Lice.
If your family has experienced it…you know the agony that comes from trying to eliminate it.
However with patience and diligence head lice can be treated at home — without harmful chemicals — by using all-natural remedies.
What are lice?
Head lice are a common occurrence, easily transmitted, and NOT an indication of poor hygiene.
They are a type of parasite that lives on the scalp and hair shaft of humans — surviving for up to 30 days on small amounts of blood obtained from the individual. The official/medical term for head lice is pediculosis.
They are usually found in school-aged children (girls more frequently than boys) and women…and like to lay their eggs along the base of the hair shaft — close to the scalp — behind the ears and/or back of the neck.
They do not jump, hop, or fly…however they crawl at an extremely fast pace.
Lice do not spread disease.
What causes lice?
Head lice do not survive long (estimated 24-48 hours) once they fall off a person’s head and cannot feed.
Contracting lice happens to those who:
- come in contact with an infected person through play, school, sports, home, sleepovers, etc.
- wear the clothing of someone that has the parasite.
- share personal care items such as…brushes, combs, towels, and other accessories that are contaminated.
- lay on bedding, carpets, and/or furniture that a person with head lice was previously laying on.
Ultimately, if you or someone in your family develops head lice, you will want to take care of the problem as soon as you become aware.
What are the symptoms of a lice infestation?
Head lice affect all socio-economic groups. Infestations can happen and spread without regard to the cleanliness of a home or school, or to personal hygiene.
Infestation happens extremely fast, and can be asymptomatic (showing no symptoms of their presence). However, two of the most common signs and symptoms include:
- itching of the head
- red bumps on the scalp
The good news is…
You will usually be able to see the small, white eggs (nits) that are attached to the hair shaft. They produce a glue-like substance that makes them difficult to remove and they will not easily flake off if brushed.
Often the nits will be evident but the lice will not be visible.
The bad news is…
…lice are not so easy to prevent or get rid of.
Currently, pesticide-based lice treatments and insecticidal shampoos are coming under increasing scrutiny secondary to overuse. With the rise in superbugs — and growing pesticide resistance — using commercially-prepared, over-the-counter or prescription shampoos to attempt to treat and prevent head lice is not recommended.
This leaves us searching for a better way.
What can I do at home to treat and prevent lice naturally?
Common, conventional treatments (over-the-counter and prescription) such as: pyrethrins (permethrin lotion 1%), benzyl alcohol lotion, ivermectin lotion, malathion lotion, or lindane shampoo 1% — have been know to be harmful to human health, especially in the case of small children, and likewise harmful to the environment.
Nevertheless, there are proven, very effective natural remedies for lice that do not use harmful chemicals.
They are as follows:
- Nit Comb. Use a fine-toothed nit comb to remove lice from the hair, working through the hair one small section at a time. Tea tree oil can also be applied directly to a fine-toothed comb and combed through dry hair with each brushing. Combing the hair at least 3 times a day for the first week — and then nightly for a week — will help to gradually remove eggs and newly hatched lice. This is one of the most effective ways of removing head lice without the use of insecticidal shampoos. Note: Make sure you clean out the lice comb by soaking it in vinegar for at least 30 minutes or by boiling it in water for 5-10 minutes.
- Melaleuca (tea tree oil). This essential oil is an all-natural insecticide and an amazing treatment for head lice. To use: (a) add 3-5 drops of Melaleuca (tea tree oil) to every one ounce of natural shampoo (b) mix 3 tablespoons of carrier oil (olive, coconut, olive, coconut, jojoba, or sesame) and a teaspoon of Melaleuca (tea tree oil) together in a bowl…apply to hair for 30-45 minutes…shampoo normally. (c) add 10-20 drops directly into the washing machine when washing infected items. (d) add 15 drops to 2 ounces of water and spray onto hair while combing with a nit comb.
- Neem Oil Shampoo. Neem oil, like tea tree oil, is also considered all-natural insecticide. Used by gardeners safely to prevent and kill pests on plants…it is just as safe and effective in the treatment of lice. Once a lice infestation is realized begin using a neem oil based shampoo — or add few teaspoons of neem oil to your normal shampoo. Note: Here is a recipe — Neem Oil Soap Recipe — for those interested in making your own Neem Oil Herbal Shampoo Bar. Or purchase a handmade Neem Oil Herbal Shampoo and Body by clicking this link.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. Before and after shampooing, rinse your hair with vinegar…or soak hair with vinegar and leave it on for a few minutes before combing with a nit comb. Towel-dry hair. This will help remove nits from the hair shaft.
- Healing Oil Treatment. High in anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and natural insecticide properties sesame seed and neem oils are the base for this healing oil treatment. Wisk together 1/4 cup of sesame seed oil, 1/8 cup neem oil, 10 drops Melaleuca (tea tree oil), 5 drops each eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils, and 10 drops of lavender essential oils. Begin by rinsing the hair with apple cider vinegar and allow it to dry (this will help dissolve the glue-like substance produces by the nits). Apply healing oil treatment to the hair and scalp, cover with a shower cap, and leave-in for 6-8 hours or overnight. Use a fine-toothed nit comb to remove all the dead lice and nits. Shampoo normally. Apply this treatment every day for five days to eradicate lice.
