How long does a lice treatment appointment take?

Most appointments take 45–90 minutes depending on hair length and density.

Does heated-air lice treatment kill eggs (nits)?

Yes. Controlled heated air is designed to dehydrate live lice and their eggs during the appointment, followed by a thorough comb-out.

Is lice treatment safe for kids?

Yes. Our process uses no pesticides and works across most hair types and ages; we tailor the session for comfort.

Do I need to treat everyone in the household?

Check all close contacts the same day and treat anyone with evidence of lice to prevent ping-pong reinfestation.

Do I have to deep-clean the whole house?

Focus on the last 48 hours: hot wash and dry pillowcases and headwear, soak combs/brushes in hot water for 10 minutes, and vacuum where heads rested. Skip sprays and foggers.

What if OTC lice shampoo didn’t work?

OTC products may not kill eggs and some lice can be resistant. Our heated-air plus combing protocol targets both lice and eggs in one visit.

Do you offer a guarantee on lice treatment?

Yes. Lice Charmers provides a written guarantee with simple follow-up steps; ask our team for details when booking.

What is a pediculicide?

A pediculicide is a lice-killing product for head, body, or pubic lice. It comes as lotions, shampoos, or sprays; some kill eggs (ovicidal) while others do not.

How does an anti-louse or louse treatment product work?

Neurotoxic agents like permethrin, pyrethrins, spinosad, ivermectin, or malathion disrupt lice nerves or muscles, while physical agents like dimethicone or benzyl alcohol block breathing or dehydrate lice. Some are ovicidal; many are not.

What are some preventative measures against lice?

Minimize head-to-head contact, avoid sharing hats and brushes, keep long hair tied or braided, and do weekly checks with a fine comb. Treat confirmed cases promptly.

How is tea tree oil used in lice treatment?

Some use tea tree oil as a home remedy or in sprays, but evidence is inconsistent and skin irritation or allergy can occur. It is not recommended as a stand-alone treatment.

What are some common head lice treatments?

OTC options include permethrin 1% and pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide. Prescription options include spinosad 0.9%, ivermectin 0.5% lotion, benzyl alcohol 5%, and malathion 0.5%. Non-chemical wet-combing and professional heated-air treatment are also used.

What is involved in head louse treatment?

Confirm live lice, choose a pediculicide or heated-air service, saturate hair per label, time it, rinse over a sink, and comb meticulously in sections. Repeat checks for 2–3 weeks and check or treat close contacts the same day.

Are there any home remedies for treating head lice?

Oils, mayonnaise, and other suffocation methods have variable results and are not ovicidal. Wet-combing is the most reliable non-chemical option when done thoroughly; avoid harsh or flammable substances.

How does dimethicone suffocate lice?

Dimethicone coats lice and blocks their spiracles (breathing openings), causing suffocation and water loss. It works mechanically, so resistance is unlikely, but it requires thorough application and often a repeat.

What are the benefits of using a nit comb regularly during lice treatment?

Regular nit-combing removes eggs and small nymphs that treatments may miss, helps track progress, and can reduce the need for additional chemical applications.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of chemical versus natural lice treatments?

Chemical treatments are usually faster and labeled with clear directions but may irritate the scalp and face resistance; many are not ovicidal. Natural or physical methods reduce chemical exposure but can be slower and technique-dependent. Heated-air is pesticide-free, targets lice and eggs, but requires professional equipment.

How long does it typically take for a lice treatment to be effective?

Many products kill live lice within hours and itching may improve in 1–2 days. If a product is not ovicidal, a second treatment around day 7–10 is typical; checks and combing should continue for 2–3 weeks.

What are the potential risks or side effects of lice treatments?

Common effects include scalp irritation, stinging, or dryness; allergic reactions are possible with pyrethrins. Malathion is flammable while wet. Overuse or misuse increases irritation and treatment failure.

Is it necessary to treat the entire household if one person has lice?

Check everyone closely the same day and treat only those infested or with clear evidence; re-check close contacts in 7–10 days.

