Robi Comb FAQ

What about the Nits (lice eggs)? Does Robi Comb kill them too?

Nits are lice eggs that are glued to the hair by the lice. Robi Comb does not kill lice before they hatch, it kills lice as soon as they hatch. If lice are found, the Robi comb should be used daily to kill all newly hatched lice. This breaks the cycle, as lice do not live long enough to lay new eggs.

We recommend using the Robi-Comb each day for ten to twelve days while the eggs are hatching to kill the lice as they hatch. At the end of twelve days, all of the eggs should have hatched, and there will be no live lice left to lay eggs and no eggs left to hatch. We also recommend that when the child returns to school, the Robi Comb should be used for a few minutes every other day for as long as there is a problem in the classroom to detect and kill any lice which may have transferred to the child's scalp.  

Do Shampoos Kill Nits?

Pesticide-based medications have limited success against Nits as well, because young nits don't have a central nervous system for the pesticides to effect. Pesticide shampoos generally leave a toxic residue of Pyrethrum or Permethrin on the hair for a few days, which can kill the lice as they hatch. Of course that means that you have poisons on your head for a few days as well! As children scratch their heads during this time, poisons can get into the scalp as well as on their fingers.

Shampoo manufacturers recommend a second application of the shampoo seven to ten days after first use, which is the time it takes for the newest eggs to hatch. This is their way to break the cycle.  

How do I Remove Nits Then?

Nits are not only unhatched lice, the word "Nits" also describes the empty shells of hatched lice that are still glued to your hair. Nits can be removed using a non-toxic shampoo such as LiceGuard's SAFE Lice Egg Removal Shampoo. It has an original formula that softens and untangles the hair and has been shown to be very effective in removing nits. In a clinical trial, LiceGuard SAFE Lice Egg Removal Shampoo removed 85% of the nits in one group of children after just five minutes of combing with a fine-toothed comb, compared to only 25% of the nits when LiceGuard SAFE Lice Egg Removal Shampoo was not used.

After Nits have been loosened by SAFE Lice Egg Removal Shampoo, the wet hair should be combed with an Egg & Lice Comb, which pulls the Nits off the hair.

Nits can be removed in this way right after using the Robi Comb. Both the Robi Comb and our SAFE Lice Egg Removal Shampoo are non-toxic and can be used as often as you like. There is no need to wait between treatments as with toxic shampoos.

If you wish to purchase both the Robi Comb and our SAFE Nit Shampoo and Lice Comb, take a look at the Family Special deal- it also contains our Lice Repellent Spray.

How do you know Robi Comb really works?

The greatest proof comes from our many satisfied customers! Millions of Robi Combs have been used worldwide for over 10 years, and the response have been very positive. Please visit the "Customer Review" page of this web-site to see just a few of the many comments we have received from parents, school nurses and pharmacists.

Scientific studies have reported that Robi-Comb is "An effective method for the detection of head louse infestations and will eliminate an infestation without the need for chemical insecticides."
Medical Entomology Centre
University of Cambridge

In addition, studies show Robi Comb to be especially effective against lice that show a resistance to other treatments.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Robi Comb was developed in 1991 and tested by University Medical Centers in a number of countries. It was found to be as effective as permethrin (the primary ingredient in pesticide shampoos) in curing the initial infestation, and possibly more effective at preventing a reinfestation.

Robi Comb has been used in the USA and Europe for over 10 years with hundreds of thousands of units sold each year. School nurses report that Robi-Comb is able to find lice which they have missed when checking visually. More than 3,000 school districts in all 50 states are currently using the Robi Comb, and it is now available at major pharmacy retailers.

How do you make sure the Robi Comb is clean, if you use it to detect lice on many children?

There are two things to be concerned about in these situations. First, it is important to avoid transferring lice from one scalp to the next. Fortunately, Robi Comb signals when it has trapped a louse. Before resuming the combing process, or using the comb on another child, the teeth should be inspected and the dead louse removed with the cleaning brush which accompanies the comb. Second, to sanitize the comb, recommended to use 91% isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol should be poured onto a cotton ball which you can clean the comb's teeth and the surrounding plastic area.  

School nurses may wish to use a spray germicidal instead of the alcohol. Because excessive moisture on the comb will prevent it from working, and since it takes a while for the toothed-comb to dry, we suggest that when screening a large number of children, nurses consider using two Robi-Combs, so that one can be cleaned and dried while the other is in use. A portable hair dryer can also help speed the drying process.

How can I get Robi Comb support?

If you have questions on how to use or maintain your Robi Comb, see the Robi Comb Guide. If you could not find an answer online, please Contact Us. We will be happy to assist you.