Unlike some other combs on the market, the Nitty Gritty Comb has twisted prongs which help to catch the nits and ensure you get them off the hair. I really think combing is the way to go and many mums that swear by this particular comb.

To have the best chance of getting rid of all the nits and lice, use conditioner on dry or damp hair, and comb the conditioner through using the nitty gritty comb. Wipe it after each brush on a white tissue and wash the comb thoroughly with soap after use.

Nitty Gritty also have a range of natural remedies to prevent and get rid of lice and nits.

Quick acting, the Hedrin All in One shampoo was a popular choice. Parents and kids liked that there is no ‘chemical’ odour to this shampoo, and it does not contain any pesticides, which the lice could become immune to.

Tip: The trick with over the counter products is to only use them if you are sure there is an infestation, as overuse of these products is causing nits and lice to become immune to their effects.

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The Fairy Tales Goodbye Lice Survival Kit is also widely used. The kit comes with the nit terminator comb, a Lice Goodbye mousse to treat lice, and a spray to repel nits once hair has been treated. Best of all, it is totally natural.

Parents found NitWits Head Lice Treatment Spray easy and mess-free to use, particularly with younger children who found sitting still for intensive combing hard.

Other parents use tea tree conditioner, such as Dr Organic Tea Tree Conditioner, which contains tea tree oil and peppermint extracts.

Parents recommended leaving the conditioner in the hair as they have found that their children have avoided getting head lice altogether as a result.

Parents responded that this Lice Zapper electronic comb was a chemical-free choice for getting rid of head lice, however still found that it required a thorough combing and repeated treatments.

• Tea Tree Oil – When we asked our parent audience for their tips on getting rid of head lice, tea tree was one that came up over and over again. Many parents buy tea tree oil and dilute it with water to spray behind the ears as a prevention method.
• Aloe Vera and Jojoba – Mums told us that they use aloe vera and jojoba shampoo and conditioner on their kids and they have avoided head lice.
• Oil and Vinegar – As a natural remedy, one parent suggested coating infected hair with vinegar and leaving on for 20 minutes. Add olive oil and leave on for another 20 minutes and then comb to get rid of nits and lice. Afterwards wash thoroughly with your regular shampoo. You may need to do several washes to get the vinegar and oil solution out of the hair. The vinegar helps to dissolve the gummy solution that holds nits in place on the hair shaft.
• Mayonnaise – Another natural method is to coat the hair with mayonnaise, which contains both oil and vinegar. For it to work best, coat the hair with mayonnaise and cover with a shower cap or old swim cap. Leave in for at least an hour and overnight if possible. After removing the cap, comb through the hair and then wash well with your usual shampoo. The result will be shiny, healthy looking, nit-free hair. Repeat treatment after 3 weeks.

Patience and time spent combing hair seems to be the best method to get rid of head lice and keep them gone. Checking once a week and spending time combing hair with a nit comb and some conditioner does seem to work.

Also have a chat with your child about keeping their heads away from other children, keeping long hair tied up and not sharing hats, combs or brushes.