New backpacks. New teachers. New routines. New and old friendships.

And unfortunately…sometimes lice.

Back-to-school season is one of the busiest times of year at Lice Mamas. Kids are back together in classrooms, hugging friends, playing sports, sharing spaces, and spending lots of time in close contact—which means lice can spread, too.

But here’s the most important thing we want parents to know:

Lice doesn’t have to be scary, embarrassing, or overwhelming.

A little preparation and education can go a long way toward starting the school year with peace of mind.

Add a Head Check to Your Back-to-School Checklist

You’ve bought the school supplies, labeled the water bottles, filled out the forms, and figured out after-school activities.

Now add one more thing to the list: a lice head check.

A child can have lice without experiencing itching or obvious symptoms, so lice can sometimes go unnoticed.

At Lice Mamas, our professional head checks are quick, thorough, and completely judgment-free. If you’re staring at something in your child’s hair wondering, “Is THAT a nit?”—let us do the checking for you.

Know What You’re Looking For

You don’t need to become the Lice Police, but knowing the basics can help you catch a potential problem early.

When checking your child’s hair:

• Pay particular attention behind the ears and around the nape of the neck.
• Look for nits that are firmly attached to the hair shaft and don’t easily brush or flick away.
• Pay attention if your child complains about itching or a tickling sensation on the scalp.
• Check periodically throughout the school year, especially if you’ve received a lice notification from your child’s classroom.

And please don’t spend your entire night Googling lice photos and convincing yourself every piece of dandruff is a nit.

That’s what we’re here for.

Make Prevention Part of the Morning Routine

A few simple habits can help reduce opportunities for lice to spread.

For children with longer hair, consider braids, buns, or ponytails, particularly when you know there are lice cases at school.

Remind children to avoid sharing brushes, combs, hats, helmets, hair accessories, or anything else that comes into close contact with the hair.

Most importantly, teach kids to minimize direct head-to-head contact when possible. Lice primarily spread through close contact—not because someone or their home is “dirty.”

You Got the Dreaded School Lice Email. Now What?

First: don’t panic.

A classroom notification doesn’t automatically mean your child has lice.

Check your child’s head carefully or schedule a professional head check. We also recommend checking other household members if lice is discovered.

The earlier you identify an active case, the sooner you can address it and help reduce the chance of it spreading to siblings, friends, and classmates.

What Happens If We Find Lice?

You have options.

At Lice Mamas, we use an FDA-cleared heated air medical device designed to kill live lice and viable eggs without relying on pesticide treatments.

We follow the heated-air treatment with a cosmetic comb-out to remove debris and remaining nits. Because the treatment renders viable eggs non-viable, families don’t have to endure hours and hours of painstaking nit picking.

Most importantly, our technicians are gentle, compassionate, and incredibly experienced with children.

No shame. No judgment. No panic. Just solutions.

Parents: Ask Your School About Lice Prevention

You don’t have to wait for an outbreak before talking about lice.

Ask your school:

When was the last time students had a school-wide head check?

Lice Mamas partners with schools to provide proactive head checks throughout the school year—from back-to-school screenings to classroom-specific checks when cases arise.

We also offer Lice 101 workshops for parents, teachers, nurses, Parent Coordinators, PTAs, and school administrators so the entire community knows what to look for and what to do when lice appears.

Because when schools and families are educated and proactive, there’s a lot less room for panic.

Start the School Year Lice-Aware, Not Lice-Obsessed

You don’t need to check your child’s head every morning or worry every time they hug a friend.

Our philosophy is simple:

Be aware. Be proactive. Know what to look for. And know where to turn if you need help.

Nicole and I created Lice Mamas because, as moms ourselves, we knew there had to be a better way to deal with lice.

We’ve made it our mission to take the fear, stigma, shame, and overwhelm out of lice while giving families modern, non-toxic treatment options, education, and lots of support along the way.

Whether your school sent home that email, your child suddenly started scratching, or you’re staring at something suspicious in their hair—we’re here.

Skip the Panic. Call the Mamas.

Visit our Manhattan or Park Slope, Brooklyn clinics for professional head checks and treatment.

Schools can also contact us to learn about back-to-school head checks, classroom screenings, Lice 101 workshops, and school partnership programs.

Because back-to-school season has enough chaos already.

Let’s leave the lice out of it.

Lice Mamas
Two moms on a mission to change the antiquated way we eradicate lice—and the fear, stigma, and judgment that go along with it.

Call or text: 646-202-0531
Visit: LiceMamas.com