Head lice: how to get rid of them (and stop them coming back)

Hair & scalp ·Published 10 October 2026 ·Reviewed 10 October 2026

Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist.

General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor.

To get rid of head lice, treat and then treat again. Comb conditioner-coated hair with a fine-toothed lice comb every 2 to 3 days for two weeks, or use a head lice lotion and repeat it about 7 days later to catch the lice that hatch from eggs the first treatment missed. Check the whole family, and skip the deep clean: lice spread by head-to-head contact, not from your couch or the dog.

In Queensland, a child with head lice doesn’t have to miss school or childcare, as long as effective treatment has started before their next day there. Here’s how to do it properly, and what to do when lice keep coming back.

How do I know if my child has head lice?

healthdirect lists itching, a tingling scalp and trouble sleeping as common signs. Raising Children adds that you might notice your child scratching, especially around the back of the neck and behind the ears.

• Nits (eggs) are small and oval-shaped, white or brown-black, and stuck to the hair near the scalp.
• Nits aren’t dandruff. healthdirect points out that, unlike dandruff, nits don’t fall off when you shake or brush the hair. If the flakes brush away easily, read our guide to dandruff treatment instead.
• Live lice are hard to spot. Raising Children notes you may need to part the hair very quickly, or use wet combing (below), to find them.

How do you get rid of head lice with conditioner and a comb?

healthdirect describes combing with conditioner as safe and chemical-free, and CHOICE calls it the most effective option for mild infestations, as well as the cheapest. The conditioner stuns the lice and makes it hard for them to grip the hair or crawl around.

You’ll need plenty of hair conditioner, a fine-toothed metal lice comb, an ordinary brush and some paper towel. Then:

1. Brush the hair to get the tangles out.
2. Wet the hair and apply a lot of conditioner, rubbing it into the scalp and along the hair. Leave it on for at least 15 minutes.
3. Divide long or thick hair into sections.
4. Insert the lice comb until it gently touches the scalp, then comb firmly out from the scalp to the ends.
5. Wipe the comb on paper towel after each stroke and look for lice and eggs.
6. Comb your child’s entire head thoroughly at least twice.
7. Put the paper towel in the bin, and wash the comb in hot water and detergent.

Raising Children suggests repeating this every 2 to 3 days for 2 weeks, until a full combing doesn’t show any eggs or lice anywhere on the scalp. Pop a movie on and settle in: the first session takes a while.

Which head lice treatments work?

Pharmacies stock a few different types of head lice products, and they work in different ways.

• Insecticide lotions and liquids. Raising Children lists permethrin, maldison and pyrethrins as active ingredients in these products, and says lotions, liquids and creams are more effective than shampoos. CHOICE notes that insecticide treatments are registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration, so look for the AUST R number on the pack.
• Non-insecticide options. The conditioner-and-comb method is the main one. Herbal products made from essential oils and plant extracts are also sold, but CHOICE says most haven’t been clinically tested or independently assessed for effectiveness or safety. For a heavy infestation, it suggests trying an insecticide-based product first.
• Prescription options. healthdirect notes that some treatments are only available on prescription, so see a GP if pharmacy products haven’t worked.

Before you buy, check the age on the pack. healthdirect explains that some products are suitable for babies over 2 months, while others are only for children over 2 years. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any lice treatment. Combing with conditioner is safe in pregnancy.

Why do head lice keep coming back?

You need a second treatment

CHOICE explains that no insecticide kills all the eggs, so you need to re-apply the treatment seven days later to kill the lice that hatch from eggs that survived. healthdirect suggests treating once at the start and again 7 to 10 days later. Raising Children also recommends checking that the lice are dead after using a product, and wet combing is a good way to check.

The lice may be resistant

Lice are becoming resistant to conventional insecticides, and CHOICE says resistance can vary from region to region. If you find live lice after treating, Raising Children suggests switching to a product with a different active ingredient.

They’re catching them again

If one person in the house has lice, others may too. Raising Children advises checking the whole family, treating family members at the same time, and telling your child’s school or childcare centre. CHOICE adds that tying long hair up can help.

Head lice myths: what’s true and what isn’t

Does my child need to stay home from school?

Not in Queensland, as long as treatment has started. Queensland Health’s Time out poster says a child with head lice is not excluded if effective treatment is commenced before their next attendance day, and classmates don’t need to stay home either. healthdirect suggests checking your school or childcare centre for any special rules.

Other common myths

• “Lice mean dirty hair.” healthdirect says lice spread through close head-to-head contact, not because of poor hygiene.
• “Lice jump from head to head.” They can’t jump or fly. They crawl.
• “The dog gave them lice.” Head lice only live on people, so your pets don’t need treating.
• “You need to clean the whole house.” healthdirect says insect sprays and home disinfection aren’t needed, and Raising Children says your child is unlikely to get lice from furniture, pillows or carpet. If you’d like to, wash combs, brushes, hats, clothes and bedding used in the last 48 hours in a hot wash and a hot dryer, and seal anything you can’t wash in a plastic bag for several days.
• “A repellent spray will keep them away.” CHOICE found no product has been proven to repel head lice, and there’s no evidence that anything you put on your child’s hair acts as a repellent. Not sharing brushes or hats is still sensible.

How our pharmacists can help

Our pharmacists can help you choose a product that suits your child’s age, check what’s suitable if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, and suggest what to try next if a treatment hasn’t worked. You can browse the head lice treatments on priceline.com.au, or talk to our pharmacists at Pacific Fair before you buy. Itchy bottom rather than an itchy head? Our threadworms guide explains how to treat the whole family.

When to see a pharmacist or GP

healthdirect notes that you don’t usually need to see a doctor to treat head lice. Talk to a pharmacist first if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or treating a baby. See a GP (our in-store Help Medical GPs are one option) if, as Raising Children suggests:

• you’ve used the treatments properly, including a second treatment, and they’re not working
• your child is scratching a lot and it’s interrupting their sleep
• your child has sores on their scalp
• your child has been treated 3 or more times in a year

This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.