- Coconut oil. Just as with the above healing oil treatment…prior to applying coconut oil rinse the hair with apple cider vinegar and allow it to dry. Apply coconut oil to the hair, cover with a shower cap, and leave-in for 6-8 hours or overnight. Comb hair with a nit comb. Shampoo normally. Apply this treatment to the hair and scalp every day for five days to eradicate lice. Note: For a powerhouse treatment, add several drops of ylang-ylang and anise essential oils to the coconut oil prior to application.
- Garlic. Grind 8 to 10 cloves of garlic all together to create a paste. Add in 2 to 3 teaspoons of lime juice or water (if using water add 10-15 drops of tea tree oil) and apply this to the scalp. Leave in this paste for ½ hour and rinse out thoroughly.
- Thyme. Prepare a strong herbal infusion using either fresh or dried thyme leaves and flowers. Use this preparation as a rinse or spray onto hair while combing with a nit comb multiple times a day.
- Essential oils. Add any of the following essential oils you have on hand to a carrier oil (such as olive, coconut, jojoba, or sesame) and apply to hair — using the same method as with the coconut oil and healing oil treatment — to kill lice: Melaleuca (tea tree oil), lavender, rosemary, clove, eucalyptus, cinnamon, thyme, peppermint, oregano, or ylang ylang
For pure, safe essential oils you can trust choose ::
- Beeyoutiful Essential Oils (a great cost-effective brand of pure oils — the Beginner Basics Essential Oil Pack is perfect for anyone just starting on the essential oils journey!)
- Mountain Rose Herbs…they have a the best, most complete selection of pure, organic oils
Additional measures that must be followed:
According to the CDC, lice and their eggs are killed by exposure for 5 minutes to temperatures greater than 53.5°C (128.3°F). Note: Personal items such as hats, grooming aids, and towels that come in contact with the hair of an infested person should never be shared.
- Machine wash and dry clothing, stuffed animals, bed linens, hats, towels, and other items that the infested person wore or used during the 2 days before treatment using the hot water (130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag and stored for 2 weeks.
- Soak combs and brushes in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5-10 minutes.
- Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Note
-After each treatment, check the hair and comb with the nit comb every 2-3 days to decrease the risk of re-infestation.
-Continue to check hair for 2-3 weeks to be sure all lice and nits are gone.
-See a trained medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment of head lice and/or if any concerns arise.
Where Can I Get This Stuff?
–Mountain Rose Herbs…they have everything you’ll need by way of Bulk Herbs, Organic Oils & Butters, and Natural Products for Healthy, Natural Living! It’s your one-stop-shop!
-For pure, safe essential oils you can trust choose ::
- Beeyoutiful Essential Oils (a great cost-effective brand of pure oils — the Beginner Basics Essential Oil Pack is perfect for anyone just starting on the essential oils journey!)
- Mountain Rose Herbs…they have a the best, most complete selection of pure, organic oils
If you’re a blogger — or simply a lover of natural, plant-based healing — and would like promote Beeyoutiful’s line of essential oils click here to earn money and become an affiliate!!!
–Starwest Botanicals and The Bulk Herb Store also carries many of these ingredients if you’d like to price check.
–Health doesn’t come from plastic bottles. Vitality grows naturally from the way you live your life. If you want to learn more about herbs as medicine and as food, and if you’re just too busy to enroll in an in-person program, join the Herbal Academy of New England for a comprehensive and convenient online herbal course you can complete anywhere and anytime!
DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my knowledge-sharing/writing/blogging activities, I occasionally may receive monetary compensation for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this article. However, I only recommend products or services I have personally used myself and trust.
Now it’s your turn…Share your lice remedies with us in the comments!
Great Post! I am filing this away in my Mom-Brain for when my daughter gets to be school age. I kinda dread the day… 😉
Lice is now seemingly unaffected by the store bought chemicals we know as rid
they are termed super lice. I’ve used them an watched live lice combed out of my
daughters an sons hair. I’ve found the best treatment an fight against lice is dividing
the hair into sections taking tweezers an manually removing each nit you see. Yes this is
very time consuming but VERY effective. I no longer buy chemicals with the
exception of the canned spray for beds an furnishings in our home. ypu too can get rid of them without
spending a great deal of money
good luck in the war against lice.
What kinds of chemicals did you use on your furniture?
I enjoyed reading your post today, we battled lice with our two kids for months and finally won the battle with Tea Tree Oil. They now spritz their hair brushes lightly with Tea Tree Oil once every other day or so and brush their hair. Tea Tree Essential Oil kills lice.
Same here. My daughter and I had them for a few months her 1st year in school. I had tried everything to get rid of them. Finally after the usual products failed to work, I used Olive Oil and then Baby Oil. I would coat our hair once every other day. for a full 10 days. I preferred the baby oil though because the olive oil made us smell like we were about to be cooked LOL.
