Some people assume that because you wear a wig that you cannot get lice, others believe that you can get lice in your wig. I’ve done some research into lice and how this can affect wig-wearers to clear up some of the confusion!
Used wigs can get lice because they resemble a scalp environment. That said, lice can’t survive without blood for longer than 24 hours, so they can’t survive on a wig for long. New wigs get disinfected to remove bacteria so you won’t get lice on a new wig.
Lice multiply at a rapid rate and they are extremely contagious so it is important to fully understand how to prevent getting them and how to get rid of them if you already have them. Keep reading to learn how you and other wig-wearers can deal with these dreaded insects!
How Lice Got On Your Wig
Lice (singular: louse) are wingless, parasitic insects that feed on human blood to survive. Although lice are a common problem, they can be extremely difficult to get rid of as they are highly contagious and multiply like crazy.
Lice are usually the size of a sesame seed and lay small white or brown hard to remove eggs called nits.
Nits, that can often be mistaken for dandruff, attach themselves very tightly to the hair shaft and can usually be found about 1-2 inches from the scalp. Nits take roughly 8 or 9 days to hatch into lice and lice take about 8 or 9 days to reach maturity before multiplying.
Some people believe that having lice is associated with poor hygiene and having dirty, greasy hair. This is a myth! Lice actually thrive in clean environments and prefer staying on clean, shiny hair.
Lice are usually found on the hair behind the ears, at the nape of the neck and on the hair close to the skin.
Lice can infest your wig as the wig cap acts as a scalp-like surface for the lice to lay eggs on. Some good news for wig-wearers is that lice cannot live without having a source of blood to feed on, and will only survive on the wig hair for 48 hours!
One caveat though is that the lice can get through the material of the wig cap and on to your scalp if the wig is not securely fastened.
Lice are usually contracted and spread through direct contact with another person’s hair, the following are examples of how lice can be spread between people:
- Sharing a hairbrush or comb or hairbrush with someone that has lice.
- Sharing a bed or pillow with someone that has lice.
- Sharing a wig with someone that has lice.
- Sharing a hat or worn clothing with someone that has lice.
- Leaning against someone’s head that has lice.
What Are The Symptoms Of Lice?
As your wig hair does not grow from your scalp, it may be more challenging to notice if your wig has lice or not. What you should be looking out for are little white or brownish specks that could easily be mistaken for dandruff.
When a louse is present on your scalp it needs to feed off blood in order to stay alive. The louse injects saliva into your skin to prevent the blood from clotting during its feed.
Most people are allergic to this lice saliva which results in the itching sensation associated with lice. Although lice aren’t disease-carrying, if you incessantly scratch at your head you could irritate and tear the skin and this could lead to a secondary bacterial infection.
Common lice symptoms are itchiness, small bumps on the skin and even the feeling of something moving or crawling on your scalp and in your hair! If you experience these symptoms it is highly likely that the lice have infested your scalp.
7 Steps To Getting Rid Of Lice
It is important for you to act quickly if you suspect that your wig has lice in order to prevent your wig and scalp from becoming infested with lice!
1. Remove the wig. Remove your wig from your scalp and place it in a plastic bag. Be careful not to let it touch your own hair.
2. Use a lice comb on your hair. Take your time and comb through your natural hair with a lice comb (available at most drugstores). Wet your natural hair and apply conditioner to it before combing, this will make it easier for the lice and eggs to slide off the hair strands.
Make sure to focus your efforts near your scalp and try to remove as many visible lice and eggs as possible (don’t forget to clean the comb under hot water after use!)
3. Wash and dry your own hair. Wash your own hair with a medicated shampoo designed to remove lice. Lice shampoos create a toxic environment in which the lice and nits cannot survive (ordinary products won’t work!). Dry your own hair as normal.
4. Use a lice comb on your wig. Take your time and comb through your wig hair with the lice comb. Wet your wig hair and apply a wig-friendly conditioner to it before combing, this will make it easier for the lice and eggs to slide off the hair strands.
Again, make sure to focus your efforts near the wig cap and roots and try to remove as many visible lice and eggs as possible (don’t forget to clean the comb again!).
5. Wash the wig. Wash your wig in a shallow bath of water as you would do normally. The use of lice treatment on wigs is not recommended, however, it may be an option if your treatment is non-toxic.
6. Dry the wig. Towel-dry your wig and place it on your wig stand to dry further.
7. Take a wig break. Place the wig in a sealed plastic bag for 3-4 days to allow any remaining lice to die. The heat and lack of blood should starve and kill any remaining lice.
Myth Debunked: A common misconception around wigs and lice is that simply sealing your wig in a plastic bag for a few days will get rid of the lice. This is partially true as the lice will die, however, the eggs will remain and hatch into more lice!
How Can I Prevent Getting Lice Again?
The best way to avoid lice is to be proactive and prevent contracting them in the first place!
Here are some quick tips that could help you prevent contracting lice:
- Check your wig and hair regularly for lice and nits (identifying them early can be key in preventing a bad infestation!)
- Avoid having your hair and wig come in to contact with other people’s hair and wigs
- Avoid sharing hairbrushes and combs with others
- Avoid sharing wigs with others
- Avoid sharing hats with others
- Store your wig on its own wig stand or in a bag away from other people’s wigs
Hopefully, this article has cleared up a few misconceptions regarding wigs and lice! I know the thought of having lice can be daunting and overwhelming, but if you follow the steps outlined above, I am confident that you will be able to effectively prevent and get rid of lice.