TLC Shampoo and TLC Comb-out Services in the news:

Because of their success, Total Lice Control Shampoo, the LiceLadies, and their lice removal service are getting to be very well known in the Phoenix area. They have been on several TV shows including:

- Good Morning AZ
- Sonoran Living
- Your Life A to Z
- Channel 12 Weekend
- Raising Arizona Kids

(the interview should start playing automatically)

Susan Rich Talks Radio Show Podcast

Getting Rid of Lice: According to the CDC there are 6 to 12 million cases of head lice in the U.S. every year. Read more...

By Mary Glover, Director
Awakening Seed School (reprinted with permission)

On Tuesday I finally carved out a day to work away from school to attempt to catch up on the many items I never seem to get to on a given day.  I had my list ready, coverage was in place, and I looked forward to an uninterrupted chunk of time.  By 9:30 I had a call from school that two more cases of lice had been discovered and I was on my way to the Seed.  When I arrived, teachers were already in lice prevention mode, bagging up bedding, stuffed animals, cloth cushions, and other items that could potentially host the little creatures we have developed a long relationship with for over two decades.  An impromptu plan was in place for checking the heads of classmates and all I ended up having to do was take home the bedding necessary for the day’s naps, wash and return it to school.  We’ve become a well-oiled anti-lice machine at the Seed.  We’ve had plenty of experience that has brought us to this point.

In 1984 someone had head lice at the beginning of the school year.  We did our best to extract them from the school, but didn’t really have a consistent policy and were still figuring it all out.  If lice were discovered, children were sent home for treatment and then returned to school.  Some still had nits (the eggs laid by lice) in their hair and we learned the hard way that the treatment products don’t always kill all of the nits.  Essentially, children kept infesting and re-infesting each other.  The stress level was high and that was the year the assistant director and I dressed up in black vinyl lice buster costumes for Halloween.  Needless to say, the situation was mildly out of control.  It took us until November to finally rid the Seed of lice.  We ended up checking every child for two weeks and not letting anyone in if they had any nits in their hair.  Some parents were angry with this policy, most were politely grateful that we took the stand we did.

The lice world has evolved considerably since those days.  There are better and more varied products that are less toxic.  Some amazing lice combs have been invented, including the battery operated Lice Zapper, which electrically shocks nits and lice without the use of chemicals.   One of the most ingenious changes is the presence of the Lice Lady.  In response to her child’s case of lice, she created Total Lice Control that provides comb outs and advice for eliminating lice in the home.  Although there are still many opinions about nits in school, we have decided to stick with what’s worked for us.   There is nothing fun about lice, except perhaps the camaraderie some of us have developed during the hundreds of hours we’ve spent checking heads over the years.  One of the most significant friendships of my life developed as a result of head lice.  It’s one of those situations that will continue to arise, so we accept it as part of life in a school and make the best of it.  Happy picking, everyone.

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Read TLC' Latest Press Release:

(PHOENIX) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there are six to 12 million head lice cases each year in the United States. That figure is just among children three to 11 years old. The CDC says even though cases of head lice are more common in children, adults are also at risk.
Michele Earl, a Valley pediatric nurse and founder of Total Lice Control, created an all-natural shampoo to combat this common problem. She says those numbers are grossly underestimated. “There are many cases nationwide that go unreported. Most people believe that you get lice because of dirty or unsanitary conditions,” she said. “That is simply not true. Lice attach to human hair, and anyone can get them.”

Earl has been treating those who have contracted lice across the Valley with her shampoo for more than a decade. In that time, Earl says she has come across several myths about lice that she refutes. She says one myth is that mayonnaise gets rid of lice. Other common misconceptions are that pets can carry lice and that lice are only one color. She says in reality, lice only attach to human hair, can match any hair color and come in many species and sizes.
“I’ve treated so many families who have tried other remedies that don’t work,” Earl says. “Sometimes the generic over-the-counter products they bought the first time make the lice even worse.”

When Rosaria Cain’s son came home from summer camp with lice, it quickly spread to the rest of the family. Cain immediately bought the remedies most people try. She says she used those products for months, to no avail. Her pediatrician even recommended the mayonnaise treatment. It failed as well, so Cain went online, and found TLC.

“My family was battling lice for nearly six months,” Cain said. “We tried so many different shampoos, but once we used the TLC shampoo, the lice were gone, for good, immediately.”

Cain is the CEO and Media Director of knoodle, a full-service advertising agency in Phoenix. She says she was so impressed with the product, she wanted to help get the word out about the TLC. She signed Earl on as a public relations client.

Earl’s creation, TLC Lice Shampoo, is locally produced and uses an all-natural, botanical formula made from tea tree, lavender and spearmint oils. She says it is safe for all ages. In addition to the shampoo, TLC offers another specialized service. The “Lice Ladies” will comb-out the nits for clients for an extra fee.

TLC is currently on store shelves around the Valley and in select Walgreens locations. For more information, visit their website at www.totallicecontrol.com

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About TLC Lice Shampoo
Total Lice Control Shampoo is a locally-produced shampoo that its creator, Pediatric Nurse Michele Earl says is 100% effective at killing lice. TLC also offers a comb out service for those who need help removing nits. Learn more at www.totallicecontrol.com