Jana, it's very likely you will dodge this. After detangling her hair, take the nit comb and start at her scalp and sweep all the way through every strand of her hair. They tend to congregate at the back of the neck, and on top of the head. What you're looking for is any residue in the comb. It won't look like a bug, it'll look more like, IDK, tiny bits of dried hair gel.
We just went through it, and learned a TON from a professional. DD 7 (blonde) was scratching, and I looked, and was horrified to see a couple tiny bugs crawling on her scalp. After trying an OTC treatment, we took her to a pro.
What I learned was fascinating. Most of what we believe about lice is inaccurate.
- Lice generally only pass from extended head-to-head contact. We think DD got it from a sports teammate with whom she shared a chair, playing an iPad for hours, weeks in row. DD and DS hug and wrestle all the time, and he was fine.
- Sharing a brush, comb, hat, or jacket rarely infects anyone! DD and I used the same brushes and combs daily, and frequently share hats, and I was fine.
- It takes 6 weeks, or more, for itching to start. If you're lucky. The unlucky ones don't itch, and end up having 100 adult nits before anyone notices. Even then, family members who share hairbrushes are usually fine.
Pro advised (as OPs noted) as a deterrent to style DD's hair in a braid or french pony, and to use a plant-based repellant. She said the beginning of the school year is the worst.