This article about hairstyles to prevent lice and nits was last updated in 2022.
Dealing with lice and nits roaming freely in our kids hair has gotta be one of the worst things about motherhood.
It’s one thing to treat the hair with nit solution to get rid of the little buggers but how can we actually prevent them taking hold in the first place?
For girls, a simple prevention technique is to choose a pretty hairstyle that your daughter will love but the lice will loath.
Check out these hairstyles to prevent lice and and nits in your little ones hair.
WHAT EXACTLY ARE NITS AND LICE?
Lice are small, parasitic insects that feed on human blood. Head lice live on the hair and scalp, and nits are the eggs laid by adult female lice. Nits are usually found at the base of the hair shaft near the scalp, the crown and the hair above the ears. They are very tiny, can be difficult to see and can be confused with dandruff, sand or bits of dirt.
Head lice and nits are very common especially in children.
While head lice do not spread disease, they are annoying and very itchy. It’s best to treat a case of lice and nits immediately to avoid spreading them to other people.
WHY DO THEY LOVE MY KIDS HAIR?
Head lice and their eggs are usually found in the hair and on the scalp, and rarely on the eyebrows or eyelashes.
They love kids’ hair (whether clean or dirty) because kids tend to interact with each other closely during play at school and elsewhere.
Girls especially sit together in groups, lean in to talk and listen and move their heads together. And with long hair, lice can easily spread through head-to-head and body-to-body contact.
HOW CAN CERTAIN HAIRSTYLES PREVENT NITS AND LICE?
Kids often get lice from head-to-head contact with another child with a lice infestation.
Long flowing hair allows lice to cling to the hair strands more easily and move from one head to another. For this reason, if your child has long hair, it can help to keep it tied up in a bun, ponytail or braid while they’re at school.
HAIRSTYLES TO PREVENT LICE AND NITS TAKING HOLD
BALLET BUN
As for hairstyles to prevent lice, the ballerina bun is super chic and classic. It’s also easy to do: pull hair up into a high ponytail, twist into a neat bun and you’re done. The bun will keep all hair off your child’s face and shoulders.
Source: Dance My Way Directory
THE PRINCESS
The Princess bun is another easy hairstyle to prevent lice. Part the hair in the centre and tie each section into a low ponytail. Then wind the sections around the top hair band into a bun. Secure with bobby pins for all day wear.
Source: NitWits
FRENCH BRAID
Chic hairstyles to prevent lice like the French braid looks adorable and keeps hair secure and away from the face. Divide the hair into three sections starting from the middle back of the head. Cross the right over the top of the middle, then cross left over the top of the middle and repeat.
Source: Cute Girls Hairstyles
STOP NITS AND LICE WITH THESE HAIRSTYLES (CONT.)
CUTE MESSY BUN
Your girl will love the cute and trendy messy bun. Put hair up into a very high ponytail and wind the hair around the band. Keep the bun loose instead of tight (it’s okay to leave a few hair strands sticking out) and secure with bobby pins.
Source: Sheila F
PONYTAIL FLIPS
The ponytail flip is a twist on the regular ponytail, but the ends of the hair are kept neat and tidy in the back. Start by tying the hair into a low ponytail. Then carefully roll the tail into itself to form a low bun. Secure with a hair band or with bobby pins.
Source: Annette Belnap
PLAIT TAILS
We love classic hairstyles to prevent lice like the plait tails. This one is similar to the Princess, but you braid each section into a plait and fold the underside in half towards the scalp. Secure each tail with a hair band.
Source: NitWits
