How to Check Your Child for Head Lice — Step by Step

Q: How do you check for head lice at home?

Use a fine-tooth lice comb on wet hair in sections under good lighting. Part the hair at the scalp and comb from root to tip, wiping the comb on a white tissue after each stroke. You can also use the LICESPOT color inversion filter on your phone camera to make lice more visible before the manual comb-through.

Q: What do head lice look like?

Adult lice are 1–3mm long, grey-brown in color, and move quickly through hair. Nits (eggs) are even smaller — about 0.8mm — white or yellowish, and glued firmly to individual hair shafts close to the scalp. Unlike dandruff, nits cannot be flicked off easily.

Q: Where do lice hide on the head?

Lice prefer warm areas close to the scalp. Check especially behind the ears, at the nape of the neck, and along the hairline at the forehead. These are the most common spots to find both lice and nits.

Q: How often should you check for lice?

During active lice season (autumn and start of school year), check weekly if there is a known case at your child's school. Otherwise, check whenever your child complains of an itchy scalp or you receive a notification from school.

LICESPOT Guide · Updated May 2026 · 5 min read

Finding lice on your child can feel alarming — but it is extremely common, especially during the school year. The key is knowing exactly how to check properly so you can catch an infestation early and deal with it quickly. This guide covers both the digital filter method and the essential manual comb-through.

    Important: The LICESPOT color inversion filter helps make lice more visible on your phone camera — but a manual comb-through with a fine-tooth lice comb is always required to confirm any finding and ensure thoroughness.
  

What do head lice look like?

Before you start checking, knowing what you are looking for makes a huge difference. Head lice come in two forms you need to identify:

Adult lice are 1–3mm long — roughly the size of a sesame seed. They are grey-brown in color and move fast through hair, which makes them easy to miss. They dislike light and will actively move away when you part the hair.

Nits (eggs) are even smaller at about 0.8mm. They are white or yellowish, oval-shaped, and are glued firmly to individual hair shafts very close to the scalp. The key difference from dandruff: nits cannot be flicked off — they have to be pulled along the hair shaft to remove them.

Where to look first

Lice prefer the warmest parts of the head. Focus your check on these areas:

Behind the ears — the most common spot
Nape of the neck — warm and sheltered
Hairline at the forehead — nits especially common here
Crown of the head — check thoroughly in longer hair

Step-by-step: How to do a proper lice check

1
Good lighting is essential. Natural daylight or a bright lamp works best. A magnifying glass is a bonus. Sit the child somewhere comfortable with good light on their head.
2
Optional: use the LICESPOT filter first. Open LICESPOT on your phone, point the camera at the scalp, and activate the filter. Lice and nits appear as bright spots on the inverted image — this gives you an idea of where to focus the manual check.
3
Wet the hair — wetting with conditioner slows lice down, making them easier to spot and catch. Part into manageable sections.
4
Comb section by section with a fine-tooth lice comb. Start at the scalp and pull through to the tip. After each stroke, wipe the comb on a white paper tissue and inspect what comes off.
5
Work systematically. Use hair clips to separate checked sections from unchecked ones. Do not rush — a thorough check takes 10–20 minutes for longer hair.
6
Inspect the tissue after each comb stroke. Look for moving lice or attached nits. Live lice confirm an active infestation; nits alone may indicate an early or recent infestation.

How often should you check?

During the school year — especially autumn when lice cases peak — check your child weekly if you receive a notification from school. Otherwise, check whenever your child scratches their head persistently, or if you see them scratching in the areas behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.

A quick weekly comb-through takes only a few minutes and catches infestations early, before they become harder to treat.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you check for head lice at home?

Use a fine-tooth lice comb on wet, conditioned hair in sections under good lighting. Part the hair at the scalp and comb from root to tip, wiping the comb on a white tissue after each stroke. The LICESPOT color inversion filter can help you spot lice on camera before the manual check.

What do head lice look like?

Adult lice are 1–3mm long, grey-brown, and move quickly. Nits (eggs) are 0.8mm, white or yellowish, and are glued firmly to individual hair shafts close to the scalp. Unlike dandruff, nits cannot be flicked off.

Where do lice hide on the head?

Lice prefer warm areas: behind the ears, the nape of the neck, and along the hairline at the forehead. Start your check in these spots.

How often should you check for lice?

Check weekly during active lice season or after a school notification. Otherwise, check when your child complains of persistent scalp itching.