I packaged all the things that could not be washed into black garbage bags and put them in a closet away from the rest of the house. I didn’t bring them back out til 2 weeks had passed.
I had to do it this way because she and I both have VERY thick hair and I had a feeling the reason for the re-occurrence was most likely because I kept missing eggs when combing.
This is the problem I’m having. My son, the carrier, is of mixed race, Caucasian and African American. it’s hare to comb through his hair, but impossible to thoroughly comb through mine. Tea tree oil worked great two years ago, but theses guys are resilient or I’m not as disgusted. But this occasionally itching at any given town is unacceptable. I will try your tip.
I teach the olive oil and combing method in my parenting classes and have used it on my own child with success. Lice breathe through pores in their skin. Therefore, you should coat the hair with olive oil, cover with shower cap or plastic wrap and then a hat or bandana. Leave it on for at least 8 hours. If you wash itout too soon they will come back to life. After 8 hours carefully comb (nit comb) through small sections at a time, wiping the comb on a tissue in between each section of hair. Wash hair with shampoo for oily hair a few times. Repeat every 5-6 days for three weeks. Combing well with the nit comb is very important to get the eggs out.
Cindy,
I too used the olive oil on my 2 children. It is a 100% proven method that is inexpensive and healthy for the hair. My daughter would wear it in her hair and I would braid it. My son would also use it in his and slick it back or mix it with his hair gel with also froze the lice. The oil and the alchol in the gel breaks down the sticky film that attachs the eggs. I’ve never known the lice to come back to life. How I understand it, is that the oil suffocates the louse. Usaually they and the eggs will come right out of the hair on to the hands that is working in the oil. Any oil works, I just use the most inexpensive oil I have on hand. Olive or grapeseed.
I thought that I had an allergic reaction to a new shampoo that I was trying but I could not stop scratching my head, back of the neck, and my shoulders. I finally went on-line and looked up my symptoms. I tried the olive-oil treatment for 4 hours today and I think that some of the louse washed off. I then shampooed my hair as recommended by others on this site and then applied a conditioner. When I used the nit comb, five more came off my head, four of them still alive. So the four hours of olive oil treatment were not enough for me. It’s 2:00 in the morning and I woke up scratching my shoulders again, so I’m repeating the olive oil treatment. I’m planning on purchasing some tea-tree oil as well or tea-tree shampoo to use instead of the olive oil as it is hard to get out of the hair. I never even had lice as a child, but I’m guessing I picked this up from our humanitarian project in Bosnia. I’m just hoping and praying that I don’t pass this over to friends while staying at their homes. Thanks so much for this website!
Thank you ~ I kept meaning to put together a list like this after our own bouts with lice. I had such a hard time finding accurate information about alternatives and was shocked at how readily people reached for the over the counter nasty stuff … will share it widely!
Covering the hair in a mayonnaise mask, covering for up to an hour with a shower cap, and rinsing with vinegar is very effective as well. The oil in the mayonnaise smothers the pesky critters!
YES! I melted some coconut oil and added tea tree oil to the coconut oil. AFter it cooled, we spread it all over our hair and put the shower cap on overnight. it only took us a few days to get rid of the lice. We also did vinegars rinses and the nit comb a few times a day.
Thank-you!! We have been battling what I think is a mutant form of lice here for about 4 months now. My daughter carried them home with her from the orphanage where she lived. There they put “treatment” on the heads of the kids every two weeks, so I’m pretty sure the lice mutated and no longer respond to conventional treatment. I have just started to read about and use natural treatments, and we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! I wish I would have known about this earlier because I never would have used those nasty chemicals on my kiddos. I’m just glad to have this info now! THANK-YOU!!!
It is crucial to check on a daily basis, regardless of which method you choose to use. Also, I noticed, that using a flat iron, tends to help reduce the level of re infestation. I believe, due to the extreme heat of the iron. A clothing iron can also be used on a mattress.
Cleaning your environment cannot be stressed enough. (Combs, brushes, bedding, couches, clothing, toys, family member checks, vehicles, ect.)
It is crucial to check on a daily basis, regardless of which method you choose to use. Also, I noticed, that using a flat iron, tends to help reduce the level of re infestation. I believe, due to the extreme heat of the iron. A clothing iron can also be used on a mattress.
Cleaning your environment cannot be stressed enough. (Combs, brushes, bedding, couches, clothing, toys, family member checks, vehicles, etc.)
Great post! Not sure if you know, but are human lice and the lice that chickens can get the same? I love these natural treatments and would love to share on my blog, but just not sure if ‘chicken’ lice would respond to the same treatments…I’m thinking yes…Thanks!
I had success in high school getting rid of lice buy slathering my hair with a jar of Mayonnaise , putting a shower cap on it, and leaving it in for 8 hours. The lice essentially “suffocated”.
