Head Lice Removal Cost & Time Required

Lice removal times and costs vary depending on the thickness of your child’s hair, the treatment option you choose, and the severity of head lice infestation. But first, you should identify which family members have it to get the most accurate estimate.

Symptoms of Head Lice

If your child has lice, in most probability she got it from a family member, friend, or a classmate. Sharing items such as combs, towels, brushes, and hats, as well as sitting close and sharing a bed, can cause lice to spread. However, head to head contact is the most common infection method. The symptoms of head lice may not show for up to five weeks from initial lice infestation.

· Itchy scalp

· A feeling of something crawling on your head

· Sores due to intense scratching. 

· Difficulty in sleeping.

· Irritability

Head lice should immediately be treated to prevent them from spreading. 

How to Kill Head Lice

1. Professional Treatment. Head lice treatment clinics, centers, or services.

2. Home Remedies. Olive oil, tea tree oil, coconut oil, thyme oil, sesame oil, garlic mayonnaise, petroleum jelly. These are applied in the dry hair and allowed to stay for a few hours before rinsing. 

3. Over-the-Counter Products. Pyrethrin combined with another chemical to make it more toxic to lice and permethrin, the synthetic version of pyrethrin. 

4. Medical Prescriptions. Ivermectin, Benzyl Alcohol, Malathion, Spinosad, and Lindane. These medications come as shampoos and are applied on dry hair and allowed to stay for a few hours before rinsing. 

5. Lice Removal Devices. These are mechanical devices that come as combs or vacuums or dryers. 

It is recommended to avoid using the same treatment more than twice. Use only one type of medication at a time, too. 

How long does it take to remove lice?

Getting rid of head lice can be a daunting task. It does not, however, need to take forever to battle head lice infestation as long as a thorough job is done the first time. How long it will take to remove lice depends on these factors:

· Type of treatment

· Hair length, thickness, and curly or kinkiness

· Number of family members with head lice

· Lice spreading in school 

· If everyone is treated at once or at different times

Treatment centers

Getting rid of head lice through a lice treatment clinic or center may take only one treatment. The length of the treatment depends on the severity of lice infestation. A second appointment may be required to check for re-infestation.

Home remedies

If you opt for home remedies, your child should be lice-and-nit-free two weeks or so after the initial treatment. A second treatment is needed one week after the first treatment. 

Lice products & prescriptions

If after two weeks and the lice and nits are not gone, try OTC products. OTC products will require two treatments. A second treatment is done 9 days after the first treatment to kill the remaining lice and nits from the first treatment.

OTC products often fail because sometimes the medication is not kept on the scalp long enough to make it effective or the OTC products are not used properly as indicated. 

Of the prescription medications, only Ivermectin kills lice with a single treatment. All the rest may need second treatments a few days or weeks after the first. 

How much does it cost to remove lice?

Most lice treatment clinics, centers, or services charge per hour or family member. It usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half and only one visit to treat head lice. Severe lice infestation would take much longer. 

OTC, prescription medications for head lice as well as treatment clinics can be costly. Most Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) provide reimbursement for head lice treatment. You, however, need to check with your provider if head lice services and remediation products are covered expenses. 

Home remedies are the cheapest of all head lice treatments. Using a lice removal device is also cheaper than OTC products and prescription medication. A lice removal device can be cleaned and/or sanitized for re-use.

Vanessa Rich
This was the best money ever spent. Margaret was super thorough, knowledgeable, and so pleasant. She kept my girls calm and happy and we left confident that everyone is lice free!
Vanessa Rich
This was the best money ever spent. Margaret was super thorough, knowledgeable, and so pleasant. She kept my girls calm and happy and we left confident that everyone is lice free!
Amanda Peden
Margaret and Lice Charmers made what could have been an awful experience easy and even light hearted at times. Margaret was so kind and warm and nice to talk to, the treatment was straightforward and painless and we left with peace of mind. So appreciative of Lice Charmers!
Amanda Peden
Margaret and Lice Charmers made what could have been an awful experience easy and even light hearted at times. Margaret was so kind and warm and nice to talk to, the treatment was straightforward and painless and we left with peace of mind. So appreciative of Lice Charmers!
Stacey Martin
Kind and caring staff, clean environment and excellent results. Would highly recommend!!
Stacey Martin
Kind and caring staff, clean environment and excellent results. Would highly recommend!!
Matthew Sloane
Lovely experience. Kid friendly environment and lots of great information!
Matthew Sloane
Lovely experience. Kid friendly environment and lots of great information!
M. Allison
Melanie and Marginy were knowledgeable and patient while they treated and checked our whole family. Their space was very clean and organized, and treatment methods very thorough. Peace of mind is worth the price we paid!
M. Allison
Melanie and Marginy were knowledgeable and patient while they treated and checked our whole family. Their space was very clean and organized, and treatment methods very thorough. Peace of mind is worth the price we paid!
Marvin Paik
Gigi was very informative about how lice spread, how to contain them, and the treatment process. She also did a great job of treating my daughter along with me and my wife. Hopefully I won’t need her services but if I do, I would return here!
Marvin Paik
Gigi was very informative about how lice spread, how to contain them, and the treatment process. She also did a great job of treating my daughter along with me and my wife. Hopefully I won’t need her services but if I do, I would return here!
Kristin Nxumalo
This experience was so stressful…BUT Melanie and licd charmers made it so much easier for me and my kids. I have mixed race children with textured hair and Melanie handled it with skill, patience and professionalism. I can’t say enough about how grateful I am for her and our service!
Kristin Nxumalo
This experience was so stressful…BUT Melanie and licd charmers made it so much easier for me and my kids. I have mixed race children with textured hair and Melanie handled it with skill, patience and professionalism. I can’t say enough about how grateful I am for her and our service!
Ashley Shook
Margaret and Jaimee did a great job! They worked quickly and efficiently but were extremely thorough. They did a great job ensuring our entire family (as young as 4) felt comfortable.

In-Home Lice Removal

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No devices, chemicals, products, or aftercare required.

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