Looking for the best combs to remove those nasty lice?
From metal, to plastic, to even vacuums, which comb should you turn too for your lice problem?
If these are your problems, we got you covered...
It stinks when you're sitting at work or school one day when you feel something crawling in your hair.
Or, your children just came back from school and are scratching at their heads.
Uh oh...
You check out your scalp and realize - Bam! You have a lice infestation. What are you going to do?
Let's say you don't want to use pesticides or are uncomfortable with the chemicals in standard treatments. In these cases, you can turn to a lice comb to help you eradicate those pests quickly and efficiently.
This buying guide will dive into some of the top combs to help you on your journey to a pest free life.
Top 5 Best Lice Combs
Short on time? Take a look below for the top 5 in our list. Otherwise, check out our buying guide.
Want to skip all this research and just hire a decent exterminator for your lice problem?
Click here to check out our exterminator search tool where we instantly send you free quotes from trusted (and thoroughly vetted) exterminators in your local area.
(Process takes about 30 seconds)
What is a lice comb?
A lice comb is a natural (cheaper) alternative to lice treatments and shampoos.
It can be used in conjunction with other products, but is a specially made comb designed to eliminate dead lice and nits by pulling them out of the hair after a shampoo. Most combs are gentle and can be used on people of all ages, including children.
What's the price range for a top lice combs?
The price of a lice comb is typically determined by its material and manufacturer.
Vacuum Combs (More Expensive)
Then there are other "Vacuum Combs" that suck up lice as the comb goes through your hair. As you'd expect, this type of comb is more expensive, comes with more small parts, and can break over time.
What should you look for in a good lice comb?
Unlike many other pest control items, lice combs are simple and effective.
When choosing one to use, you should consider how long you would like it to last and how much money you are willing to spend. Some other items to consider when buying are:
- Material
- Groovings
What is it made of?
One of the most important details when buying a lice comb is the material of the comb itself.
Manufacturers make combs out of plastic or metal. Some treatments come with combs in packaging, but these combs are often made out of cheap plastic and likely to break.
Plastic combs are weaker overall and typically only good for a couple of uses. If you would like a comb that lasts, metal combs are durable and can frequently be sterilized in boiling water or with a disinfectant. However, metal combs cost more.
Choose a material which suits your budget, and pick a comb which correlates with your usage.
Should you get a lice comb with grooves?
Although they can be hard to see, some lice combs come with grooves designed to dislodge nits from the hair near the scalp.
These grooves are beneficial because they can help loosen the eggs, which are trapped near the roots of hair and require the warmth of the scalp to survive. Combs without grooves tend to be cheaper, but might not be as useful.
How do you use a lice comb?
Lice combs are incredibly easy to use, but can take one to two hours to go through each hair follicle one by one.
- Many can be used on wet or dry hair, and they can also be used with a lice treatment.
- Part your hair at the center of your scalp into two sections.
- Then, separate an even smaller section that you can easily run the comb through.
- Starting all the way at the roots, carefully run the comb through your hair until you have removed nits.
- Do not push too hard or you can cut your scalp with the comb's teeth.
- Repeat this process until you have combed your entire head.
To be safe, repeat this process over several days to ensure all of the nits are gone. Take a look at the video below for a more detailed tutorial. Once you get the idea, check out our section below where we review some of our favorite lice combs.
Lice Comb Product Reviews
In the below section we break down each of our product recommendations in a little more detail.
Nit Free is a professional lice-fighting company which manufactures natural products safe to use on people of all ages. They make the Terminator lice comb from stainless steel designed to prevent rust.
The product can be easily sterilized in boiling water and then reused by the whole family. One of the comb's main features is its use of small, grooved teeth which dislodge the hold nits have on the roots of the hair.
The Terminator Lice Comb is stronger than plastic variants and is unlikely to break when used by people with all hair types. Unlike some other products, this lice comb has rounded ends to prevent cutting or scratching the scalp with the teeth. The teeth of the comb are close together, which is a feature that makes the comb useful for people with thin or fine hair.
Unlike some treatments, the Terminator lice comb is easy to use and never expires, making it a popular choice for people seeking natural lice remedies.
Pros
Cons
If you're looking for a a more mechanical solution that'll capture all your lice in an easy to dispose container, we recommend the V-Comb (or vacuum).
Instead of just being a comb, this product combines the suction power of a vacuum with the combing motion of a normal comb. The video below shows the comb in full action.
As with most machines, there is a chance you might get a faulty product cause well, machines break. Thankfully, the manufacturer offers a generous return policy.
Something we also liked about this was that it works well on just about anyone's hair. Some combs are very thin (to help pull out lice) but the comb on the V-Comb is a bit wider allowing more thick and coarse hair to pass easily.
Pros
Cons
People with finer hair can use this comb without having to worry about strands slipping through the teeth because the teeth are close together. Each tooth also features a spiraled groove designed to eliminate nits from hair roots. This is all important to help tease out any of those lice that may be embedded in a person's head.
The comb also has rounded edges to prevent cutting the scalp and causing damage. Because the Fairy Tale comb is made of metal, it’s unlikely to break during regular use. Similar to other combs, the metal can be disinfected in boiling water as well and can be reused, making it a useful tool for families suffering from a lice outbreak.
It is designed to be gentle and can be used effectively on children.
Pros
Cons
The comb retains its integrity when boiled, which is a useful feature for people who would like to sterilize it and then use it on other family members.
The Licemeister is made from stainless steel and is thus sturdy and unlikely to break during regular usage. Each of the comb’s teeth has a rounded "blunt" end to prevent scratching or damaging the scalp with the points, and the comb can be used on all hair types.
Because the teeth are close together, this comb works well for people with fine hair, who have a hard time using wider brushes. People can also use the Licemeister effectively on wet or dry hair as well.
Pros
Cons
People can distinguish the Lice Lifters Nit Nanny Comb from others because of its blue handle and teeth, which are really close together.
Like some other products, it features micro-grooved steel designed to dislodge and remove nits from even the finest of hair. Steel materials is always good sign from a comb used for lice removal.
The comb can be used as a natural alternative to chemical lice treatments. Using the comb takes 1-2 hours and is easy.
The Nit Nanny works on small children as well as adults and is designed for all hair types, including thick and curly variants. It is reusable, which is a valuable feature for families with children who might deal with lice outbreaks at school. This works well on wet and dry hair and can be used in combination with some other lice treatments.
Pros
Cons
The Bottom Line
All of these products can help you become lice-free whether you use a separate treatment or not. Out of all of them, my personal recommendation is the Nit Free Terminator Comb because:
- It's grooves help remove nits without ripping out hair
- It's made of metal and won't break as easily as a plastic comb
- The comb can be used on all hair types effectively
- The comb can be sterilized and reused, which means you don't need to buy another