About 5 years ago, my family had one of the most memorable summers when my daughter got lice while attending summer school- she gave it to her older sister too who had a milder case. It was very time-consuming but it was a time of nurturing as so much time was spent combing-out every little section of hair for my girls. What worked for us- mayonnaise! It was cheap, effective, and left our hair conditioned. (I was paranoid so gave myself two treatments just to be safe). We slathered the mayo on our scalps and hair, covered with shower caps, and lounged around the house for about 2 hours before washing it out. Unlike others who are posting, I nit-combed my girls’ hair twice a day the first 5 days and then once a day for two weeks or so. I found that some nits were missed so I was glad I did the frequent combing. We did approximately 4 mayo treatments, 2-3 the first week, and one about two weeks later. There is no need to use dangerous neuro-toxic lice killer on your kids!
Also, massive cleaning- vacuumed all furniture, put stuffed toys in trash bags for two weeks, all linens hot water washed. My sister-in-law had to help a woman whose daughter got CHRONIC LICE, could not get rid of it for MONTHS! But it was with the diligence of frequent cleaning bedding, toys, furniture, etc. and using lice treatment/combing regularly that they finally got rid of the chemical resistant lice. I strongly recommend that anyone who has a lice problem not be slack and don’t depend on a one-time treatment for cure.
The key to eliminating lice is thorough combing. It does not matter if you kill the adults if you leave behind the eggs. They will hatch in 7-10 days and then you will have new adults laying eggs.
We discovered by accident how effective vinegar is as a deterrent to live lice. I found some nits in my daughter’s hair, so I poured on apple cider vinegar and wrapped her hair in a shower cap and towel to give it time to loosen the glue. We took off the towel and discovered live bugs falling off her head. Oh joy.
We combed and combed and combed some more. Still missed some old nits. Had a fight with the hair salon who told me there was a state law prohibiting them from cutting hair with nits. I pointed out they were an inch from the scalp and therefore not live lice, but no no avail. So just know that if you see nits more than 1/2″ form the scalp, they are empty egg cases. Gross, but not an active concern.
Also, check your school’s policy on staying home for lice. Our school district considers lice a nuisance, but not a public health concern. Icky, but not a good reason to stay home.
My daughter is a CNA and was told she had to go to the Dr’s before she could return to work after catching lice from one of her clients. Our school district say’s it doesn’t even send notices home if someone in your child class has lice.
Has anyone used dog shampoo for fleas? I would think it would kill lice too and my not be as bad the kits they sell.
Yes i have! Dog shampoo that prevents fleas, ticks, and lice!! Works wonders! Never thought it would till one day i couldnt stop scratching! My partner searched my head and found one. So i used and never seen another bug. And everytime i get a bad scratch i just put it in my hair.
How about a cat flea comb? Stronger then those flimsy nit combs they have.
This website saved us!! It has great videos (but they are really corny!) that show exactly how to comb out the hair and remove the nits! Complete with a treatment calendar to make it easier to eradicate the little monsters! http://Www.HeadLicetoDeadLice.com
Yes! This is the program I show in my parenting class. I have an old VHS tape of it. I didn’t realize there is a website, thanks!
The easiest way I have found is just to use a hair dryer if you even suspect there has been an exposure. It kills the eggs before they hatch. Then a nit comb takes care of the rest.
Frugal is important, especially these days, but sometimes we don’t think about the long term consequences and what they cost. Sometimes it’s not worth it to cut corners. I have used many of these techniques myself on my girls, but when I have a stubborn case to deal with, I just grab an online coupon and get some clear lice, which is all natural. That’s important because think of the long term costs of using poisons on your kids. More and more of us these days don’t have health care, so minimizing the costs for health care long term (or even short term) are worth keeping in mind!
Having gone thru the dreaded infestation last year, I am very grateful for the recipes. Thanks
When my daughter first started school we delt with lice ever other month for the entire year. And then at least once or twice a year for about 4 yrs, it was aweful and I kept using the over the counter remedies I started getting concerned about putting chemicals on her head so often, And after researching for more natural remedies we used the vinegar rinse and I added tea oil to coconut shampoo we had them out of her hair within a day or two. I also made up a spray bottle of the tea tree oil and water for the furnture. We all now use the cocout shampoo with tea tree oil about once a month, and we have not had case of lice in over 2 yrs. and with the added bonus…Tea tree oil is great for dandruff too!!
Sorry but most of the remedies posted are not accurate. Lice have become resistant to tea tree oil, tea tree oil is very drying to the scalp. Soak scalp with olive or coconut oil for minimum of 4 hrs, lice can hold their breath for 3 hours.Shampoo hair and comb with a Nit Free comb. You must purchase a high quality Nit Comb, try the Nit Free Comb. You must comb using hair conditioner on damp hair everyday or every other day for a 10 days , sectioning hair if the hair is long and pass comb thru 5- 6 times and wipe on paper towel. Be sure the comb is running along the scalp. Keep combing until the paper towel is clean. You need to remove hair from hair brushes, it is not necessary to boil combs and brushes, waste of time. Remove all bedding and place in hot dryer for 20-30 min. Any item you don’t want to put in dryer just keep in a plastic bag for 48 hours.Vacuum areas where the infected person had been hanging out. They can’t survive off the head for more then 48 hours. Apple cider vinegar is good to help loosen nits but be careful if the scalp is irritated due to bites and scratching the vinegar will burn!! The key is combing with a proper good quality comb. Heat from a hair dryer will not kill eggs! The only way to get rid of eggs is by manual removal with a Nit free comb. Tea Tree Oil will eventually cause dandruff as it is a powerful astringent and should be used sparingly. I work in Lice Removal clinic using only natural treatment, trust me this is accurate info. Good Luck!
