BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON BRINGS SURGE OF LICE BREAKOUTS

Snip-its Offers Natural Products to Prevent and Treat Life Safely

Minneapolis, MN (September 1, 2011) -- With back to school season comes a surge of lice breakouts. Unfortunately, these creepy crawlers will find their way to millions of children’s scalps. Fortunately, there are products available that allow parents to prevent and treat lice using organic, all-natural ingredients. Snip-its, (www.snipits.com), one of the country’s fastest-growing chains of children’s hair salons, offers the Fairy Tales Hair Care line (www.fairytaleshaircare.com) in its more than 60 salons across the U.S. Fairy Tales products use organic herbs and oils such as rosemary, citronella, tea tree, and lavender oils blended with aloe, jojoba and Vitamins A, D and E to clean, condition AND repel head lice. Too late? Lice Good-Bye is the next generation of lice removal treatments using enzymes, not chemicals or pesticides such as over-the-counter remedies such as lindane, premethrin and malathion.

Fairy Tales products that can be found at participating Snip-its salons include (pricing may vary by location):

  • Rosemary Repel® Shampoo, containing lice-protecting ingredients such as organic rosemary, citronella, tea tree, anise, lavender and geranium oils. (MSRP: $12.95 for 12 oz.)
  • Rosemary Repel® Crème Conditioner, containing ingredients such as organic rosemary, citronella, geranium, tea tree, cherry bark and passion flower, along with aloe and vitamin E. (MSRP: $12.95 for 8 oz.)
  • Rosemary Repel® Leave-In Spray, with a formula containing organic oils of rosemary, citronella, tea tree, lemongrass, peppermint, sage and others to keep lice away. (MSRP: $12.95 for 8 oz.)
  • Rosemary Repel® Spray and Shield Hair Spray, infused with pure oils of rosemary, citronella, tea tree, cinnamon, rose extracts and geranium oil to give you maximum protection against lice and other insects. (MSRP: $12.95 for 8 oz.)
  • Rosemary Repel® Gel, containing organic rosemary, citronella, tea tree, anise, cinnamon, mint, sage and geranium oils. It is an alcohol-free lightweight gel to help create cool looks AND keep the bugs away. (MSRP: $12.95 for 8 oz.)
  • Lice Good-Bye™ Mousse, a non-toxic, pesticide-free mousse using all natural yeast enzymes to dissolve nit (egg) “glue” and break down the skeletal system of a louse and nit. (MSRP: $19.95)
  • Terminator Metal Lice Comb (MSRP: $15.95)

According to the Centers for Disease Control, it is estimated that between 6 million – 12 million cases of head lice are diagnosed each year in the United States, with most cases occurring in preschool and elementary school-aged children. Snip-its’ Director of Artistic Education, Marsha Cole, offers tips to parents on how to prevent and treat breakouts. According to Marsha, who has been styling hair for 28 years, the best things parents can do to help prevent lice breakouts include:

  • Educating children about not sharing combs, hats, scarves, helmets or any other object that might touch someone else’s head. Lice crawl; they do not jump. They spread by head-to-head or head-to-object-to-head contact.
  • Refraining from washing your child’s hair every day. Lice like clean hair; it’s easier to attach to. Instead, wash your child’s hair every other day or even every two days.
  • Using a preventative, natural, leave-in lice repellant, such as the Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel® sprays or gels, every day before school.


To check for breakouts, Marsha suggests looking behind the ears and in the nape area first, as these are where lice tend to lay eggs. Lice eggs are white and stick to the strands of hair; they do not flake off easily. They also are easier to see in natural light, so check for them in front of a large window or outside, if possible.


If eggs are detected, Marsha suggests the following for parents:

  • Comb through small sections of the hair with a lice-removal comb, such as the Fairy Tales Terminator Metal Lice Comb, until all eggs are removed.
  • Use a natural product, such as the Fairy Tales Good-Bye™ Mousse, to kill any eggs that may have gone unnoticed.
  • Sanitize everything your child has come in contact with:
    • Wash sheets, towels, car seat covers, and clothing in hot water.
    • Replace combs/brushes, or soak them in rubbing alcohol for up to 1 hour.
    • Place stuffed animals in a hot dryer for 30 minutes, or in a tightly sealed plastic bag for two weeks.

Marsha also adds that if you detect lice, do not take your child to a salon for removal. Most states will not allow salons to cut/style hair until all eggs are removed. In fact, Snip-its stylists are trained to check for eggs during the parent/child consultation before they begin cutting.

For more information on lice prevention and/or removal, visit www.snipits.com/services/lice-prevention.


About Snip-its
Snip-its, originally headquartered in Natick, Mass., was conceived by creator and founder Joanna Meiseles in 1995. In 2010, Snip-its relocated its headquarters to Eden Prairie, Minn., under the direction of President and CEO, James George, who has been involved in the franchise and hair salon industry for the past three decades. The five original Massachusetts locations have been joined by seven more locations for a total of 12 in Massachusetts and nearly 20 locations in New England. The chain has expanded nationally to approximately 60 salons in 26 states and continues to offer numerous franchise opportunities throughout the U.S.  For further information, visit the website at www.snipits.com or call toll-free 877-SNIP-ITS.


About Fairy Tales Hair Care
Fairy Tales Hair Care was created more than 20 years ago in the Fairy Tales Salon in Hewlett, NY. The Fairy Tales Hair Care line was launched nationally in 1999. Its Rosemary Repel® line is infused with organic herbs of rosemary, citronella, lavender and tea tree oil – all fragrances which have been shown to help repel lice. The Lice Good-Bye uses all natural yeast enzymes to dissolve nit (egg) “glue” and break down the skeletal system of a louse and nit. All products have been independently tested and proven to be nearly 100% effective when used together and according to instructions. For more information, visit www.fairytaleshaircare.com.