Student Works at a Lice Clinic to Save Money. 5 Years Later, She Reveals an Unexpected Twist in Her Finances (Exclusive)

• Cailin Hawn has worked at a lice clinic for five years in an attempt to make and save money for school.
• Although she is a dental hygiene student, her time working at the lice clinic has allowed her to become more comfortable around patients.
• With her graduation slowly approaching, Hawn says she will be debt-free after five years of higher education.

Working at a lice clinic wasn’t a career Cailin Hawn had ever imagined for herself. Yet, at 21, it has become a job that has offered invaluable experience and played a key role in helping her achieve her long-term goals. 

As she looks ahead to graduating from dental hygiene school in May 2026, Hawn reflects on her time working at a family-owned lice clinic. 

Over the years, the job has not only allowed her to assist patients and educate them on common misconceptions about lice, but it has also been instrumental in enabling her to graduate debt-free after five years of higher education.

“Although it was never something I thought I would be doing with my work life, I enjoy it so much and I honestly would not have it any other way,” Hawn tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Her role at the lice clinic involves a wide range of tasks. She detects and treats head lice by operating an FDA-cleared device that dehydrates lice and eggs. She also sterilizes instruments, schedules appointments, upsells products, collects payments and provides education to patients. 

But her main focus? Easing the fears of those who come in, knowing that lice can be a stressful and sometimes embarrassing issue.

“Saving a mother from a panic attack after a long day, saving a teenage girl from the embarrassment at school, helping families in need that have been dealing with lice for years, bringing peace of mind to the patients that have been told they were crazy for the ‘unexplained itching’ … that is the joy of my job,” Hawn explains. “It’s easy to get over the idea of ‘bugs’ when you see on a daily basis how much of a difference you are making in people’s lives.”

Working at the lice clinic has not only helped her develop career skills, but it has also confirmed her desire to work in healthcare. Through her work, she has learned that her true passion lies in helping others regain their confidence and peace of mind.

“I aspire to help people become healthy and confident in their skin,” Hawn says. “Lice treatment and dental hygiene come hand in hand in that aspect.”

Having worked at the clinic on and off for nearly five years, she has seen just about everything.

“After years in the field, there are truly no more surprises! I’ve seen it all … every remedy attempt, every myth, every crazy lice infestation,” she reveals. “I’m sure you couldn’t imagine it all if you tried. The job keeps me on my toes for sure, but I’m always up for the challenge!” 

Hawn highly recommends the job, particularly for those who are looking for a flexible and accommodating position. “It doesn’t require schooling, and certification is provided on the job,” she notes. 

While working at a lice clinic might not be for everyone, she believes that if you can look past the stigma associated with lice, it offers rewarding work and a sense of satisfaction.

One particular challenge she faces at the clinic is dealing with the misconceptions people have about lice. The most common misconception is that lice can fly or jump, which isn’t true. 

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Hawn’s TikToks – which often show her letting her hair down after a shift at the clinic – have garnered a lot of concerned comments. 

“Oh yes … the infamous hair!” she laughs. The first video she made letting her hair loose was in reference to a “daily shed” trend that was circulating TikTok at the time.

“I do, in fact, wear my hair down in the clinic when I am not treating; it is not ‘fake rage bate’ as many commenters have assumed,” Hawn admits. 

“I can also completely understand where people’s concerns are coming from,” she adds. “However, the more you know about lice, the faster you would realize that this is not the way to contract head lice.” 

Lice only spreads through direct head-to-head contact, but Hawn still takes precautions and lint-rolls her clothes after treatments to ensure she’s not carrying anything home. 

“I am most at risk of contracting lice when I am using the machine in the chance that I blow a bug onto myself; therefore, I do cover my head during patient treatment,” she tells PEOPLE. “In conclusion, the million-dollar question: letting my hair down in the clinic will not give me lice.”

While working at the lice clinic can be demanding, especially with the rigorous schedule of dental hygiene school, she makes it work by taking up weekend shifts. 

“Not working at all is not an option, but I am lucky enough to work with employers that are extremely accommodating to my school schedule,” Hawn shares. “We also work on call, so if there happens to be no appointments scheduled yet, I use that time to study until it’s time to go into work.”

One of her primary goals throughout her education has been to graduate debt-free. With the help of the lice clinic, she has been able to save money and avoid taking on excessive debt, all while pursuing her passions.

“Healthcare programs of any degree are not cheap, so the lice clinic has provided me with enough to avoid any debt and achieve my goal of graduating debt-free after 5 years of higher education,” Hawn says. “I have tried other jobs, and I enjoyed them at times, but no job has even come close to the wage received at the lice clinic. For that, I am forever grateful.”

Her advice to other students aiming to graduate debt-free is to work during summers and breaks, find a job you enjoy, apply for scholarships and consider community college for the first few years. “Sacrificing your time now will allow you more freedom to enjoy your time after you graduate,” Hawn says.

Looking toward the future, she plans to focus on her dental hygiene career after graduation, though she’s open to continuing her work at the lice clinic part-time.

“As weird as it may sound, I’ve truly developed a passion for lice and what I can do for people as a lice technician. Who knows, maybe I’ll even open my own lice clinic one day?” she tells PEOPLE.  

From easing the anxiety of stressed patients to gaining invaluable experience in healthcare, her work at the lice clinic has not only been a source of income but also a stepping stone toward a fulfilling future in healthcare.