I have to reiterate what has been said, mayonnaise is an effective, low-cost, and safe treatment. We have applied mayonnaise, wrapped our heads in plastic grocery bag, then a towel and left it on for an hour. The downside of mayonnaise is that we found the best way to get all of the oil off our heads was to use dish washing soap followed by an apple cider vinegar rinse. The upside is that you can watch the dead adult lice being washed down the drain as you wash and rinse! The hair must then be combed through in very small sections, paying special attention to the first couple of inches from the hair follicle. I have found that a very bright light is important to spotting the minute nits. I have then checked my daughter’s hair every night for a week to make certain we’ve left no nits for re-infestation. She picked up lice three times while in elementary school and we had only to treat her once after we switched from the chemical, store bought concoctions to the mayonnaise-dish soap-vinegar treatment. It does take a long time to comb through long hair, the first night we usually spent about 4-6 hours combing through, perhaps that is why the success.
It is almost 3am. I have been dealing with “the infestation” since I picked my girls up from the after-school program. Ugh. They are both now asleep, and I, after hours of working through their hair, am still doing “research”. I am completely grossed out… Oh! and by the way, I have coconut oil in my hair…which is wrapped – tightly in a towel – but just in case …I’ve also saran wrapped myself and placed a winter hat over that…you know…”just in case”. So, through my research that I’d like to now share is something that I keep coming across, and that is Listerine. Basically doing a treatment of Listerine and it supposedly kills everything. I will try…and good luck to all of you! Cool blog btw.
I am charmed by you all and wish you super success. At the age of 68, I have been fighting a case of lice I believe I got from snuggling with my kindergartener g’daughter over a year ago. I, too, did mega research and used almost everything. The mistake I made was not to go ahead and hire the professional who would have gone through my hair for nits–and charge only $200. See, moms, what you are worth? Oh, I have lots of loved ones–but I could not bring myself to ask them to do that; and none of them was actually busting down any doors to take over. Finding nits yourself is going to be hit or miss; this nit-combing 3x/day for several days and then daily for a week sounds excellent.
I am pretty sure mine are gone. If I get any reason to believe they are not, Listerine is next!
I’m 15, and I’ve had lice once(luckily) but my little sister has had them every summer for the last 4 years. I battled them for a few months when I had them. I tried every over the counter thing their was. My dad even put RAID in my hair. Nothing worked. But I went to the beach that Christmas and I never saw another lice after that except one the after noon, and it was dead. And then I straightened my hair every day for 2 months. So when my little sister gets it, I wash her hair in salt water and then blow dry and straighten her hair every day on the highest heat. The heat kills the bugs and the eggs(practically frying them since my straightener goes up to 455 degrees. So if nothing else works, salt water and straighter is a great way to get rid of the pests.
The best remedy I ever found was aloe vera gel and a nit comb. I had three little girls with thick waist length hair. I would saturate their hair with the aloe gel and comb it out with the lice comb, wiping it off on paper towels. It left their hair soft and clean without even washing it out. I did it every evening for about a week and no more lice. I just washed their hair on the same schedule as usual, every 2-3 days. We had tried all the prescription and other home remedies with little success. It is simple, non-toxic and relatively cheap.
Lice like bed bugs are rampant again partly due to the influx of foreigners into the United States. This isn’t a statement against them, just saying what they do carry can be different than what we are used to dealing with in the US. Lice mutate just like cockroaches and any other insect and become immune. In 3rd world countries, they do not treat lice as we do, if they treat at all it is with harsher chemicals in some cases, than are even allowed in the US. We found (we adopted two little girls from Mexico) through the agency that they had been using a treatment containing a pesticide. These lice do not look like the common lice we see in the US. We finally got rid of them in the girls by using mayo on the first treatment, then nit combing, second time around (7 days later) we used tea tree oil mixed with olive oil (this was partly due to the girls having sores on their heads from scratching and we did not want to pull off any scabs, instead the oil softened them), then 7 days later we made sure they were gone and their eggs in case any had survive by using a vinegar soak (their heads had healed) and then for the next six weeks we used a shampoo containing tea tree oil.
i been battling head lice for 2 years and nothing has workedd. whats the most effective treatment
I used olive oil on my 2 children. It is a 100% proven method that is inexpensive and healthy for the hair. My daughter would wear it in her hair and I would braid it. My son would also use it in his and slick it back or mix it with his hair gel with also froze the lice. The oil and the alchol in the gel breaks down the sticky film that attachs the eggs. I’ve never known the lice to come back to life. How I understand it, is that the oil suffocates the louse. Usaually they and the eggs will come right out of the hair on to the hands that is working in the oil. Any oil works, I just use the most inexpensive oil I have on hand. Olive or grapeseed.
