, and oral meds can effectively kill lice when used thoroughly and repetitively. With vigilance, lice infestations can be well-controlled.