Plastic or metal lice comb?
Nit, or lice egg, removal is the single most important part of head lice control and using the proper lice comb is at the heart of the whole process. Removing nits is called "nit-picking".
Lice combs are made from either metal or plastic (right). Metal combs, with stiff tines, or teeth, and narrow slots, will effectively remove or crush nits while plastic combs tend to "skip over" nits and are not as effective. Plastic combs should be used instead to untangle long hair before nit-combing with a metal comb. See Related Articles below for the steps necessary for safe and effective head lice control.
Metal head lice combs are getting easier to find these days in drugstores and even the health care isle of supermarkets. While not too long ago you had to look far and wide to find a decent metal comb, manufacturers are finally getting the message that fine-tined, metal combs are by far the best defense against head lice.
