keeping hair back

Just make sure your hair doesn't touch theirs. They dont jump,they need to climb from one hair to another. I was reading an article about it. And putting conditioner thickly through your hair leaving for a while then combing through is the best way to get rid of them. I have waist length hair and keep it tied well out of the way.
I usually perch my fingers on heads to stop them moving and keeping hair out of eyes. Like the water idea though.

I use a headband with velcro.

Can you, or would you refuse to paint a child that you could see had nits or lice? I honestly wouldn't really want to put my hands in contact with that situation for the five minutes or so necessary. I've never been put in that situation yet, and wonder how you all deal with it?

Am I being squeamish not to want to do this?

Kat

i was at a drop in center for low income families a few years back, doing a tad of cheek art, when this youngster sat in my chair and as i started to paint i could see critters crawling on their scalp. My first thought was to jerk back and refuse to paint them, but that would only cause them more suffering and a sence of guilt, as if they dont have enough of that all ready in their life. So i very carefully painted the design away from any hair, keep my mouth shut, and boiled my brushes when i got home

OMG, I'm a head holder when I paint. Never thought about the lice. Not too worried about getting them, more concerned about spreading them to the next kid.

They basicly have to climb from hair to hair. They DONT jump. I keep my hair well tied back up in a bun with fancy hair toy. Use thick conditioner on your hair let it sit for a bit then comb through carefully with a fine toothed comb.
They are a very common problem in the primary schools up here. They are always having campains about them. Also comb through after with a little tea tree oil. You dont need all those heavy chemicals. The little blighters prefer clean hair to dirty. easier to walk through hair.
So no I dont refuse to paint a child with nits. I also have "Chux" cloths to wash dirty faces.( Aus brand wipe up cloth) Just wash them up when I get home.
Kath I have probably been more exposed to this. Youngest daughter used to get them regulary in the first few years of school. Long blonde hair and heads together as little kids do. all parents in class had to do heads preferabley at same time.And then through the family as well. You dont need to hot water wash bedding towels etc. They can't live on them.
this information comes from health dept.
Cheers
Juanita

When there is a break out at the school, I used a few drops of tea tree oil in the family bottle of shampoo. Be ware though, as it does have antibacterial properties to it and as we all know, not all bugs need drugs, so don't use for long periods of time.

-side note-
Wicked awesome avi, Criss!

I went down to the dollar store last month and bought 45 of those stretchy headbands for $3. I love them because I can just hand them to the child (older) or mom/dad and they band back the child's hair. Then the child leaves with a nice present. For boys with the short hair, I've found that spritzing their hair with water and having them mimic me as I pretent to brush my hair up works great (and I always tell them they look like a movie star with their hair all spiky) for some reason the parents get a kick out of watching their kids spiking their own hair...I'd be flummoxed.

if you are painting a kid with nits you are asking for trouble IMHO. You are not only risking your reputation you could get in trouble with the health dept. if someone tried to turn you in (not that you have a license to face paint but they can likely fine you!)

so oh yes I'd refuse a child with lice! or if I was in the middle I'd certainly not finish. In the salon industry you must ask them to leave ASAP. I have no regrets on this. I certainly am not going to spread lice!

koolkatkiwi wrote:Can you, or would you refuse to paint a child that you could see had nits or lice? I honestly wouldn't really want to put my hands in contact with that situation for the five minutes or so necessary. I've never been put in that situation yet, and wonder how you all deal with it?

Am I being squeamish not to want to do this?

Kat

if you did not stop what you were doing and did not sanitize everything the kid was in contact with (including the chair) you certainly can spread lice. I find this really unprofessional.

len sherrard wrote:i was at a drop in center for low income families a few years back, doing a tad of cheek art, when this youngster sat in my chair and as i started to paint i could see critters crawling on their scalp. My first thought was to jerk back and refuse to paint them, but that would only cause them more suffering and a sence of guilt, as if they dont have enough of that all ready in their life. So i very carefully painted the design away from any hair, keep my mouth shut, and boiled my brushes when i got home

thankyou, lesson learned.

I'm sure that was a tough situation to be in and I can understand you were being kind in thinking about that child's feelings.

I've only seen lice ONCE... at a park job where the latchkey kids were there unattended, in winter...

I was painting the child BEFORE I realized she had ickys...

So I finished up right away, tossed the sponges, dropped the brushes in my bucket under the table to sanitize in alcohol, replaced the chair (they were park chairs so I went and got a new one)... sprayed down my table with alcohol, washed my hands, sanitized my hands... and kept painting.

Len-'m not trying to be a jerk about that or single YOU out, but in the world of cosmetology where I come from it is ingrained in my head. I know you girls just did what you could at the time. The situation probably was never thought of before it came up for you.

and I know anyone would feel bad asking a child to exit your chair but think about it, is the parent that clueless they do not see bugs in their kids hair? Anyway it DOES happen. Sometimes the parent IS clueless. But it's also a public health issue, If you are honest and professional about it no one is going to leave upset. Maybe keep some stickers/ temp tattoos on hand just for this type of scenario? That's what I plan to do,