Head lice are a common issue affecting between 6,000,000-12,000,000 million people in the United States annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Lice are typically spread through close head-to-head contact.
These tiny, bloodsucking parasites live on human hair shafts, feeding on human blood. They are adept at moving quickly through hair due to their six legs equipped with hook-like feet. Identifying lice and their eggs, known as nits, is important because they often resemble dandruff, making detection challenging without close inspection.
Understanding their appearance at each stage of their life cycle — from nits to nymphs and adult lice — is essential for effective lice treatment and prevention strategies.
In this article, I’ll explain in detail what head lice look like, so you can identify live lice and prevent the spread of head lice.
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What Lice Look like at Each Stage of Their Life Cycle
Lice are the plural form of louse — some people mistakenly believe they are completely separate things.
The video below gives a sense of how adult head louse move and what to look out for.
A louse is tiny — the size of a pinhead — and a bloodsucking parasite that lives on the scalps of humans and feeds on people. Each louse is roughly the size of a sesame seed, is oval-shaped and ranges in color from grayish-white to tan.
There are three stages a pediculus humanus capitis — commonly known as lice — undergoes and they all look different: Nits, Nymphs, and Adult.
Nits: Nit is another term for a louse egg. Nits are roughly the size of a knot in a strand of hair and are difficult to see. They latch onto hair follicles and can be difficult to remove without a nit comb and proper head lice treatment.
Nymphs: Baby lice, known as nymphs are the next stage. They are an immature louse and look like smaller versions of a full-grown louse. They range from 1–2 mm in length, which is smaller than the size of the tip of your pencil.
Adult Lice: Lice have six legs with feet like hooks that grip onto single strands of hair. Their “hook grip” allows them to move through your hair easily.
How Long Do Lice Live?
The lifespan of a louse is short.
An adult louse only lives roughly a month, or 30 days, while on a human head. This lifespan is possible if they can feed multiple times a day on blood. If the lice fall out or are somehow removed, then they can only last one or two days away from the scalp. Nits take roughly eight days to hatch and aren’t a problem until the lice emerge.
During this time, the female head louse is depositing eggs. The eggs will incubate for about 10 days. After incubation, the nits hatch and eventually mature into adult head lice. The cycle then repeats itself.
Lice Reproduction
Lice reproduce quickly through a process where adult female lice lay eggs, called nits, on human hair close to the scalp. Each female louse can have between 50-150 nits during their lifetime. This means that a single pair of lice can have 150 children, which can then reproduce as well.
The female louse attaches each nit to a hair shaft using a sticky substance, roughly only 1/4 inch away from the scalp. These eggs hatch within about 7–10 days, releasing nymphs that mature into adult lice within another 7–10 days. The adult lice then mate, and the cycle continues as the females lay more eggs, perpetuating the infestation.
How To Tell if You Have Lice
Detecting a lice infestation in yourself or a loved one should be easy. Below are some of the most common signs that a lice problem exists.
- You can see movement from the lice on your head.
- You start to suffer from an itchy scalp, dandruff, or have dried blood under your hair.
- Using a magnifying glass, you can see the lice in your hair.
- You find nits on your pillow or brush.
The only way to truly tell if someone has lice is to see the infestation. If you have trouble identifying lice, use a magnifying glass.
You should be able to see small, six-legged bugs moving around close to the scalp. If you have an itchy scalp and flaking without seeing any pests, you might just have dry skin and should consider a dandruff shampoo.
How Does a Lice Infestation Start?
A head lice infestation begins when an adult female louse, typically transferred through direct head-to-head contact, finds a new host and lays eggs near the scalp. These eggs, known as nits, attach firmly to hair shafts and hatch within 7–10 days, beginning the lice life cycle. Contrary to common beliefs, head lice do not fly or jump but move swiftly between heads by crawling. Their ability to cling to hair helps with this rapid transmission. They can only survive for only 1–2 days without human blood, making quick detection and treatment important.
