Getting ahead of a plague of nits

Jackie Mutu (left) and Reitu Warren practise their treatment on model Sarah-Faith Alexander, 7. Photo / Alan Gibson

They're embarrassing, itchy and spread like wildfire but head lice are probably something every child will have to deal with at some point in their school life.

And a couple of Rotorua mums are hoping to combat the itchy pest with what's thought to be the country's first salon specifically targeting them.

Having battled nits in their own households, friends Jackie Mutu and Reitu Warren came up with idea to start Crazzy Critters.

"We've battled them as parents and there's no one doing anything about it," Ms Mutu said.

"You get turned away if you have head lice. Salons only do healthy hair. Daycares send children home and schools are always sending out newsletters about them."

The Education Act enables the principal of a school to turn away a student who is not clean or has a communicable disease. A communicable disease is defined by the Health Act and includes lice.

Ms Mutu and Ms Reitu, while wearing caps on their own heads to prevent being infected themselves, will treat the head lice with New Zealand-made organic products from a manufacturer in Meremere.

PlayStations and movies will be set up to keep children entertained.

Ms Mutu said treatments sold in pharmacies often had several chemicals in them that stayed on the scalp for up to six months.

It was usually left up to the parent to treat their child's head and if they missed even one of the itchy critters the insect would keep laying eggs - about 10 a day - and keep spreading.

The women will also inform customers on how to recognise the pest.

Ms Warren, a trained hairdresser, also hopes to include a hair-cutting service at the salon.

The salon is due to open next week and has already started taking bookings. Yesterday, the women met Plunket officials, who agreed to refer parents whose children have head lice to the salon.

They are also hoping to set up a referral system from playcentres, schools and traditional salons.