American Academy of Pediatrics. Lice can easily be spread by using the hat, comb, or brush of a person with lice or by very close contact. Anyone can get head lice, even those people with good health habits and those who wash their hair often. Lice do not jump or fly. Animals do not spread head lice.
Nits are little white eggs that lice cement to the hair.
The eggs hatch in about 1 week, but the nits stay stuck to the hair shaft. Nix should be used to soak the hair and cover the scalp. After a full 10 minutes, rinse the Nix off using warm water. The hair does not need to be cut or shaved. Lice spread very easily, so it is important for household and other close contacts to be treated with Nix at the same time.