Can 4c hair get lice? If you have asked this question, you’re not alone.
I think this is a pretty common belief among many Black folk.
I can still remember being a kid in elementary school, bringing home the little yellow flyers warning families that another child in the class had lice.
Parents were advised to check their littles before sending them back to school.
And like many other Black households, those little yellow flyers went straight to the trash.
“We don’t have to worry about that. Our hair can’t get lice”, is what parents would say while getting lunches packed up for school the next day.
At the risk of sounding crazy, I believed that Black people’s hair couldn’t get lice well into my adulthood. I, like many others, thought our hair had some super special immunity.
I mean, why not?
But the truth is, Black natural hair can ABSOLUTELY get lice and the uniqueness of our hair does not make us immune to infestation.
Let’s dive a little deeper into this old wive’s tale and get some facts.
The Myth Around Lice and 4C Textured Hair
For many Black people, it is widely accepted that we don’t (or can’t) get lice because of our unique hair texture.
This idea is rooted primarily in the belief that lice can’t attach themselves to our coily and zig-zag curl patterns.
Others have said that lice cannot live on afro-textured hair due to the types of products we use.
Since our hair tends to be drier, many of us use products like oils and butters to seal in moisture.
It is our use of these products that lends itself to the thought that lice can’t grip the hair because it is too oily or slippery.
It isn’t entirely false that lice seem to prefer straighter hair textures however, you would be surprised to discover that children in African countries do get lice. And frequently.
According to a 1985 study by the WHO, head lice in African children are “a serious problem” and the study revealed “infestation rates between 3.76 and almost 50 percent of students” examined in urban and rural schools across Africa.
Infestation rates in Accra, Ghana, at the time of this study, were a whopping 49.53% of students! This debunks the myth that Afro-textured hair is somehow immune from lice.
But, what exactly are lice and how do you get them? Read on to find out more.
What are Lice?
Head Lice, or Pediculus humanus capitis, are tiny wingless parasites that attach themselves to hair follicles close to the scalp.
They feed on human blood and are about the size of a sesame seed.
Lice can be white, tan or brown and the females can lay up to 500 eggs in the span of their lifetime (about 2-5 weeks).
There are 3 different types of lice and they each have preferences for different parts of the body.
Head lice like the scalp, while the other 2 types infest the body and pubic areas.
Lice can be found anywhere where there is hair on the body and the females like to lay their eggs close to the scalp and hair follicles.
They cannot survive without a human host. Body lice are the only types that can carry diseases, like typhus, relapsing fever, and trench fever.
Can Live Live in Black People’s Hair?
Lice seem to prefer straighter hair textures but any texture of hair can get lice. Even 4c textured hair is not immune to having lice.
It may even be more challenging to get rid of lice in curlier or thicker hair because it may be harder to comb through with nit combs.
There are clinicians who have said that they have seen some of the worst infestations in Afro-textured hair.
The good news, however, is that Afro-textured people tend to have lower rates of infestation overall.
Lice are transferred from head to head by sharing hats, scarves, combs, and/or brushes. They can also get into clothing and bedding.
if you wear wigs and/or hair extensions, you can get lice as well.
I’ve even heard of people who have purchased raw (unprocessed) hair from India and Southeast Asia that received their bundles with lice in them!
I came across this informative video about lice and Afro-textured hair.
The ladies in the video have a company that helps people get rid of head lice without chemicals.
I can’t vouch for the service, but it was interesting to see the treatment process on afro-textured hair:
How Can You Tell if You Have Lice?
Nits are the eggs of lice. They are attached to the hair strands and can make your head feel itchy.
You may also get the sensation that something is moving around in your hair.
To know if you have lice, you will need to comb your hair with a special comb that you can purchase from a pharmacy.
You do not need a prescription and can also buy medicated preparations to remove them as well.
Comb through the hair with the fine-toothed nit comb and you can see the lice.
They are really small (up to 3mm) so you may also need to use a magnifying glass to see them.
What Does Lice Look Like in Black People’s Hair?
It can be difficult to check for lice in black people’s hair due to the small size of lice and nits and the fact that afro-textured hair tends to be dark in color.
As stated in the previous section, you may feel like something is “moving around” in your hair.
They are about the size of a sesame or sunflower seed and will look like wingless bugs attached to the strands of of the hair.
They may also look like “white flakes”, similar to heavy dandruff, but would be seen on the strands themselves and not so much on the scalp.