I have used italian salad dressing.it has to be washed in hair regularly for about 2 – 3 weeks.
Multani clay very effective treatment for head lice problem. it is natural treatment.
Can you explain how to use multani clay for head lice traetment ?
I just notice this past few days, i always scratch may head, I check my scalp if i have dandruff but I don’t have it. Then I realize that my cousin have this hilarious lice,…huhuhu…. were sleeping in the same bed no wonder that the lice was transmitted on my head.. I’m getting pissed off with this feeling , it was super duper itchy. I’ts very uncomfortable to have this… please give me the fastest treatment that you can advise to get rid of this… thank you!!
Here is the easiest, but least popular way to get rid of lice.
1. Take your child or other infected persons outside into the yard. Place a chair on top of a tarp and have the person take a seat. Grab a pair of electric clippers and cut off all the hair to the scalp. Dump bleach onto the tarp to kill lice. Have the person remove their clothing before going inside and discard the clothes.
2. Put on clean clothing not previously exposed to lice. Go to the store and buy fuming bug bombs. Put the bombs all over your house and leave the house for recommended time (found on the instructions). The fuming bomb should be specific for Mites (I.e. dust mites).
3. Wash all clothes, bed linens, pillows and stuffed animals.
4. A week later repeat step 2.
Your kid will be bald, but the hair will grow back quickly. It beats combing hair for a month or more. IMO this is fool proof way to quickly defeat this parasite.
That can work for boys but not for girls.
If i did that to my daughter i would be disowned .
thank you and will keep it in mind if i struggle more then two weeks.
regs
Bron
You have got to be kidding….I don’t know one kid that would be totally ok with having their head shaved and who in their right might would want all those chemicals being “bombed” all over your home – twice!!??? This isn’t even a solution – it is just sounds like a lazy person approach with no thought to repercussions (mentally or physically) to the child or family.
I have used italian salad dressing.it has to be washed in hair regularly for about 2 – 3 weeks.
I love to lousianna about a year ago and I never once felt with lice before with in 2 weeks of being here both my girls got it. I have been battelig it ever since. The lice crap you buy at the stores do not work! Today I got coconut oil and I’m praying this will he the end. Thank you all so much for sharing your stories. Its been utter hell for my girls and I. None of the kids wanna play with my kids and the parents act as if we had some crazy virus. Also one of the woman in the trailer park has convinced everyone that I plain or don’t care. Which isn’t the case. I love my children and I’ve cried months because of this. .thank you all again for proving to me that it is not my fault.
Fadia,
Thanks for writing. You keep fighting. I’ve started my second week. I ended up buying some medicated shampoo in the pharmacy. The key for me is to wash the hair twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. Use that comb, the nit comb faithfully. That has been the only thing that seems to work to get the adults, the babies, and the eggs. As others have said, it is really hard to get rid of lice. Wash the sheets, vaccum the bed, any clothes that your girls have been wearing, anywhere where they have been sitting or lying. Clean the hairbrushes, I heard with cleaning alcohol, that it is not so much the heat that will kill them or put anything in plastic bags for two days. Good luck and keep praying and fighting! Will pray for your family! Don’t worry about neighbors.
NO ITS NOT YOUR FAULT! I was told by someone that worked at RICHARDS WHOLE FOODS today that Neem oil is the one product in a lot of lice killing products tgat kills lice ,I was going to use this in my treatment I listed above but ran out of money as I already spent 30$ give or take on the products I bought there today mabie you can tri the treatment I have listed , I am sorry to hear about what is happening to you and you girls but allways remember there will be mean people in the world and they will allways judge but there is only one who matters when it comes to judging , there are also nice people who care and will not judge as a matter of fact will help because we have been there and are walking the same path so you are not a lone surrowned your self with good people and good thoughts and it will all work out you will see there will be something that one of us will use that you might tri that will work and things will get back to normal again youll see positive thoughts . I think all mean adults need to be put on a island by them selves heheheh chin up good luck.
Nice…..just nice to read someone bein’ nice…..E ; 3 )
im 19 && i havent had lice in 3 1/2 years . i was in the shower the other night && forumd a bug in my hair && instantly started freaking out . i live with my youth leader && wife && im not really sure how i got lice to begin with , but i plan on using mayo && then a vinegar rinse after . thank you all for your stories .
Tea Tree Oil shampoo and conditioner work well. Shampoo then apply conditioner heavily. Section and comb through with a nit comb then rinse hair well. Repeat treatment in a few days and also use these as your regular shampoo and conditioner. Using a lot of styling products also helps because they coat the hair shaft and make it difficult for the nits to adhere. Wash and dry on high heat bed linens, towels, etc. It just takes persistence. Also make sure you’re not getting re- infested by someone else. We just discovered our daughter’s friend has had them for some time although she denied it and ignored it. She and her little sister finally ended up having it discovered at school and were sent home until the problem is cleared up. It explains quite a lot since she and my daughter spent a lot of time together over the summer and that’s when my daughter had her reoccurring problem with this.
