With everything going on in the world today, the last thing you want to worry about is bringing home head lice. Unfortunately, it happens. Below are some tips on how you can prevent lice from coming home with your family. 

READ HOTEL REVIEWS 

If you plan on staying in a hotel, do your homework and be sure to choose one that is clean and well-maintained. Lice are like bed bugs and can infiltrate a hotel if they don’t take the proper precautions. Common spots where lice like to breed are couches, chairs, beds, and other plush objects.

As long as the hotel changes the sheets daily and gives each room a thorough cleaning in between guests, you should be fine. Contracting head lice from a hotel is low. Bed bugs are a different story. 

AVOID SHARING HAIR PRODUCTS 

On vacation, many friends and families end up sharing personal items. We advise against doing this. Someone could have lice even if they don’t show symptoms. By sharing a hairbrush or hair tie, you’re giving the lice a chance to infect a new host. Your best bet – buy a cheap box of combs and assign one to each member of the family. 

DON’T TRY ON HATS AT THE GIFT SHOP 

Avoid trying on sun hats, baseball caps, and other accessories at the gift shop. Hundreds to thousands of people have probably tried them on, too, which means there could be an active louse in one of them. If you find a hat you like, ask the employee if they have clean ones in the back. Or, order a hat online so that you have it for your trip. 

KEEP THE HAIR TIED BACK

Tying back the hair lowers the risk of catching lice. Lice can’t fly or jump, but they can crawl quickly. If your hair isn’t swinging around, it’s less likely that a louse will crawl over. Braids, ponytails, and hats are a great way to keep the hair out of the face and away from potential lice infestations. Also, use a lice spray for added protection. 

PERFORM HEAD LICE CHECKS 

You should perform head lice checks on everyone in the family before you leave for vacation and after returning home. Use a nit comb to get close to the scalp. If you notice a louse, pull it out and contact a professional head lice expert like My Hair Helpers. You may benefit from one of our safe, proprietary treatments. 

If you plan on traveling this summer, be sure to follow these simple tips and tricks. You can avoid coming home with lice and also enjoy your vacation to the fullest!