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Nits are the eggs of lice. Three kinds of lice can infest humans. Lice deposit eggs on the hair shafts after feeding on human blood. They are attached to the hair streak or clothing with a strong glue. They are tightly attached to human hair.

Removing the nits is an essential part of treatment for lice. Lice need the warmth of a person to live. A person's body heat help the lice thrive. When then are removed from their source of warmth they die. By removing a nit the lice are killed. Lice need to be taken off or crushed to die. A special comb may be helpful to remove a nit because of their small size. There is also special lotions which help make removal easier.

When lice hatch, they leave their empty egg behind, firmly attached to the hair shaft. Lice have a life span of only thirty days, but these lice eggs or "nits" can remain attached to the hair for weeks or months. As the hair grows, the nits move outward with the hair. Nits are found more than 1/4" away from the skin, and by the time they are found, they are already hatched or dead.

You can distinguish live nits from empty shells by their color. The live ones are darker in color. The empty shells are white. A female louse can lay about six eggs per day during the ten days after it matures. This totals sixty eggs per female louse. The female louse uses a natural glue to attach one egg to a single strand of hair.

Upon discovery of hair lice, people are often filled with uncertainty about their cleanliness. However, there is no need for one to feel this way. The mites can live anywhere, on any surface that contains even minute traces of blood. Once present, they migrate to the head, particularly around the back of the ears and neck.

Using a head lice shampoo is the most important and effective lice treatment. Removing nits with a lice comb is another form of lice treatment. One should search for head lice when hair is wet by using a fine-toothed comb, clear tape, a magnifying glass and a strong light.