Dandruff and head lice, both are itchy conditions with vastly different treatments. With magnification, a live louse can by distinguished from a flake of dandruff, but the lice nits can be more challenging. Lice nits are firmly attached to the base of the hair, where dandruff flakes will easily brush off the hair. In addition, you will not find lice nits directly the scalp as you will flakes of dandruff.