I have also used an oil treatment from a web site I seen today, I am triing to prevent them from getting into my hair I am 28 weeks pregn and have two boys one doesn’t have them and the other does there father has treated the one and going to treat the other just incase . my x husband told me that I should use a tee tree oil shampoo to help me from getting it because you see my hair is really long about waste length . so I did a lot of research online and found a web site with a home remedies for lice treatments and this one started off with a lady saying she took coconut oil organic and heated it and then add these product into her shampoo ; rosemary oil , tee tree oil , citronella oil and has worked for years .. well me being preg and all I wanted something natural , I don’t use shampoo only a conditioner and then use a Listerine stripping treatment once a month as I have been told by an old customer of mine a long time ago because her hair was so beautiful and really long , so I put 15 drops of the tee tree oil and lavenderin one and rosemary oil because a website said 1 drop per 30ml , and citronella oil in my conditioner bottle Panteene pro v( Purple bottle for long length hair) , I then shook the bottle to mix it and had both my kids shake the bottle and then shook it again before I treated my hair, I put the treatment into my hand saturated it and worked with my fingers into my long hair and scalp and sat with it for a little bit 10 min or so WOW IT WAS SO SOFT AND SILKY ITS NEVER BEEN LIKE THIS then rinsed with hot water and then cool water as I already have problems with dandruff due to stress then combed towel dried and applied it again this time I didn’t saturate my head combed threw again and left it in then blow dried it and now I am going to put it in my hair clip . I plan on rinsing it tomorrow morning . I wish I could remember everything else she said she did because I don’t know how many times to treat my hair like this but I am going to do it one time a week ilI know my son doesn’t have it any more just incase, but this is how I am going to tri to prevent these little devils from coming into my hair and I hope it helps YOU! GOOD LUCK
My daughter came home with lice. I was frantic. I worked with store bought shampoo and got rid of the lice, but I have always heard that the store bought chemicals would hurt the children. I asked around and a teacher says she washes her hair with Tea Tree Oil every week because children was always hugging on her and she was afraid she would get lice. My daughter started shampooing once a week with Tea Tree Oil shampoo and Tea Tree Oil conditioner, for the past 6 months, lice free, tonight I found lice again.
I BATTLED THE CRITTERS FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS AND NOW THEY ARE FINALLY GONE!!!!! IT WAS A NIGHTMARE!!! HERE IS WHAT I DID…..PUT 100% PURE TEA TREE OIL 10 DROPS IN COCONUT SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER AND I STARTED STRAIGHTENING MY HAIR WILL A FLAT IRON IT POPS THE NITS AND I BLOW DRY MY HAIR MORE OFTEN NOW AND WHEN I DON’T FLAT IRON MY HAIR I MAKE SURE TO PUT GEL BEHIND MY HEAD AND EARS WHERE THEY MOST LIKELY GO. I HAVEN’T SEEN ANY SINCE I HAVE TRIED THOSE METHODS. HOPE THIS HELPS!!!
2 questions:
Do these treatments work for Canine Lice?
Has anyone tried putting bedding in bags and freezing for 24 hours to kill nits?
I just found out my 9year old has head lice, out of her whole 8 years i have been using apple shampoo and conditioner and it has worked… but now that she has stopped using it she has got it.
so i will have to treat and destroy the pest and start with the apple treatment again.
I got a really bad case of lice when I was pregnant. U can not use the over the counter treatments if u r pregnant so my grandma suggested putting mayo on and wrapping my head in a plastic bag overnight….then washing it out….it worked great!!! No combing needed and they were gone. Haven’t had since. That was over 12 years ago
Well Hello.
I am sorry to say that I am dealing with the lice thing today…not a happy day, as I have it too!!!
What I used: 4 tablespoons of Olive oil; 20 drops of Tea Tree Oil; 15 drops of Lavender Oil and a good squeeze from a lemon (lemon juice). Put a shower-cap on and then wrapped a towel around that; LEFT ON FOR 1 HOUR, I 1st used it on y son and the lice was running for the hills. Literally, they started crawling out from under the cap onto his eyebrows! After the 1 hour, I combed out with the nit brush…so many louse – I couldn’t believe all those bugs were living in my sons hair/head. I was disgusted. I then washed his hair with the “Lice Shampoo”. Happy to say that I didn’t see any of the bugs while rinsing the shampoo out, so the Olive Oil concoction must have killed all the bugs. So now, I sit with my hair in a towel, waiting my turn for the nit brush.
