Let’s be honest: no one wakes up and says, “Today feels like a good day to deal with a lice outbreak!” But when the scratching starts and panic sets in, there’s one unlikely place in Middle Tennessee where families are actually...brace yourselves...relieved to be spending an afternoon. That place? Lice Clinics of America--Williamson County, where bug battles are fought with science, style, and just enough Southern charm to make you forget you're in a lice clinic.
“We get it,” says Joe West, owner of the Nashville and Huntsville locations. “Nobody wants to be here. But once they are, they usually don’t want to leave.”
For the hour or two it takes to get checked, treated, and restored to bug-free glory, West and his team make sure the entire experience feels a little less like an infestation and a little more like checking into the world’s quirkiest day spa.
First Comes Panic, Then Comes Comfort
“When a family walks through our doors, we never know exactly what we’re going to get,” Joe explains. “Some parents have tried every home remedy from mayonnaise to peanut butter. Others aren’t even sure if it’s lice or just a bad case of dandruff. Our first job is to assess the situation, calmly, kindly, and quickly.”
It all starts with a screening using a clinic strength comb and a bowl of water (seriously) to look for “tiny black dots that float like pepper flakes. If we see them, it means we’ve got a live case,” West says.
Enter the Bug-Zapping Magic
Now here’s where things get high-tech. Lice Clinics of America uses a sleek FDA-Cleared medical device called the AirAllé, which dehydrates lice and their eggs in one go.
“It doesn’t matter if someone has ten lice eggs or a thousand,” Joe says. “The treatment is just as effective. And the best part? It’s one-and-done. No need to come back unless you just want to hang out.”
The treatment takes about one hour per person, which might sound like a nightmare for squirmy kids, but not here. The rooms are kid-approved with toys, cartoons, and snacks. Yes, snacks. And if your child wants to help time the treatment steps? Even better. “It keeps them distracted and makes them feel like they’re part of the mission,” West adds.
Myth-Busting: No, Your Sofa Isn’t Infested
One of the first things Joe and his team do is un-teach all the frantic Googling parents do before they show up.
“Everyone thinks they got lice from a hat, or a pillow, or a stuffed animal,” he says. “In reality, lice need head-to-head contact. That’s it. They don’t jump, fly, or plan strategic attacks on your living room furniture.”
Also: please stop sanitizing your dog. “Pets don’t carry lice,” Joe says. “We’ve seen people shampoo everything in their house. It’s just not necessary.”
The Cruise Ship Chronicles
The Lice Clinics of America team has no shortage of stories, but one stands out. “A family once flew in straight from a cruise. They hadn’t slept all night. They were itchy, delirious, and laughing about the whole thing. Honestly, they were a blast to treat,” says Joe.
Their silver lining? “They hadn’t been home in a week so their house was totally lice-free. We told them to go home, nap, and skip the deep clean,” he adds.
Membership Has Its (Itch-Free) Privileges
For repeat offenders—or let’s say, families with active little socialites—Lice Clinics of America offers something genius: lice insurance. “We call it a membership program,” Joe says, “but honestly, it’s insurance for your peace of mind. Lice isn’t usually covered by health insurance, but this covers treatment, regular screenings, and lets parents stop living in fear of head-to-head contact at soccer practice.”
The clinic especially recommends it for girls between the ages of 7 and 12, statistically the most at-risk lice demographic. (“Sorry, tweens,” Joe laughs.)
Bugs, Be Gone
The takeaway? Getting lice is not a moral failing, it’s a mathematical probability, especially if you live with kids who think personal space is optional. And if you do get lice, there’s a team in Nashville ready to greet you with empathy, expertise, and maybe a granola bar.
“We tell every patient: the problem stops today,” Joe says. “Our goal is to make sure people walk out feeling relieved, confident, and maybe even a little entertained.”
So the next time your scalp starts to itch and your anxiety goes through the roof, keep calm, and comb on. Joe and his team have got this.
LiceClinicsofAmerica.com/Nashville
"Our first job is to assess the situation, calmly, kindly, and quickly.”