After a long day at work, you pick up your child from school. Despite your mental to-do list, you talk to your youngster, asking about their day. That’s when the bombshell drops: “Oh, and Skylar gave everyone lice. Will I get lice too?” As you go to answer with a prompt ‘no’, you pause and wonder. Can type 4 hair get lice? The panic in your thoughts may have led you to this very article. If that’s you, welcome, and don’t worry.
In this article we’re going to explore the question that many people with coily hair have: Can people with type 4 hair get lice? We’ll discuss common misconceptions, what lice is, signs you have it, and how to prevent it.
What are Lice?
Other than being the social nightmare of every popular kid in school, lice are a type of parasitic insect that live and breed on the cooler regions of skin, feasting on the dead skin and oils your body produces; yummy! But what do they look like?
- About 2 to 3 millimeters long (sesame seed sized)
- Torpedo shaped and shiny or oily looking
- Black to grey colored
Thankfully, lice cannot fly or jump, but they are crawlers and claspers. Despite their size and simple movement, they can spread from person to person causing major damage to a person’s skin and hair; since lice can be found on your head, body, or even pubic area (crabs). There have been cases where lice have lived in areas like eyelashes, chest hair, and eyebrows.
So, Can Type 4 Hair Get Lice?
Yes, but not often. Why? Here are two major reasons:
- Lice have a hard time clasping onto type 4 hair. Due to the width and shape of 4 hair shaft, an oval rather than a circle, lice just can’t get a good grip.
- Lice have a hard time staying attached to type 4 hair. Bless your butters, oils, and gels! There’s typically too much slip to stay attached.
But how do you know if you do have lice and how should you fix it?
How Do I Know if I Have Lice?
Lice make themselves known quickly and clearly. Some symptoms that you should look for are the following:
- The itching is intense
- Feeling constant movement
- Observing eggs near your hairline and neck
- Noticing bite marks, sometimes infected bite marks.
Thankfully, the method to remove lice is very simple and one that everyone, regardless of hair-type can use. Now that you’re familiar with signs and symptoms of lice, we’ll dive into how to prevent it.
How do I prevent it?
The best ways to prevent lice are the following:
- Don’t share items like combs, hairbrushes, and clothes with others
- Wash your hair bi-weekly, conditioning your hair with each wash
- Keep your environment clean and wash your clothes and sheets weekly
- Consider protective styles for your natural hair to prevent lice
If you do get lice, avoid using kerosene, petroleum jelly, or mayonnaise in your hair. Not only will you smell bad, but these have been scientifically proven to be ineffective, even dangerous, for preventing or removing lice. Not sharing hair and head accessories and maintaining good hygiene are the best ways to prevent lice.