How does a louse-comb aid in the removal of lice and nits?

Fine, tight teeth catch eggs and nymphs at the scalp. Sectioning and combing root-to-tip remove what fingers miss; wiping on a white towel shows progress.

What ingredients are commonly found in pediculicides for effective lice treatment?

Common actives include permethrin, pyrethrins with PBO, spinosad, ivermectin, malathion, benzyl alcohol, and dimethicone. Some are ovicidal (e.g., spinosad; malathion to a degree) while others require retreatment.

How can delousing be incorporated into a routine for preventing lice infestations?

Do quick weekly comb checks, especially after camps or sleepovers; keep a nit comb handy; teach kids to avoid head-to-head contact; treat promptly at first signs.

What steps should be taken to ensure a home is nit-free following an infestation?

Wash and dry on high heat items that touched the head in the past 48 hours; soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes; vacuum sofas and car seats; bag unwashables for 48 hours; skip pesticide sprays.

How can identifying and removing nits early prevent a full-blown lice infestation?

Early nit removal prevents hatching and breaks the lifecycle, reducing total lice load and re-exposure within the home.

What techniques improve the effectiveness of nit combs?

Use bright lighting and magnification if needed; apply conditioner or water mist for slip; comb small sections and angle the comb against the scalp, wiping on a white towel each pass.

Why are nits often more difficult to treat than adult lice?

Nits are tiny, cemented to hair shafts, and many products are not fully ovicidal. They are often hidden in warm scalp areas such as the nape and behind the ears.

What preventive measures are effective against nits specifically?

There is no nit-specific blocker; prevention relies on avoiding head-to-head contact, routine checks, and early nit removal. Keep hair tied back and avoid sharing headgear.

What are super lice and how are they treated?

Super lice are head lice with resistance to common OTC pyrethroids. Treat by switching classes to spinosad or ivermectin, using malathion or dimethicone, thorough wet-combing, or professional heated-air treatment.

What factors contribute to the development of super lice?

Repeated, sub-lethal exposures such as under-dosing or rinsing too soon, community overuse of the same active ingredient, and skipping retreatment or poor saturation and combing.

What role does skin care play in preventing lice infestations?

A healthy scalp makes it easier to spot lice and nits and reduces confusion with dandruff. Treat scratching gently to avoid infection. Clean hair alone does not prevent lice—contact prevention and checks do.

Can items like mayonnaise be effective in treating head lice?

Results are inconsistent and not ovicidal; mayonnaise can be messy and irritating. Prefer evidence-based options such as labeled pediculicides, wet-combing, or heated-air treatment.

Why is it recommended to bag and dry items in plastic to prevent lice spread?

Lice survive less than 1–2 days off the scalp and nits need warmth to hatch. Bagging items for 48 hours or using a hot dryer mitigates risk from recently used items.

How often should furniture be cleaned to prevent a lice infestation?

Vacuum areas where heads rested on treatment day. Repeating after the recheck is optional; widespread spraying is unnecessary.

What information updates should one look for regarding lice treatment resistance?

Monitor public health or school nurse notices, product labels and instructions, and reputable medical sites that summarize resistance trends and new options.

How can one ensure that lice treatments remain effective against resistant strains?

Follow label timing exactly; avoid conditioner before treatment if advised; ensure full saturation; retreat on schedule; comb thoroughly; if failure occurs, switch to a different treatment class or use heated-air.

A small, wingless, blood-feeding insect adapted to humans. The head louse species is Pediculus humanus capitis, which lives on scalp hair.

How do lice reproduce and spread?

Females lay nits cemented near the scalp; eggs hatch in about 7–10 days. Spread occurs mainly via head-to-head contact; pets do not spread human head lice.

Pediculosis means a lice infestation of the head, body, or pubic area. Pediculosis capitis refers specifically to head lice.

What are the symptoms of pediculosis?

Common symptoms include itching, a tickling sensation, sleep disruption, scratch marks, visible nits close to the scalp, and sometimes live lice.