If this is the case, and/or you have been exposed to someone who is known to have lice, you may want to grab a magnifying glass and check your hair for lice.
Head lice in afro hair may be a challenge to detect due to the hair being densely packed so start with small sections and look at the hair under the magnifying glass for tiny white or silver insects or “eggs” attached to the hair.
If there is any doubt, buy a lice kit with a good lice comb and follow the directions carefully to be on the safe side.
How Does Natural Hair Get Lice?
According to the CDC, “Head lice are spread most commonly by direct contact with the hair of an infested person.
Natural hair is at risk of getting lice in the same way other hair textures do.
Spread by contact with inanimate objects and personal belongings may occur but is very uncommon.
Head lice feet are specially adapted for holding onto human hair.” (Read more from the CDC).
Head lice are commonly spread among school-aged children, and those attending daycare centers, as they will share hats, headbands, soft toys, etc. with other children.
Head-to-head contact is the primary way that lice are transmitted and sharing of items accounts for a small number of cases.
The notion that a person gets lice by being dirty or unclean has been disproven.
People who are really clean, and shampoo their hair regularly, can also get lice.
Basically, if you have hair, you can get lice.
How To Get Rid of Lice in 4c Hair?
It is important that you get rid of lice in 4c hair as soon as you know that you have them.
Lice are highly contagious and they produce hundreds of eggs in a short span of time, so its important to address the issue as soon as possible.
There are many different ways you can treat lice and the treatment is the same for 4c hair as for other hair types.
Over-the-counter medications (pediculicides) like Nix can be effective options.
Be sure to follow the directions closely and contact a doctor if you have treated the lice and still have them.
Your doctor may need to prescribe a stronger medication to get rid of them.
Some people also say there are home remedies you can use to get rid of lice, but it is also recommended that you discuss these with your doctor to be sure using them will be safe and effective.
Some natural home remedies that people use are wet combing, applying essential oils like tea tree and grease, or petroleum jelly.
These methods are not guaranteed to work well and you may also experience allergic reactions to plant oils.
Lice can also get on clothing and bedding so it is important to treat those areas as well to ensure you’ll get rid of them.
It is recommended that you thoroughly clean hair tools (see how to clean them here).
If I or my kid had lice, I would probably just throw them away to be safe.
Lice and their eggs cannot survive in temperatures greater than 130 degrees, so washing clothing, bedding, hair tools, etc. in hot water can kill them.
Some sources say that using a blow dryer directly on the hair can get rid of most lice and nits.
Use with caution, however, if you have shampooed with a medicated treatment as these are flammable and can cause burns if combined with direct heat.
A louse’s life span is about 9 days, so it is recommended to repeat any treatments during this time frame to be sure you are getting rid of any nits that were left behind.
If you have locs, getting rid of lice can be more challenging due to the thickness of the hair and the length.
Sadly, sometimes the only remedy to completely rid yourself of them is cutting the locs off.
How Can I Prevent Getting Lice?
The best cure is always prevention.
Avoid sharing items of clothing, like hats, scarves, hair accessories, and/or headbands to avoid the risk of getting lice.
It is also important to avoid sharing combs and brushes.
Be sure to clean all styling tools, bedding and clothing regularly and with hot water (at least 130 degrees F).
Don’t engage in head-to-head contact to avoid the possibility of lice finding a new home in your 4c hair hair.
Lice cannot survive more than 1-2 days on inanimate objects (i.e. not on a live host), but vacuum and keep objects clean as often as possible.
You can prevent the spread of lice in 4c hair by being aware.
The old myth that 4c hair can’t get lice is untrue.
Coily hair, although not as susceptible to getting lice as straighter hair textures, can still be a haven for lice.
You don’t get lice from being “dirty” or “unclean” but staying on top of a good hair care routine is always a good idea.
When you have a consistent schedule for your hair care, you will be more quickly able to tell when something isn’t right, allowing you to act earlier, and nip things in the bud.
There are effective treatments available, so don’t be ashamed to seek out help if you think you may have lice.
You aren’t the first and you certainly wouldn’t be the last!
Caring for your 4c natural hair involves more than just products and styles.
Being educated on what affects our hair is also a vital part of good hair health.
Sources:
Gratz, Norman. “Human Lice. Their Prevalence, Control, and Resistance to Insecticides. A Review 1985-1997” World Health Organization. 1997. Web. 17 Mar. 2022.
“Head lice-General Information-Frequently asked questions” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC.com. n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2022.
