I am supposed to meet my best friend whom I love dearly this morning to try on a bridesmaid dress that she wants me to wear in her wedding. Problem is, she informed me two days ago that her son got lice from a friend of his. She has shampooed and combed his hair and she had her mom check her own hair and her mom said she did not see anything. I am flipping out over the fact that I will be trying on this dress that has been in her house and in the car where her son has been etc... my daughter has really long thick hair and I really don't want to deal with lice. My friend tried on the dress also and I can't understand how her son would have it and she wouldn't, is this even possible? If I hairspray my hair and put it up and step into the dress rather than putting it over my head will I be safe? I am sick to my stomach over this whole thing! She is coming from 3 hours away and the wedding is approaching fast so I can't cancel on her. I told her I was concerned about it and she said that it should be fine because they vacuumed, washed and sprayed everything in the house but I am still scared. Thanks mamas.
My teacher friend always put a coat of hairspray all over her hair and underneath and she never got lice even though she was in the trenches with 25 first graders all day every day!
Lice like live hosts--not dresses! Relax, it'll be fine. Why is it surprising that if he got it from a friend, she didn't get it?
GROSS!!!
If you can't cancel, I think the hairspray and bun might keep you ok. ugg. definately keep your daughter away.
You should be fine stepping in to the dress. And it is very possible that her son had a mild case, and did not infest the house. My daughter came home from school once with it, we checked her head, shampooed and combed, we only found a couple of nits and lice. Seems she is very intolerant of them and beagn itching crazily when one was on her head and went to the nurse. Anyway, after shampooing her and washing her bed linens, we were free and have been since. (That was years ago)
Lice feed on the skin and hair shaft, they do not live for long if not on a person. They are parasites, so if she shampooed her son and washed everything it should be fine. Just keep your hair pulled up and step in to the dress.
I've read that the little critters are like trapeze artist. they swing from hair-to-hair. S0,I would just keep your hair up tight. They wont just be hanging out on the dress! My daughter got it years ago from her daycare. She had long thick hair. All the times I had to sit and pick out the nits I never got it myself. Though she did pass it on to her cousin,much to my sisters horror! Children pass it to each other because they play with their heads close or even touching. I wouldnt worry about you getting it. But,I would have your daughter somewhere else!!
Tea tree oil can prevent you from even getting it in the first place. It is a natural repellent. So just buy some shampoo made with it. There is a great company that makes kid friendly products with tea tree oil in it called Circle of Friends. Here's the website:
http://www.cofbath.com/Retail/Lice-Defense
You can purchase the shampoo at Amazon too. I got mine from a local salon in Vegas so I am sure you can do a search for it in your area as well if you don't have time to wait for it to arrive.
Just have everyone in your house wash their hair with this and you will all be fine.
It is pretty common for kids to get lice but not the adults/parents - my hairdresser says it is because lice avoid most hair products (like hairspray, mousse, etc) when possible and do not care for color treated hair.
I wouldn't worry about it too much - lice is EVERYWHERE, especially this year. Your daughter probably comes into contact with folks who have recently had a bout with lice all the time. The difference is that this time you know about it.
Good luck!
Don't freak out. If you keep your hair up, don't bend down close to her son, you should be fine. If she has them and doesn't know it, then a close hug could make some on her head jump onto yours.
I was a school teacher and a few of my students had lice. I never caught it, and I was a hugger and bent down to help them and sat right next to them to check on their work. From what I understand, they jump, or can be flung if hair is tossed about. But they don't jump from head to floor to dress to you (like a flea might). They jump from head to head.
So yes, just keep your hair up and out of the way. Step into the dress. Your friend shouldn't be offended. If she is, blame your 'ignorance' on the subject. "Rather be safe than sorry. I don't want to get them and give them to daughter. I just don't know a lot about them and want to play it safe."
She told you that she took care of it. She is your friend right? Talk to her. It is never a shame to get lice, but it is a shame to keep lice. We had neighbors who always kept lice. My mom tried to educate them on the subject since their mother didn't. But mom keep the spray around and the lice kits under the cabinets. After their visits mom would spray everywhere they were. She usually tried to keep them in the kitchen away from all fabric. We were instructed how we were not to get close to them, we were checked several days after their visit. Lord, I remember when my mom would see them coming and get all four of us in the car saying we had to run to the store. We would stay gone for hours to avoid them without being rude. Anyone coming to your house could have lice or something else contagious. So this is your friend. She told you about it and said she had taken care of it. Things happen don't let this sike you out to ruin the time together. It should be a joyous time, fun, and memorable. Relax and enjoy, pull your hair up. You can also put baby oil in your daughters hair I hear that lice can't latch on to it then. Good Luck, but most importantly have fun, its treatable!!!
We were told my the school nurse twice this year my daughter had it (yes ONLY 1 daughter not the other ones) and I had her checked by my dad (who is a Pedi) and neither time did she have it. Either way we did the treatments/cleaning/etc..No one else in our family ever got lice or even looked like it. It is VERY possible that only the son got it. You will be fine. If you are really concerned keep your hair up, step into the dress, bag it up after trying it on (tie the bottom of the bag to seal it if you can) then take it to the Dry Cleaners immediately
All I can say is that there was a 1 year period where my little sister had lice continueously, kept coming back and back and back, etc...My mom and I neither on got it. So, I guess it is possible that you could be safe, but I understand your concerns...maybe ask your friend to take it to the dry cleaner for you (at your expense) and you can pick it up there and take it home to try on. Just be PC about it. help her understand that you mean no disrespect to her, just that you want to be overly causcious!
I wouldn't do it at all.
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
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Lice is a dreaded word for all mothers:) As a child my sister and I had it and we had LONG, thick hair -ugh, but I digress. It took two different times to get rid of it, but we did. A lot of vacuuming and treating our heads, pillows and coats. Lice are parasites. They need a human host to live and only last 1-2 days without one. The dress would have to have been in contact with his actively infected head in the past two days for you to even have a chance of contracting the lice.
I think you should play it safe, not get close to your friend's head (jic) try on the dress, keep hair up and then get the item cleaned for your own peace of mind, but I agree with your friend. Probably not a lot to worry about at this point.
When I lived with 5 girls (two of whom worked with children) we had a lice outbreak in our house. When all was said and done, the only people who caught it were those people who shared a bed with her. So not as easily passed as I would have thought.
Don't sweat it. Lice are bloodsuckers and don't hang around clothes lying in wait. They can't jump, they only crawl. It is definitely possible for not all members of the family to get it. My then 5 year old girl got lice from her friend's hat at school, and her 3 year old brother, who slept in the SAME BED didn't get it! Of course, I got it from sharing her hair brush - but my husband didn't - go figure.
