Nits & Eggs Information and Life Cycle

All About Nits & Head Lice

Facts every parent should know

🐛 What Are Head Lice?

Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are tiny parasitic insects that live on the human scalp and feed on blood. They are not dangerous, but they’re highly contagious and very common — especially among school-aged children.

🥚 What Are Nits?

• Nits are lice eggs.
  
  

• They are oval, about the size of a knot in thread (0.5mm), and are usually yellow or white.
  
  

• Nits stick firmly to hair shafts, close to the scalp — they do not move.
  
  

• People often mistake dandruff or sand for nits, but unlike dandruff, nits don’t brush off easily.
  
  

🔄 Life Cycle of Head Lice

Day 0–7
🪺 Egg/Nit Stage

• Laid near the scalp, glued to hair
  
  

• Hatch in 7–10 days
  
  

Day 8–15
🪰 Nymph Stage

• Baby lice hatch from nits
  
  

• Feed on blood several times daily
  
  

• Mature in 9–12 days
  
  

Day 16+
🪳 Adult Lice

• About the size of a sesame seed
  
  

• Can live up to 30 days on a person
  
  

• Lay up to 10 eggs per day
  
  

🛑 Off the head?

• Lice die within 24–48 hours without a blood meal
  
  

👀 How Do You Know It’s Lice?

• Persistent itching (from saliva allergies)
  
  

• Tickling feeling or movement in the hair
  
  

• Red bites or scratch marks around the ears or nape of the neck
  
  

• Visible nits near the scalp
  
  

• Live lice (harder to spot — they’re fast!)
  
  

❗ Important Facts

• Lice do not jump or fly — they crawl
  
  

• Transmission is mostly head-to-head contact
  
  

• Pets cannot carry or spread head lice
  
  

• Hygiene has nothing to do with getting lice
  
  

• Lice are becoming resistant to many over-the-counter chemical treatments
  
  

🧼 Cleaning vs Over-Cleaning

While treating the scalp is most important, cleaning your home helps avoid re-infestation:

• Wash pillowcases, hats, brushes, and bedding in hot water
  
  

• Vacuum car seats and sofas
  
  

• Tie up long hair, avoid sharing hats or hair accessories
  
  

• Daily checks during outbreaks help catch lice early
  
  

🧪 Natural & Safe Approaches

At Nits Happen, we use natural, safe ingredients that:

• Dissolve the glue holding nits to hair
  
  

• Smother and kill live lice
  
  

• Soothe irritated scalps
  
  

• Are gentle for children and parents alike
  
  

📝 Did You Know?

• Lice can survive underwater for several hours, but can’t spread in pools
  
  

• Some children are “super hosts” — showing no itching at all!
  
  

• It only takes 1 fertilised female louse to start a full infestation
  
  

🧠 Knowledge is power!
The more you know about the life cycle and habits of head lice, the better equipped you are to treat, prevent, and stay nit-free.