Head lice live next to the scalp and feed on blood. Pediculosis capitus is the proper term for head lice It's eggs can sometimes be seen on the ends of the hair, but the nearer they are to the scalp the more recent the infection. They can't jump or swim and are transmitted through head to head contact. The 6-legged louse crawls around the head and if not dealt with quickly will breed. The nit or louse's egg is quite resilient and even chemical lotions don't always penetrate it.

They are most susceptible to chemical lotions when the nit is newly hatched, which is about 14 days after the egg has been laid. Nit combs are effective tools as the small teeth dislodge the eggs and be scraped off on to a tissue paper. This way, the eggs and lice will slide off the hair easily as they won't be able to grip the slippery hair shaft. There are also medical preparations that can kill the little blighters in one application.