SAN DIEGo -- A chain that opened a hair salon in La Jolla Tuesday will offer head lice removal for children, using a kid-friendly, three-step process known as "nit-zapping."

Hair Fairies at 5727 La Jolla Blvd.,is the first San Diego salon to offer the service, according to the chain, which operates in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

While kids play video games or watch children's movies, salon workers remove lice through a three-step process know as "nit-zapping."

"After being sent home from school or camp due to head lice, families can go into crisis mode," said Maria Botham, the president of Hair Fairies, who founded the company in 1999.

"Our goal is to provide parents with the information to dispel the myths of lice, then efficiently and safely remove the lice and nits, so kids can get back to school and parents can get back to their lives," she said.

Hair Fairies also sells lice removal products, does in-home lice removal, school screenings and conducts informational seminars.