how long is the lice life cycle?

at Lice Out, we always say that removing lice and nits is only half the battle—the other half is breaking their life cycle. understanding the stages of louse growth helps ensure that the treatment schedule is perfectly timed.

the lice life cycle lasts about 35 days, from the moment the egg is laid on the hair root until the louse dies. during this short time, a single louse can lay up to 170 eggs.

what is lice

what do lice look like?

lice start as eggs, which take 7 to 10 days to hatch. once hatched, the young louse takes another 6 to 10 days to reach adulthood. as adults, they can lay eggs, continuing the cycle. lice pass through three main stages: nits (the egg), nymphs (young lice), and adult lice.

lice eggs

the nits

nits are the eggs laid by female lice. they are stuck to the hair, especially near the neck and behind the ears, using a glue secreted by the females. nits are about 0.8 mm long and have a strong capsule that starts out transparent and darkens as it develops. it takes about 7 days for nits to hatch into nymphs.

young lice

the nymphs

nymphs are young lice that emerge from the egg. they are about 1.5 mm long and go through three transformations over two weeks before reaching adulthood. nymphs are transparent, making them difficult to detect and remove.

head lice

the adult lice

adult lice live for about 10 to 12 days. during this stage, they mate and lay 5 to 10 eggs daily. adult lice feed on blood by biting the scalp with their claws and sucking with an organ similar to an antenna. their saliva prevents blood from clotting, causing the typical itchiness. adult lice measure 2.5 to 3.5 mm and use their claws to grip onto hair strands. they stay close to the scalp to feed and maintain the right temperature for survival (36 to 37.5 degrees). in a typical infestation, up to 70 parasites can be found.

head lice treatment in Dubai

why is the follow-up session 7 days* after the Lice Out treatment so important?

when the nits are laid, they are initially invisible, making it hard to remove them during the first treatment. it takes about 7 days for the nits to become visible and ready for removal. that's why the follow-up session at Lice Out is crucial for ensuring complete treatment. our chemical-free approach respects the lice life cycle and guarantees long-lasting results.

*the follow-up session must be done 5 to 7 days after the treatment to ensure full effectiveness. if not done within this period, the success of the treatment can be compromised.

about Lice Out

Lice Out is Dubai's leading lice removal salon, offering professional lice treatment with thousands of successful cases. our 100% natural treatment is guaranteed to eliminate lice and nits in just one hour. whether you're dealing with an itchy scalp or lice in long, thick hair, we have the best solution for you.

get rid of lice today! lice free, we guarantee!

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hair lice treatments: chemical vs. natural

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lice prevention: the silent lice's allies