Waking up with itchy bites can make anyone uneasy, especially when you find out you have a bed bug infestation! We know they can hide in our beds, furniture, and walls, but can bed bugs get in your hair?
In this article, we’ll help you understand more about where bed bugs may stray and if you have to worry about finding a pest the next time you brush your hair!
Understanding the Bed Bug Basics
Bed bugs are small, elusive creatures that feed on human blood, usually when their hosts are fast asleep. Typically measuring about the size of an apple seed, bed bugs are oval-shaped and reddish-brown in color, making them difficult to spot on wooden furniture, carpets, and dark sheets.
These pests aren’t known for their speed or flight; they lack wings entirely but excel in hiding. During the day, they tuck themselves away in tight, hidden spaces close to their food sources.
Mattress crevices, box springs, bed frames, and headboards are some of their favorite hideouts. They can also hide behind wallpapers, inside electrical outlets, and in other unassuming nooks and crannies around a bedroom or living area.
Unfortunately, bed bugs are highly resilient, surviving for months without feeding. Their ability to go unnoticed for long periods makes them difficult to eradicate once they’ve settled into your living spaces.
Bed bugs tend to come out at night, so you might not realize you have an infestation until you wake up covered in itchy, red bites. These bites usually show up in small clusters or a line and can easily be mistaken for mosquito bites. While bed bugs don’t spread diseases, dealing with them can still be a significant hassle and source of stress.
Keeping your sleeping areas clean and decluttered and regularly checking for any signs of bed bugs can go a long way in preventing these pesky critters from taking over your home.
Can Bed Bugs Get in Your Hair?
Bed bugs are well known for their stealthy feeding habits and preference for hiding near where humans sleep. However, can bed bugs also get in your hair?
Unlike lice, which are specifically adapted to grasp and navigate through human hair with their specialized claws, bed bugs lack these features. Their bodies are flat and broad, making them ill-suited for the tangled environment of human hair.
Instead, bed bugs thrive by hiding in the nooks of mattresses, bed frames, and nearby furniture. They come out to feed when they detect the carbon dioxide and warmth emitted by their human hosts. Bed bugs focus on feeding and then retreat to their hiding spots. They prefer exposed skin for their blood meals rather than burrowing into your hair.
Knowing where bed bugs like to hide is crucial for keeping them at bay. They usually stick close to sleeping areas, not because they want to live on you but because they need to feed and then hide.
This behavior makes it easier to target and get rid of them. Keeping your sleeping area clean and decluttered and using protective covers on your mattress and pillows can help prevent bed bug problems.
If you ever experience bed bug bites or see these pests in your home, try to stay calm and focus on eliminating their hiding spots. Regularly checking your bed and other sleeping areas and bringing in a pest control expert can stop these unwanted visitors from taking over your home.
Remember, bed bugs are looking for flat surfaces to hide in, not human hair, so knowing this can help you direct your efforts more effectively in handling an infestation.
Preventing and Managing Bed Bugs
Preventing and managing bed bug infestations requires a proactive approach and attention to detail. Here are some practical tips to help you prevent bed bug infestations and what to do if you suspect they’ve made their way into your home.
Prevention Tips
Regular Inspection: Inspect all areas of your home, especially bedrooms, for signs of bed bugs. Look for small, rust-colored spots on mattress seams, behind headboards, furniture, and even behind wall hangings. Bed bugs can hide in very tiny spaces, so vigilance is vital.
Maintain Cleanliness: While cleanliness alone won’t prevent a bed bug infestation, it can help make it easier to spot them. Regular vacuuming can help remove any early invaders from your floors and furniture. Wash your bedding, curtains, and other fabrics regularly at high temperatures to kill any potential bed bugs.
Declutter: Reduce clutter in your home to eliminate potential hiding spots for bed bugs. Keep your environment tidy and store items in sealed plastic bins rather than cardboard boxes, which bed bugs can easily infiltrate.
Protect Your Bed: Use bed bug-proof mattress encasements to prevent bed bugs from entering or escaping from your mattress and box spring.
Travel Smart: Bed bugs are often brought into homes after traveling. Always inspect hotel rooms or any sleeping area for signs of bed bugs before settling in. Keep your luggage off the floor—using a luggage rack can help—and consider using plastic bags to encase your suitcase during your stay.
Secondhand Caution: Be careful when bringing secondhand furniture, particularly beds and couches, into your home. Inspect them thoroughly for bed bugs before bringing them indoors.
What to Do if You Suspect an Infestation
Contact Professionals: Bed bug treatment generally requires professional help. Our pest control experts can provide targeted treatments to eliminate these pests with ease.
Prepare Your Home for Treatment: Follow the pest control expert’s instructions closely. This may involve extensive cleaning and preparation, such as washing and bagging clothes, moving furniture, and possibly even vacating your home during treatment.
Follow-Up: After treatment, it’s essential to continue monitoring for bed bugs to confirm they have all been eliminated. Regular checks and follow-up treatments may be necessary to clear your home of bed bugs altogether.
Prevent Future Infestations: Continue practicing preventive measures once your current infestation is dealt with.
Whenever you suspect a bed bug infestation, trust the experts here at Natura. Contact us today!
