Nits are white when they are first laid and turn brownish before they hatch. This glue is so strong that the nits cannot be as easily removed as dandruff and other hair debris. Even though some products claim to remove nits, there is no safe solvent for this glue. Head lice must feed every few hours, but can survive off the host for two days to a week depending on environmental conditions, primarily temperature. Lice die more quickly when temperatures are warm and humidity is low.
Many parents routinely examine their child s head on a weekly basis.
Part the hair with a rat-tailed comb. Also look for lice feces, that look like tiny black specks on your child s scalp. If you see them, examine the rest of the head for live lice and nits. There can be from a few to several hundred nits in a child s hair. Use a magnifying glass and a good light to help distinguish between nits and dandruff.