Certified · Family-First · Since 2015
The Larger Than Lice Story
Hi, I'm Eliana E. Ortega, a Certified Head Lice Expert and the founder and CEO of Larger Than Lice.
For more than a decade, I've helped families, schools, and sleepaway camps across New York get through one of parenting's most stressful surprises. My goal has always been simple: remove the lice, remove the stigma, and make the whole experience far easier than you expected.
Discreet In-Home Care
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Certified Expertise
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All Hair Types
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Judgement Free
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Discreet In-Home Care • Certified Expertise • All Hair Types • Judgement Free •
Meet the Founder
Eliana Ortega, Certified Head Lice Expert
My path into this work started as a lice-removal technician for an established company in New York City. I fell for the work almost immediately. There was something deeply satisfying about taking a panicked, itchy, overwhelmed family and sending them home calm and clear.
I wanted to be great at it, so I invested in professional training and earned my certification at the Shepherd Institute, one of the field's respected training bodies. In the years that followed, working with families and private schools across the city, I refined every part of my process until I could deliver consistent results on any hair type.
Our Mission
Why I Founded Larger Than Lice
I started Larger Than Lice in 2015, originally as Lice Treatment Group, LLC, when I knew it was time to build something of my own. I had seen how much shame and panic surround head lice, and how little of it is deserved. Lice are common, treatable, and no reflection on anyone's cleanliness or parenting.
My mission became clear: treat every client with warmth and zero judgment, raise awareness, and prove that a lice appointment can feel calm, professional, and even reassuring. The name says it all. There are far bigger things in life to worry about than lice.
"There are bigger things in life to worry about than lice."
— Eliana E. Ortega, Founder & CEO
Why We're Different
The Larger Than Lice Difference
Everything we do runs on our own proprietary method, built for thoroughness and comfort in equal measure.
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A Proprietary Technique
The Larger Than Lice Technique of Cutting-Edge Lice and Nit Removal®, developed over years of hands-on treatment for reliable, single-visit results.
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Safe, Natural Products
A high-quality, natural line of lice-treatment products that's gentle on children and effective on both live lice and stubborn nits.
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Every Hair Type
Meticulous, comfortable treatment that holds up across all hair types and textures, so no family is ever turned away.
The Journey
A Decade of Getting Families Clear
From a single technician's chair to one of NYC's most trusted names in lice removal.
The Beginning - From technician to certified expert
Eliana began as a lice-removal technician for one of NYC's best-known providers, then invested in professional training and certification at the Shepherd Institute.
2015 - Larger Than Lice is founded
Originally launched as Lice Treatment Group, LLC, the company was built on one promise: expert results with warmth and zero judgment.
The Method - A proprietary technique is born
Years of hands-on work with families and private schools produced The Larger Than Lice Technique of Cutting-Edge Lice and Nit Removal®.
2021 - The Academy opens its doors
The Larger Than Lice Academy launched to certify other professionals and give them a step-by-step roadmap to build their own businesses.
Today - 15,000+ families and counting
Recognized in the news as a female founder leading the field, with service spanning the entire New York Metropolitan Area.
Recognized Leadership
A Leader in Head Lice Removal
I'm proud to be one of the first female founders leading a head lice-removal business in the New York City area, and my work has been featured in the news for the impact it has had on the families we serve.
I don't take that recognition lightly. It reflects a decade of showing up, refining the craft, and treating clients the way I'd want my own family treated.
Passing It On
The Larger Than Lice Academy
In 2021, I launched the Academy's Training and Certification Program to teach my proprietary techniques and give others a clear, step-by-step roadmap to launch their own lice-removal businesses. Sharing what I've built is one of the most rewarding parts of this journey, and it's raising the standard of professional lice removal well beyond my own practice.
Our Promise
Discretion, patience, and a family fully clear
When you book with us, you can expect a team that genuinely wants your family clear and comfortable. We explain what we're doing, answer every question, and never make you feel rushed or embarrassed. That's the standard I built this company on, and we hold to it every single day.
✔ 100% Judgment-Free ✔ Complete Discretion ✔ Care for Every Family
Ready to Put Lice Behind You?
Have a question first? Browse our answers to the most common lice questions. Ready to book? Schedule your appointment and let us take it from here.