What Do Lice Look Like? A Guide to What You’re Seeing

You’re looking through the hair and suddenly see something. It’s tiny. Maybe brown. Maybe white. Maybe it moved, or maybe you’re not even sure.

The first question is usually the simplest one: What do lice actually look like?

Head lice are small insects that live close to the scalp and feed on human blood. Adult lice are roughly the size of a sesame seed, while younger lice can be considerably smaller. Their color can vary, which is one reason identifying them isn’t always as straightforward as people expect. Depending on their stage of development, lighting and surroundings, lice may appear tan, grayish or brown.

What do lice look like in hair?

Live lice have six legs and an elongated body. Because they move quickly through hair and tend to stay close to the scalp, they can be difficult to spot. That means simply looking at the top of the hair may not tell you very much. Instead, divide the hair into small sections and look closely near the scalp, particularly around the ears and the nape of the neck.

What about lice eggs?

Lice eggs, commonly called nits, look very different from adult lice. They are extremely small and are attached to individual hair shafts. They may appear whitish, yellowish, tan or brown. One useful distinction is that debris such as dandruff can often be moved or brushed away relatively easily. Nits are attached more firmly to the hair shaft.

Why identifying lice can be confusing

Hair products, dandruff, lint, scabs and other debris can all look suspicious when you're actively searching for lice. And when something is only a millimeter or two across, identifying it by eye isn't always easy. That's why the goal of a careful lice check isn't to panic at the first white speck you see. It's to look systematically and gather better information.

Not sure what you're seeing?

Comb & Calm was created to bring another layer of technology to the checking process. Using guided images and AI-assisted visual analysis, Comb & Calm reviews images for visual characteristics consistent with head lice. Because sometimes the hardest part isn't knowing that you should check. It's knowing what you're looking at. Not sure what you're seeing? Begin a Comb & Calm screening.