After six months of research drawing from a national lice registry, the RIVM—Netherlands' National Institute for Public Health and the Environment—has uncovered a simple strategy to lower head lice risk.
Try hairspray or gel
Individuals using hairspray or gel in their hair showed lower lice incidence. Among boys using gel, just 3% got head lice, compared to 6% of those without. The gap was wider for girls: 7% with hairspray versus 12% without.
Lice likely struggle to grip hair treated with styling products. While not foolproof, adding extra gel or hairspray during lice outbreaks offers practical protection backed by real-world data.
