Halloween is a little over a month away, which means it’s time to start shopping for costumes for the family! The average price of a store-bought costume is around $30, so if you have more than one kid, this can add up quickly. Not to mention, all of the accessories, candy, and decorations you have to splurge on.

If you’re looking to save money on a Halloween costume, buying one secondhand makes sense. Your kid is only going to wear the costume for a few hours anyway. But what about head lice - is this something you should be worried about? Although some people believe that head lice can be spread through secondhand items, this is rarely the case.

Why You Don’t Have to Worry about a Used Halloween Costume 

The same is true for Halloween accessories like wigs and masks. Even though these items have direct contact with your hair, lice are unlikely to live in them for any longer than a day. The only thing we caution against is trying on masks, wigs, and costumes at a Halloween store. You never know who just tried them on before you! 

Tips for Avoiding Head Lice During Halloween 

Perhaps a friend or neighbor told you their horror story of how they got lice from a Halloween costume. Chances are, it wasn’t the costume that gave them lice but something else. Head lice are primarily spread through direct contact, as they can’t fly, hop, or jump. They must crawl from one host to the other, which is why the following precautions are important:

1. Isolate your costume. Do this for a day or two to ensure that any lice will die. This is even important for a brand-new costume, as other people may have tried it on.
2. Don’t share items. Let your child know that they shouldn’t share with others during school. 
3. Pull your child’s hair up and/or into a braid. Halloween festivities - parades, parties, selfies, trick-or-treating - often put children close together, raising the risk of head lice.
4. Use a lice spray repellent. Before your child leaves for school, give them a few spritzes of a mint lice spray. Lice hate this smell and are more likely to stay away. 
5. Once a week, take a peek. Your child is in school, so head lice can be spread at any time. Check once a week to keep on top of potential lice infestations.