When Chris and Kristi Winkler were looking for a business opportunity, they didn’t initially think of head lice. “Lice, ugh,” Kristi remembers thinking. “Just the thought of the little critters made my head itch.” But as the mother of two in Prince William County, Virginia learned more about the problems parents have dealing with head lice and about new solutions available, an idea began to form.
“I’m a problem solver,” Kristi said, “and when I read about Lice Clinics of America and the company’s ‘one-and-done’ head lice solution, I scratched my head again, but this time to think about the opportunity.”
Kristi had discovered Lice Clinics of America and the revolutionary AirAllé medical device that kills lice and eggs in a single 60- to 90-minute treatment. Developed by researchers at the University of Utah, the AirAllé device is an FDA-cleared, clinically proven solution that kills live lice and more than 99 percent of eggs.
Traditional OTC lice treatments take weeks and are becoming less effective as lice in the United States have become largely resistant to the chemicals that the products use. This sets up parents for a losing battle—costly in time, money, and energy—often dealing with head lice for weeks or months.
“It is estimated that 6-12 million people are treated each year for head lice,” Kristi said. “This means millions more hours are given to the labor of getting rid of these pesky creatures. I was convinced that a fast, safe, effective solution like the AirAllé device would get a great response.”
“We have found that most people had a lice story to tell and we were surprised by how many were in the throes of a lice battle themselves,” Kristi said. “Lice do not discriminate. They don’t care about income level, grooming habits, or housekeeping abilities. They are just looking for a nice head of hair.”
“Also, in one study, 100 percent of the lice tested in the state of Virginia had developed resistance to over-the-counter lice products,” Kristi said. “You can’t fight them using conventional means but we have the solution to get rid of them once and for all.”
“The only other viable solution is manual nitpicking, which takes an incredible amount of time, and, if you miss one egg, the lice are back,” Kristi said.
The AirAllé medical device uses carefully controlled warm air, applied by trained technicians, to dehydrate lice and eggs. The treatment is available exclusively at Lice Clinics of America. With more than 150 clinics in the United States and 100 more in 20 other countries, Lice Clinics of America is the world’s largest and fastest-growing network of professional lice treatment centers.
“People love it,” Kristi said. “One treatment, and the lice are gone. It’s so effective that we are able to guarantee our service, which also makes people really happy.”
“The AirAllé service has successfully treated thousands of people with head lice,” Kristi said. “We’re thrilled to have a business that solves a really difficult problem and relieves families of the stress of dealing with head lice.”
