When it comes to head lice, prevention is often misunderstood. Many common beliefs—like lice jumping from person to person or living on furniture—simply aren’t true. Understanding how lice actually spread is the key to preventing them effectively. How Lice Spread Head lice are transmitted through direct head-to-head contact. They cannot jump, fly, or live long away from the scalp. This means that everyday activities like: Hugging Taking selfies Sharing close space during play