How can one identify a louse infestation?

Identify live, moving lice or viable nits within about 6–7 mm (¼ inch) of the scalp. Use a fine metal comb under bright light for confirmation.

What are the potential complications of a lice infestation?

Possible complications include secondary skin infection from scratching, swollen lymph nodes, and sleep loss. Head lice do not spread disease.

Why is it important to check for nits attached to the hair close to the scalp?

Nits close to the scalp are more likely viable due to warmth; distant nits are often empty shells and less relevant.

What are the most effective methods to cure a lice infestation?

Use a properly applied pediculicide—preferably ovicidal—plus meticulous combing, or choose heated-air treatment for a pesticide-free, often one-visit solution. Check contacts and do simple home cleaning.

How does lice shampoo differ from regular shampoo in treating lice?

Lice shampoo contains pediculicides or physical agents designed to kill lice and eggs; regular shampoo only cleans hair and does not kill lice.

What are human lice and how are they treated?

Human lice include head, body, and pubic (crab) lice. Head lice use the treatments above; body lice control focuses on laundering and hygiene; crab lice are treated with appropriate pediculicides and contact management.

What is pediculosis capitis?

It is the medical term for head louse infestation.

What is a body louse and how does it differ from other types of lice?

Body lice live in clothing seams and move to skin to feed, often associated with poor laundering or crowding. Unlike head lice, body lice can transmit certain diseases.

What is a crab louse and how is it different from other types of lice?

Pthirus pubis (crab louse) has a squat, crab-like body with strong claws for coarse hair, typically infesting the pubic area and causing intense itching.

What are the common symptoms of a head lice infestation?

Itching, nits near the scalp, small sores from scratching, and sometimes visible lice; irritation is often worse at the nape and behind the ears.

How do head lice differ in appearance from other types of lice?

Head lice are elongated and adapted to scalp hair; crab lice are short and wide; body lice resemble head lice but live primarily in clothing.

Lice Treatment: Complete Lice Treatment In One Visit - Guaranteed! Call Now. Cures, Shampoo, Remedies, and Treatments for Treating Lice and Pediculosis | Lice treatment and lice removal cures | For effective lice removal, treating lice with specialized lice shampoo and other treatments is essential; our remedies include a variety of options like a lice cure and shampoo, ensuring each louse is treated and pediculosis is managed through comprehensive treatment strategies.

How We Get Rid of Lice

One Hour. One Visit.
60-Day Guarantee.

(971) 484-1696

Book Online

What to expect at a lice treatment appointment

1
Book a clinic or in-home appointment
2
It’s best if everyone in the household attends the appointment.
3
Pack snacks, entertainment, and supplies. Appointments for a family of four may take 1.5-4 hours
4
A skilled technician will perform checks and treatment.
5
Your hair will be oily afterward, so plan accordingly.
6
Pay with HSA/FSA, card, or cash.

Our 4-STEP
Treatment Process

STEP 1
Screen for Lice

Trained technicians conduct a thorough wet check and show you any evidence of lice or nits.

What is a wet check?

Dry or semi-wet checks are fundamentally ineffective. Since lice are Motile (capable of motion) and light-avoidant, they scurry into the shadows the second you part dry hair. Our Wet Check uses oil to immobilize them, creating a swampy prison that is 3.5x more effective than a visual check. This ensures we catch the Nymphs (translucent juveniles) and Nits (eggs) that others miss.

STEP 2
Treat with Heat

Trained technicians conduct a thorough wet check and show you any evidence of lice or nits.

Why heat treatment?

OurwarmOur warm air devices use a safe combination of temperature and airflow to dehydrate lice and their eggs in just one visit. Clinical studies show precision heated air safety and effectiveness.

Less painful than combing
More effective at killing all bugs and eggs
Only one appointment required

STEP 3
Educate

Expert advice to take care of your home, avoid re-exposure, and prevent reinfestation.

Common treatment mistakes

Most parents go full “scorched earth” on their houses while ignoring the actual science of the scalp and treat lice as a hygiene inconvenience rather than a biological siege.

