Plastic or metal lice comb?

Most experts agree that nit, or lice egg, removal is the single most important part of every head lice control treatment and using the proper lice comb is at the heart of the whole process. Removing nits from hairs is often called "nit-picking".

Lice combs are made from either metal or plastic (see photo right). Metal combs, with stiff tines, or teeth, and narrow slots between tines, will effectively remove or crush nits while plastic combs tend to "skip over" nits and are not as effective. Plastic combs should only be used to untangle long hair before nit-combing with a metal comb (see Steps To Safe and Effective Head Lice Control for more information).