To the untrained eye, Gonne Asser’s retail space could easily be mistaken for a regular hair salon. But make no mistake, this inviting salon has a very specific goal: eradicating head lice one hair at a time. Asser, along with her husband Sunil Bawa, is the cofounder of Minnesota Lice Lady, which uses a meticulous method to ensure lice is completely removed from the head—the first time. “We want families to be completely done with lice,” Asser says. “We are happy to take over so that you don’t have to do anything.”
Asser started treating head lice in September 2010 and after extensive research and training, opened the salon the following year. Asser’s process is different than traditional or at-home remedies; she uses a combination of a non-toxic and non-chemical nit treatment, a professional nit comb and old-fashioned patience to go through each and every hair to remove all nits and eggs.
Contrary to popular belief, lice is not only a wintertime issue. “It’s a constant issue, but people are less aware in the summer because the nurse isn’t checking,” she says. “We do a lot of screenings for camps and daycares to decrease the spread in large groups of kids.”
The treatment will run you $80 an hour and can take upwards of two, but the work is guaranteed for 30 days and free check-ups are offered for 60 days. Besides, according to Asser, 98 percent of clients are clean in the follow-up visit a few days later. Walk-ins for head-checks are available, and appointments for full treatments can be made on Asser’s website. —Anna Zeck
