Can bed bugs live in your hair? These small, reddish-brown insects that feed on animal and human blood are known to hide really well in your bedding, furniture, and clothes. We're going to dive into what these bugs are so that you understand why it's unlikely that they'll make a home in your hair.
The Biology of Bed Bugs
Before answering can bed bugs live in your hair, let's learn more about these insects. Even though these insects are more closely related to lice and ticks, they're usually found in beds and other sleeping areas which is why these pests from the Cimidae family are known as bed bugs. Bed bugs are known for:
- Have a flat body shape and no wings
- Feed on human blood and other warm-blooded creatures (e.g., pets)
- Are red-brown in color
- Usually emerge at night and fast the rest of the day
- Average 5 mm to 7 mm in length whereas adult bed bugs have an elongated body
- Have 2 antennae
- 6 legs which are used to sense their surroundings
- Use their mouth called a proboscis to puncture the skin and draw out blood
Bed bugs can be an indication of unsanitary living conditions and will usually hide in clothing, luggage, pillows, linen, and other items. Also, bed bugs can cause itching or allergic reactions which is why they're a problem.
Bed Bugs' Feeding Habits and Reproduction Process
Using their beak-like mouth, bed bugs easily pierce the skin and suck blood. These insects can go months without feeding and are known to survive in a wide range of temperatures and environments which is why an infestation can last a long time.
Bed bugs reproduce by “traumatic insemination,” which involves the male piercing the female's exoskeleton with his genitalia and injecting sperm directly into her body. Female bed bugs have the ability to lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime (around 5 eggs a day), and the eggs hatch in about 10 days. The eggs are white and about the size of a pinhead and hatch into nymphs, which are small and translucent after about a week. Before reaching adulthood, they go through five developmental stages.
If you notice the signs or symptoms of a bed bug infestation, you need to understand where they're coming from before you can get rid of them. We're one step closer to answering can bed bugs live in your hair, but let's make sure you understand how they'd get there in the first place.
How Bed Bugs Spread and Infest an Area
Bed bugs reproduce and disperse quickly and can move from one place to another easily too:
- These insects can be carried around on shoes, bags, luggage, clothing, or furniture that's moved around.
- Aside from moving from one space to another in your home, bed bugs can be found in an apartment, dorm, or hotel as they can pass through walls, floors, and ceilings.
- These bugs can also navigate shared spaces like stairwells, elevators, and hallways.
- Bed bugs thrive in warm environments and will reproduce quickly in temperatures between 70°F (21°C) and 90°F (32°C).
- Carpet fibers and other soft surfaces can catch and store bed bug eggs and larvae or become an ideal breeding ground
So, Can Bed Bugs Live in Your Hair?
Known to consume blood, the real question most people have is can bed bugs live in your hair? While it's true that bed bugs hide in bedding, pillow cases, furniture, and other items around the house, hair isn't an ideal environment for them to live in. So yes, while bed bugs can get into your hair, they're unlikely to stay there.
As bed bugs infest your bedding, clothing, pillow cases, and furniture, they may crawl across your body and into your hair but these bugs prefer other body parts that give them easier access to your blood. Also, bed bugs will unlikely be encouraged to lay eggs in human hair which is why you may not find them there in the first place.
However, if you suspect that there are bed bugs in your hair, consult a professional health care provider and pest control service immediately.
Prevention and Control
Bed bugs are notorious for hiding in small crevices and are frequently found in bedding, furniture, and clothing which is you need prevention and control measures in place. Here are our tips for preventing a bed bug infestation:
- Learn how to use a vacuum cleaner and have a cleaning schedule
- Be mindful of what you bring into the house and inspect the furniture, luggage, or other items you're bringing into your bedroom sleeping areas
- Avoid sharing personal items like hats, combs, and brushes with other people
- Wash your hair often, keep it well-groomed and use a fine-toothed comb as needed
- Learn how to wash a down comforter, bedding, and pillow cases with warm or hot water on a regular basis
Now that you know that the answer to can bed bugs live in your hair is that there's a really low chance they'd thrive there, here's how you can control bed bug infestations:
Bed Bug Control Methods
To control bed bug populations or get rid of these pests, you can vacuum, use pesticides, high heat, diatomaceous earth, store away items properly, or perform a deep clean before calling expert exterminators:
- Vacuuming is effective in physically getting rid of bed bug eggs, larvae, or adults from a couch, bed, or other sleeping space.