Here is why most DIY attempts end in frustration:

The OTC Gambit: Drugstore shampoos are mid bc “Super Lice” have evolved resistance to their neurotoxins.
Nit-Picking Fail: Missing just one egg (nit) means the infestation resets in a week.
Cleaning Theater: Spending hours on laundry is a waste of time; lice are obligate parasites and die within 48 hours off a host.
Dry Combing: It’s painful for the kid and scientifically ineffective at removing eggs glued to the hair shaft.
The “No Itch” Myth: Only ~50% of people itch, so assuming they’re “clean” without a professional check is a major error.
The Nit Invincibility Fallacy: No OTC product or prescription reliably kills all nits (head lice eggs). They are essentially biological fortresses.
The “Silent Spread” Delusion: Thinking the problem is gone while the bugs continue to spread.
Isolationist Strategy: Not getting everyone in the household checked is a fatal flaw in your containment protocol.
Economic Blindness: Overlooking the Opportunity Cost (the value of the best alternative forgone when a choice is made) of missing school, childcare, or work.
The Hubris of DIY: Committing to DIY without actually knowing the necessary protocols to ensure it’s gone is just a recipe for burnout.

STEP 4
Protect
60 Day Guarantee

The only 60 day guarantee in the Pacific Northwest covering reinfestation and treatment failure.

Why covering treatment failure and reinfestation is important

Limited Coverage: Most guarantees only apply to treatment failure, not reinfestation.
Provider Discretion: Companies decide if new bugs merit a free retreatment or a new charge.
Identification Conflict: Differentiating between a missed louse and a new one is nearly impossible in practice.

Guarantee terms

As of 1/1/2026, we are the only service in the nation with a 60 day guarantee that covers both treatment failure and reinfestation.

If lice return within 60 days of your appointment, we’ll provide one free retreatment—plus checks—for each person we treated the first time, at our nearest clinic.

You’re covered when:

Everyone with lice was treated by us within the last 60 days.
Everyone in, or in regular contact with, your household including split-households was checked and cleared or treated by us.
You can provide physical evidence (e.g., a dead louse) or we find one during the appointment.
If evidence isn’t found, we will need to charge for the checks.

All guaranteed checks/retreatments must be completed within 24 hours of the initial free retreatment/check.

family returning home after lice treatment

The Result
You’re lice free.

After treatment you are 100% lice free and non-contagious

Required aftercare or second appointments?

One and done: Our treatments require no aftercare or second appointments.

Lice Treatment FAQ

Clinic vs In-Home Treatment

We understand that for many families, discretion and comfort are the top priorities.
Our premium mobile service brings the same technology used in our clinics directly to your living room.

Total Discretion
Our technicians arrive in unmarked vehicles.
We respect your privacy; your neighbors won’t even know we’re there.
Simple Setup
We only need a small workspace near a standard power outlet.
Our technicians bring all necessary equipment.
A Familiar Environment
Kids are often more relaxed at home.
They can sit on their favorite chair and watch their own TV while we work.
The “Clean Sweep”
While we treat your family, we provide clear, low-stress guidance for your home.
You’ll learn exactly what needs to be washed and what you can ignore (hint: you don’t need to bag up the whole house).

Same “One & Done” Results
You get the exact same 60-minute treatment and 60-day guarantee as our in-clinic patients.
When we leave, your family is lice-free and non-contagious.

