How to Get Rid of Head Lice

Head lice are tiny parasites that live on the scalp and hair shafts where they feed on blood. It is a common problem among children.

You can get lice by coming in contact with an infected person through play, school, sports, sleepovers and other gatherings; wearing the clothing of someone who has the parasite; sharing personal care items like brushes and combs that are contaminated; and laying on bedding that an infected person was previously laying on. Two of the most common signs of lice infestation are itching on the head and red bumps on the scalp.

As they reproduce quickly, it is very difficult to eliminate lice parasites within a few days. Combing them out can get rid of them, but it is a long and tiring process. There are several home remedies that will more effectively solve this problem.

Smother lice and nits overnight :-

There are several household products that may deprive lice and nits of air. Applying a coat of any of these smothering agents to your hair and leaving it on overnight may treat your lice infestation.

• • Apply mayonnaise, olive oil, butter, or petroleum jelly to your hair.
  • Put on a shower cap over the smothering agent and leave on the mixture and cap overnight.

• In the morning, remove the smothering agent with baby oil and by shampooing and rinsing your hair thoroughly.Be aware that because of the nature of these products, that it may take a lot of work to get them out of your hair.
• Repeat this process several nights in a row.

Wet-comb your hair :-

Use a fine-toothed nit comb to comb the entire length of wet and lubricated hair. This may remove lice and some of their nits, or eggs, if done for several weeks.

• • Purchase a nit comb at a pharmacy, grocery store or another large retailer.
  • Wet the hair with water and use something such as hair conditioner to lubricate it.

• Run the nit comb the length of the hair at least twice during a session.
• Repeat the process every three to four days for several weeks. Do this for at least two weeks after you find no more lice in your hair.
• Use a light directed on the scalp to illuminate the area on which you’re combing.
• A magnifying glass may also help you more effectively see the area you’re combing.
• Comb sections that are about 1 inch by ½ inch, starting at the scalp and ending with the tip. Make sure to clean the comb with a tissue and some hot water after you’ve combed each section.
• Pin up sections of the hair you’ve already combed to ensure that you get your entire scalp.

Apply essential oils :-

There is some evidence that applying natural plants oils to the hair may kill lice and eggs and soothe related itching.Be aware that although essential oils may work against, they are not approved by the Federal Drug Administration to meet safety, efficacy, and manufacturing standards, and may cause damage to your scalp if not used properly.

• Use essential oils such as tea tree oil, anise oil, ylang ylang oil for lice and their nits. You can also look for plant oils containing nerolidol, which is a chemical compound found in many plant oils.
•  Examples of this kind of oils includes: neroli, ginger, jasmine, and lavender.
• Mix about 50 drops of your chosen essential oil or oils with 4 tablespoons vegetable oil.
• Apply the mixture to your hair and cover it with a plastic shower cap. Then wrap this with a towel.
• Leave it on your hair for an hour and then shampoo your hair thoroughly to rinse out any lice and nits.
• You can buy essential oils at most health food stores, some pharmacies, and many grocery stores.

Rinse hair with a water and vinegar :-

After successfully killing lice and nits, combine a mixture of 50% water and 50% vinegar. This can help dissolve the bodies of dead nits and may also help remove any lingering lice or nits in your hair.

• Rub the mixture vigorously into your hair and rinse thoroughly.
• A mixture of vinegar and olive oil may also work.

Baby Oil :-

For another easy natural treatment for head lice, you will need baby oil, laundry detergent and some white vinegar. It is believed that baby oil, too, helps suffocate the head lice.

• • Apply some baby oil on your hair and then comb your hair slowly so that lice start falling from your head.
  • Then wash your hair with laundry detergent and hot water.

• Before bed, put some white vinegar on your hair and cover your head with a shower cap or towel. Leave it on overnight.
• In the morning, wash your hair with regular shampoo and then apply some conditioner.

Repeat this process for at least three to four days to get positive results.

Olive Oil :-

Olive oil will effectively smother and kill head lice.

• Apply any type of olive oil to your hair generously before going to bed. Put a shower cap or towel on your head to keep the oil on your hair overnight. In the morning, comb out the tiny parasites and then wash your hair with some herbal shampoo containing tea tree oil.
• Another option is to mix one-half cup of olive oil with one-half cup of conditioner and add some liquid soap to it. Apply this solution onto your hair and leave it on for an hour. Then, rinse out your hair and apply conditioner. Comb your hair thoroughly to remove the dead lice. Repeat this remedy again after a week to get best results.

Tree Tea Oil :-

Tea tree essential oil is a natural insecticide, making it an effective treatment for head lice.

• Mix together one teaspoon of tea tree oil, one ounce of natural shampoo and three tablespoons of coconut or olive oil.
• Apply the solution gently throughout your hair and cover your head with a shower cap or towel. Leave your head covered for a half an hour and then rinse thoroughly with hot water.
• Finally, comb through your hair while it is still wet to remove the dead lice.

Note: Do not apply tea tree oil directly to the scalp.

Other head lice treatments :

• • You can use controlled, heated air to effectively dehydrate the lice and their eggs. Applying a blow dryer works well on eggs, but not as well on hatched lice.
  • Insecticides that kill head lice are available in lotion form. You can buy them from the pharmacy or get them on prescription.

• The silicone-based ingredient Dimeticone (found in Hedrin, Hedrin Once and Nyda) kills lice and eggs by coating them and smothering them. Unlike insecticide treatment, head lice cannot develop resistance to them.
• Tea Tree Oil is one of the few natural ingredients that lab tests have shown to be effective. Other home remedies such as putting vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, olive oil, mayonnaise, or melted butter under a shower cap have been disproven.