Once on the hair, head lice feed multiple times a day by piercing the scalp and consuming blood, prolonging their short lifespan of about 30 days on a host. The infestation continues as adult lice lay eggs, increasing the number of nits and nymphs on the scalp. Treatment measures involve thorough removal of lice and nits using specialized combs along with treatments to prevent their spread to others. Understanding the initial stages of an infestation and intervening quickly prevents further spreading within schools, daycare centers, and households.
20 of the Best Pictures and Images of Lice
1. In the first picture, you can see egg cocoons attached to hair follicles along with an adult louse engorged with blood.
2. Here, a woman is using a lice comb to comb through hair under a magnifying glass.
3. This is a picture of one small louse crawling on some white paper.
4. This image shows a person using a specialized comb to remove lice eggs — nits — from hair follicles
5. This is a louse full of blood.
6. People with black or dark hair find it easier to spot lice eggs, which may be mistaken for dandruff.
7. Here is another louse visibly engorged after feeding on blood.
8. Here is an image showing four lice crawling through hair, magnified for clarity.
9. Here is a close-up image of a group of lice. Some near the top of the image appear darker, suggesting they have recently fed on blood.
10. Here, a person is using a fine-toothed comb to remove lice eggs from hair follicles. Such combs are essential for effectively dislodging these tiny pests
11. This is an image of one louse crawling on a hair follicle.
12. Here you can see images of lice eggs in a man’s hair at the base of his scalp.
13. Lice are minuscule, requiring a microscope to capture detailed images of their bodies.
14. Here’s another clear photo showing three lice crawling through hair. Two of them appear darker, suggesting they’ve likely fed on blood recently.
15. This is a really good picture of lice eggs attached to hair follicles. Lice shampoos are only good for killing adult lice and nymphs but have no effect on eggs. You will need a comb to remove the eggs.
16. Here is an image of two lice eggs at the base of a person’s scalp.
17. Here is an informative image, showing lice eggs, nymphs, and adults gathered at the end of a lice comb. It also illustrates the close spacing of the comb’s teeth.
18. This image provides a sense of scale, showcasing adult lice, several nymphs, and a few eggs still clinging to the hair follicles..
19. This image shows another adult louse crawling through strands of hair.
Lice vs Flea Size Comparison
20. The final image provides a clear comparison of the size of lice and fleas. Both are tiny parasites that feed on blood, making it challenging to distinguish between them.
Lice are bit smaller and vastly prefer to live in their host’s hair.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with a head lice infestation is a health hazard and inconvenient. Knowing the appearance of head lice helps to treat and eliminate them. These tiny, bloodsucking parasites are hard to detect since they are roughly the size of a sesame seed and range in color from grayish-white to tan. Most of the images in this article were taken with special cameras capable of zooming in with great focus.
Lice thrive on human hair shafts, feeding on blood from the scalp. They move swiftly through the hair using their six legs equipped with hook-like feet. You will need a close inspection to detect them and distinguish them from other common pests.
It’s essential to recognize lice at each stage of their life cycle — from the small, oval nits attached to hair follicles, to the nimble nymphs, and the adult lice. This way, you know what stage of the infestation you are in. Nits can be mistaken for dandruff, making it important to scrutinize the hair and scalp for an accurate diagnosis.
By knowing what lice look like and promptly treating any infestation, you can manage and prevent the spread of head lice among your family and the community. Lice can be treated effectively with over-the-counter shampoos and various lice treatments.
I recommend examining the detailed images in this article that show how lice behave at different stages. Stay vigilant, keep your scalp healthy, and you will reduce the chances of lice coming back.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are head lice?
Head lice are minuscule parasites that survive by feeding on blood drawn from the human scalp. They predominantly infest children and typically spread through direct contact between one person’s hair and another’s.
What do head lice look like in the hair?
Head lice are challenging to spot due to their small size, rapid movement, and preference for darkness. They typically appear grayish-white or tan, approximately the size of a sesame seed, with six legs. After feeding on blood from the scalp, they may darken in color.
How long does it take to get rid of lice?
Head lice can typically be removed within two to three weeks with proper treatment. The duration may vary based on the initial infestation size. Often multiple treatments are needed, spaced about 9–10 days apart to make sure all lice and eggs are removed.
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