First Signs of Head Lice: What to Look For

Head lice don't always announce themselves. There may be no dramatic moment when you suddenly realize they're there. Often, something simply makes you wonder.

Itching

An itchy scalp is one of the best-known signs associated with head lice. But itching isn't proof of lice, and its absence doesn't necessarily rule them out.

A crawling or tickling sensation

Some people describe feeling movement in their hair or on their scalp. Again, this isn't enough by itself to determine that lice are present.

Irritation from scratching

Repeated scratching may leave areas of the scalp irritated.

Finding something in the hair

Sometimes the first clue is visual, a tiny insect or a small object attached to a strand of hair. That's when a careful check becomes particularly important.

Exposure

If someone you've had close hair-to-hair contact with has head lice, performing a careful check is sensible even if you aren't experiencing obvious symptoms.

Check instead of guessing

Symptoms can tell you when to look more closely. They cannot replace actually checking the hair.

Comb & Calm was built around that distinction: don't guess from symptoms alone. Look.