Choosing Between Clinic vs. Home

Feature	In-Clinic Visit	Mobile / In-Home
Technology	Heated Air Device	Heated Air Device
Environment	Kid-friendly “Zone” & Art Wall	Your Own Home
Discretion	Private Clinic Entry	Unmarked Vehicle
Convenience	Faster for large groups	No travel required
Guarantee	60 Days	60 Days

Treatment Method Comparison

Feature	Lice Charmers	Heated-Air Clinics	Comb-Only	DIY / Drugstore
One Appointment	Yes	Yes	Rarely	No
Kills Eggs (Nits)	Yes	Yes	Manual only	No
Guarantee Length	60 Days ✦	14–30 Days	7–14 Days	None
Pain-Free	Yes	Yes	Depends	No
Non-Contagious Today	Yes	Maybe	No	No

How to Choose a Lice Treatment Service

Ask these before booking anywhere. The answers might surprise you:

Do they require a second paid visit? (We don’t.)
Does the guarantee outlast the hatch cycle (30 days)? (Ours does — multiple times.)
Does the guarantee cover reinfestation? (We do.)
Will you leave non-contagious the same day?

Are you expected to comb at home afterward? (You shouldn’t be.)

Payment & Insurance Options

HSA/FSA: We are a qualified expense.

Insurance: We provide a receipt you can use to request out-of-network reimbursement. Medicaid discounts are available with proof of coverage.

Methods: We accept credit/debit, and cash, but we do not have change.

Ready to be done with this?

One visit. One hour. Guaranteed.

(971) 484-1696

Book Online

Lice Treatment and Prevention

What is a pediculicide?
How does an anti-louse or louse treatment product work?
What are some preventative measures against lice?
How is tea tree oil used in lice treatment?
What are some common head lice treatments?
What is involved in head louse treatment?
Are there any home remedies for treating head lice?
How does dimethicone suffocate lice?
What are the benefits of using a nit comb regularly during lice treatment?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of chemical versus natural lice treatments?
How long does it typically take for a lice treatment to be effective?
What are the potential risks or side effects of lice treatments?
Is it necessary to treat the entire household if one person has lice?
How does a louse-comb aid in the removal of lice and nits?
What ingredients are commonly found in pediculicides for effective lice treatment?
How can delousing be incorporated into a routine for preventing lice infestations?
What steps should be taken to ensure a home is nit-free following an infestation?
How can identifying and removing nits early prevent a full-blown lice infestation?
What techniques improve the effectiveness of nit combs?
Why are nits often more difficult to treat than adult lice?
What preventive measures are effective against nits specifically?

Super Lice Treatment

What are super lice and how are they treated?
What factors contribute to the development of super lice?

Lice Treatment Environmental and Miscellaneous Concerns

What role does skin care play in preventing lice infestations?
Can items like mayonnaise be effective in treating head lice?
Why is it recommended to bag and dry items in plastic to prevent lice spread?
How often should furniture be cleaned to prevent a lice infestation?
What information updates should one look for regarding lice treatment resistance?

How can one ensure that lice treatments remain effective against resistant strains?

Louse Overview

What is a louse?
How do lice reproduce and spread?

Lice Treatment for Pediculosis

What is pediculosis?
What are the symptoms of pediculosis?

Lice Infestation Treatment Facts

How can one identify a louse infestation?
What are the potential complications of a lice infestation?
Why is it important to check for nits attached to the hair close to the scalp?
What are the most effective methods to cure a lice infestation?
How does lice shampoo differ from regular shampoo in treating lice?

Types of Lice

What are human lice and how are they treated?
What is pediculosis capitis?
What is a body louse and how does it differ from other types of lice?
What is a crab louse and how is it different from other types of lice?
What are the common symptoms of a head lice infestation?
How do head lice differ in appearance from other types of lice?
What are the distinguishing characteristics of crab lice?
What are the primary habitats of body lice?

Lice Treatment for Nits or Lice Eggs

What are nits in the context of lice?
What is a nit and how does it relate to lice?
What does it mean for a treatment to be no-nit?
How long does it take for lice eggs (nits) to hatch?
What is the life cycle of a nit?
What are the benefits of using a nit comb regularly?
How does the visibility of nits vary on different hair types and colors?
Can nits survive after treatment and for how long?
What are the signs that nits are no longer viable after treatment?
How do treatments specifically target the removal of nits?
What is the importance of following up treatment with nit combing sessions?
Can nits cause itching and discomfort similar to adult lice?
How do environmental conditions affect nit viability?