MADISON — Some people might say it is a lousy job, but not according to business owners Rick Conroy and Bernadette Waller.
They say people are itching to get rid of what’s bugging them.
Ohio Lice Specialists, whose shop is called Peace of Mind, is opening in September, when most children will be back in school. The business is located at 2 Main St.
This is Conroy and Waller’s second lice removal business. Their home business, Bernadette’s, is located at 38138 W. Spaulding in Willoughby.
“Three years ago … my daughter … had head lice. When I couldn’t get rid of it, I went to another state, to a lice removal service, and they got rid of it,” Conroy said. “I went back to learn from them how to get rid of lice the right way.”
“Bernadette had mentioned to me that she would like to start her own business, and I said, ‘How do you feel about head lice?’”
From the first day the Willoughby shop opened, Conroy and Waller have been busy nitpicking, so much so that a second shop seemed necessary to keep up with the demand.
“We have had desperate moms from as far away as New Jersey, Virginia, Toledo and Cincinnati,” Waller said. “Through word of mouth, we are just swamped all the time.
“We have a 100 percent success rate and have treated more than 1,000 heads this past year,” she said.
What can clients expect from Ohio Lice Specialists?
First, they sign in and commit to following through on the recommended treatment plan, which includes the initial treatment and two follow-up appointments seven days a part. Once clients are lice- and nit-free for two consecutive follow-ups, they are done, but not before. A nit is the egg of a louse, or a young louse.
The length of the appointment will vary depending on amount and length of the client’s hair, usually anywhere from one to three hours, Conroy said.
The service for Ohio Lice Specialists is reasonable, $65 an hour, but the service fee also includes the two follow-up visits.
“Initially, we spray down and do a quick comb-through. Then we meticulously comb out the hair and go back through the hair again, checking for any missed nits,” Conroy said. “The key is to get every single nit.”
No chemical worries either, as the products consist of all-natural yeast enzymes and are hypoallergenic.
“It is safe enough to use as a preventative every day,” Conroy said.
Head-lice education and prevention are very important parts of Ohio Lice Specialists’ services.
Understandably, a client may be embarrassed or uncomfortable about coming to Ohio Lice Specialists, but Conroy has a solution: accurate information about head lice.
“We just tell them stories about what we’ve seen and dispel myths. Our whole approach puts clients at ease,” he said.
It is a myth that clean people will not get head lice.
“Head lice love clean hair. (A) majority of our clients are upper to middle-class families,” he said.
“I love the interaction with the clients,” Conroy said. “When I can send them home lice- and nit-free, everyone is happy.”
For further information or to schedule an appointment, contact Ohio Lice Specialists by telephone (440 867-3856) or via the Web site (www.bernadettesliceremovalcenter.com).
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It’s a lousy job, but somebody has to do it
Firm will remove your lice
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