- Pesticides can be used to kill both adult bed bugs and their eggs. Use safety gear and follow product instructions to effectively get rid of bed bugs.
- Use high heat or temperatures above 120°F (48°c) to kill bed bugs. You can use a steamer, hair dryer, or clothes dryer on high heat for this method.
- Buy diatomaceous earth powder to dry out bed bugs and their eggs to kill them.
- Properly store away mattresses, pillows, quilt comforter duvets or bedspreads, bedding, clothes, and other textiles or fabric. You can also encase these items so that bed bugs can't penetrate the plastic or material and are trapped.
- Thoroughly inspect your home and clean out crevices, mattress folds, headboards, baseboards, or the bed frame.
You can use a combination of these methods or simply call an expert pest control service to get rid of these insects if you're wondering: can bed bugs live in your hair?
Bottom Line: Can Bed Bugs Live in Your Hair
Can bed bugs live in your hair? While these bugs can get into your hair, it is unlikely that they'll stick around and live there. Bed bugs prefer other areas of your body where they can easily access blood and hide.
If you suspect bed bugs in your hair or are allergic to these pests, consult a doctor or reach out to pest control services to inspect your home and get rid of an infestation.
FAQs on Bed Bugs in Hair
Are bed bugs able to survive in human hair?
Can bed bugs live in your hair? Short answer: no. These bugs can find their way into your hair but do not lay eggs or thrive there.
What is the bed bug's biology? What qualities do bed bugs have?
Bed bugs belong to the Cimidae family and are red or brown in color. These insects have flat, oval bodies that range from 5 mm to 7 mm if the bug is an adult. These bugs have six legs, and two antennae, and do not have wings.
Bed bugs are known to survive in a wide variety of environments, can fast for long periods of time, and usually emerge at night to feed.
How do bed bugs feed?
Bed bugs use their pointed, beak-like mouthparts to penetrate the skin and draw blood. This insect has a proboscis to feed. The main reason that the answer to can bed bugs live in your hair is no is that they can't feed in your hair well.
How are bed bugs able to reproduce?
Bed bugs reproduce through a process known as “traumatic insemination,” in which the male punctures the female's exoskeleton with his genitalia and injects sperm into her body. Up to 500 eggs can be laid by a female bed bug in her lifetime which means that the female insect can lay 5 a day, and they hatch after about 10 days.
How do bed bugs spread?
Bed bugs spread quickly because they can transport themselves from one place to another using items like clothing, bedding, and furniture. They can also be carried on shoes, backpacks, and other personal items as well as navigate shared spaces (e.g., elevators, stairways, and hallways) and find their way through ceilings, floors, and walls.
What are some bed bug treatment options?
Bed bugs can be vacuumed, sprayed using bug spray or other pesticides, exposed to high heat, or dried out and killed with diatomaceous earth. Bed bugs are insects that professional pest control services also cover or include.
What are some ways to prevent getting bed bugs?
The best way to prevent getting bed bugs in your home, on your skin, or in your hair is to be mindful of staying in a rented apartment, hostel, hotel, or other shared quarters when you travel. These insects can easily hitch a ride home and then become a problem in your house which is probably why you looked up “can bed bugs live in your hair” in the first place.
What is the bed bug's history?
Bed bugs have been an issue for centuries and were known to be less of a nuisance after World War II when people began using dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and other pesticides. However, the recent increase in bed bugs found in homes indicates that insects are becoming more mobile and more resistant to insecticides or other control methods.
What are the financial and societal effects of bed bugs?
Bed bugs can indicate an unhygienic environment, cause allergies and itchiness, and negatively affect sleep which leads to people being late for work. Additionally, bed bugs are insects that can get into any room (they're not picky about their location) and easily infest upholstery, a headboard, your shoe, the nightstand, and other items. If they do any damage to these items around the house, you'll need to pay to replace them.
