Lice Prevention Fanatic

A little over a year and a half ago before I moved back to Texas, one of my good friends here quickly became a lice expert.  She would treat it, but it kept going around her school and coming back again.  She ended up doing a lot of research on the internet and driving herself half insane trying to completely rid her family of this problem.  I remember her horror stories too well. 

For some strange reason, I started talking about lice two weeks ago to another friend.  We were talking about how horrible it would be.  Like me, she has long hair and so does her daughter.  She commented that she would probably go to a specialist and pay the $500 for them to get rid of it.  I didn't know that was an option, but realistically, it is not an option for me to pay that kind of money.  I was just glad that I hadn't heard of any cases. 

Last Monday, I decided to shave Jordan’s hair.  I had been thinking about letting it grow a little since winter is coming, but I pulled out the clippers and buzzed it off without even thinking about it.  On Thursday, I was so glad I did.  I got a note from his school saying a child had lice.  All the kids were checked, but they wanted us to keep an eye out.  Suddenly, I was so thankful to have a son that is too energetic to cuddle or lie down where other kids have been lying.  Good thing, they don’t have nap time for his age at pre-school. 

My alert level was definitely kicked up another notch this weekend when a friend whose kids attend a neighboring elementary told me that her daughter got lice last week.  She said that the best treatment is olive oil in a shower cap for about an hour and using a flat iron.  The chemical shampoo sold at the store is not only very harsh, but the lice have become resistant to it.  She also recommended tea tree oil.  I already use tea tree shampoo for the kids, so I didn't think too much about it.  She lent us one of her flat irons in case we would need it. 

I made sure to wash Lexi’s hair with tea tree shampoo last night.  Another good practice that I already do is that I RARELY let Lexi go to school with her hair down or even in a pony tail.  I was feeling pretty safe.

This evening, I took the kids on a walk.  We saw one of my neighbors/friends and I asked her how she was doing.  She said, “Horrible!”  Then, she proceeded to explain that she just noticed her daughter in 4^th grade came home with lice.  I told her about the olive oil and cap.  As my kids and I walked home, I decided to kick up my lice prevention a notch. We headed to the grocery store and bought 2 bottles of tea tree oil (one for us & one for my neighbor).  My kids will get a little drop on their necks every morning.  Lexi will also not only have a braid; her hair will be up in a bun.  I'll have to get creative.  I have cautioned her about hugging other kids and laying her head on their shoulders.  Sadly, this is no time to be affectionate.    

Going Gray

About a year ago, my mom started considering letting her hair go gray.  She even selected the book, “Going Gray” by Anne Kreamer, for her book club meeting.  The ladies showed up and seemed to have an interesting discussion about vanity and aging.  My mom announced to them that she was going to try it.  She planned to start by lightening her hair a few shades and then cutting it short once the roots grew in.

To be completely honest, I thought it was a horrible idea.  She looks young and has plenty of energy so why would she give up this fight?  Mainly, I also couldn’t imagine red hair sprinkled with gray.  I just thought it would kind of clash or something.  She argued that she just wanted to try it and if she discovered that she didn’t like it, she would start dying her hair again.  In our family, we give our opinions but do not get emotionally invested in the outcome and certainly never expect each other to take it.

My mom did exactly what she planned to do and guess what… it turned out just fine.  In fact, I actually think her natural red goes very well with the new blondish-gray hair.  Plus, she has quite a bit more red than I expected for someone approaching 60 years old.

A few months ago, I was surprised to find out that my aunt (dad’s sister) had also taken up the same quest. Today, she was featured in the Salt Lake Tribune: Silver Sisters Lead the Way in Gray Roots Movement.

She is the one in the middle named Barb Shelley.

The interesting thing is that I am actually glad they did this little experiment. They have paved the way for me. I have never dyed my hair, although I did lighten it once or twice in college.  I have always planned to cover up gray hair once they start taking over, but I never ever considered the alternative. At this point, I still only have one that I find once or twice a year. I mentioned it before here: Gray Hair

I saw my little gray hair the other day and promptly plucked it out.  One day though, when it comes with lots of friends, I will probably just leave it and not worry about dying it.  I'll just be happy that I can spend money and time on other things.

Haircut

When I first saw my friend that I am staying with in Utah, I loved her hair.  The more I was around her, the more I liked it.  She offered to cut my hair like it.  I know I am a little old to be letting a friend cut my hair, but she has always been great at hair.  Plus, her mom is/was a beautician.  So...now my hair has layers and a bit of life in it.