It did not get rid of the eggs, I don’t know if they’re dead or what, but I guess I will be checking, and checking, and checking…
Dealing with this disaster now for a 3 rd time with my 6 yr old twin girls . This started for us on Oct. 22!! Then we were good for like 4 days and the nurse found them again on my one girl, so again we do the over the counter, disinfect , clean entire house that took hours and hours of laundry, and bagging, and vacuuming!! Not to add that I have MS, fibro, Sarcodosis , chronic pain, chronic fatigue etc etc etc and my husband battled and won 2 yrs ago and received a new heart!! Our 10 yr old ( birthday yesterday! ) has aspergers and high functioning autism, and our 18 yr old boy has ADHD !! Come on enough! So anyway, we did the treatments for the 2nd time and I kept the girls home for 2 days because started learning more and more about these buggers! Literally!! Then we went back to school were good for about a week and low and behold here comes the notice “Head Lice has need found in your child’s class ” great I thought and said a prayer to st. Michael and the holy mother but to no avail the next day Tuesday who rings thru on the phone but the nurse…” Hi, Doreen, I am sure. You don’t want to hear from me but I have bad news yeah Emily has lice, I found a live one on her. Well, this is the last straw! I did their hair, beds, sheets, blankets, sprayed mattresses and floor in their room . Threw any other crap on the floor into a garbage beg ! And put it on the back deck…yesterday when I picked her and her sister up from school since she was flaking off castings I guess , after.. Getting their hair cut from below their coksick bone up to tHeir chins, their choice 2 weeks ago! Asked for the principle to call me and when she did reamed her a new one when I found out tHat they don’t spray their rooms or do anything different for a classroom with lice found than without! This presents, am problem I tell her firmly since I am going thru hell just to send my daughter back to sit down in a classroom at her desk that hasn’t been cleaned since they live for 48 hrs….or they play musical chairs and sits at the other kids chair, or sit down on the rug or play with the stuffed animals if they stay in for recess….she assured me that the janitor cleans the rooms with lice especially well, and they can’t spray the pesticides because of school policies. I told her there were other natural things you can do so that is why I come to say THANK YOU for all of this great ! Information! Now I have even more ammo when I go to the Board of Education since that will be the next stop! So they can see that Lysol does not kill them, they can hold their breath for 3 hrs., that Listerine or Apple vinegar can be used to kill ! And the oils that can be mixed that will smother. Them to death!! Okay all thank you so much for letting me rant. And if you stuck with me. Till the ejnd thanks for reading!!
Neem oil for head lice?
Whether neem shampoo is a home remedy for head lice is a popular question.
Head lice are such persistent little pests, and the usual chemical head lice shampoos are rather nasty.
Do you really want to wash your hair with insecticide? Some over the counter and prescription remedies are so toxic that you can only use them once every ten days.
And as if that wasn’t bad enough, head lice are also resistant to many of the commonly used chemicals! Most people find that out the hard way…
Wouldn’t it be great if there was an effective, natural home remedy for head lice? If you could just wash your hair with a nice neem shampoo and that’s it? All fixed?
It is common wisdom that neem oil shampoo prevents head lice. Head lice, like all insects, hate the smell of neem oil, and even the slightest hint of neem keeps head lice away.
But can neem shampoo get rid of an existing head lice infestation? That’s a different question. Most people think it can’t.
The recommendation is to use undiluted neem oil for head lice. Yep, a head lice infestation is the only condition where the use of undiluted neem oil is recommended. A very messy and smelly operation… (Although, no matter how smelly, a natural remedy for head lice is still much preferable to the nasty chemicals you would otherwise need.)
But now there is some good news. In January 2007 Egyptian researchers published the very promising results of a small clinical trial of a head lice remedy:
Sixty children, all heavily infested with head lice, were treated with neem shampoo. The study showed that if the hair is washed with 20 – 30 ml of neem shampoo, and the shampoo is left in the hair for at least 10 minutes, then neem shampoo is highly effective against all stages of head lice.
The head lice shampoo used in the trial contained neem seed extract. If a neem shampoo is to be effective against head lice it should contain neem seed oil or neem seed extract at a fairly high concentration.
Many neem shampoos contain neem leaf or bark extracts, and often they don’t contain all that much. Do not misinterpret that head lice home remedy study. It does not mean that ANY neem shampoo will totally clean up a head lice infestation just like that. But it is a promising trial.
Even if the neem shampoo didn’t kill the head lice eggs, it shouldn’t matter. Such a natural, herbal head lice shampoo can be used daily. Any remaining eggs that the nit comb missed would be dealt with as soon as they hatch. Using the neem shampoo would also prevent reinfestation via contaminated clothing, bedding etc.
This trial followed a 2006 laboratory experiment on Australian head lice. The results were the same. The neem oil shampoo was highly effective against head lice, more effective than a conventional head lice treatment containing permethrin (a common pesticide).
Want to give it a go and treat head lice at home naturally? Here are some related pages:
Neem Home Remedies For Head Lice
About Neem Shampoo
Making Neem Shampoo
can someone please tell me a ggod thing to use on my daughters head for lice. I have used the lice treatment several times and I have mixed kerosene with shampoo and i check her hair every night and she seems to still have it. i have had about enough of it. where can i get the tree oil shampoo?. i believe shes catching it from school but i would like to put something on her head to prevent her from getting it back
Olive oil and coconut oil are very good to use. Cover hair for 4 hrs to smoother the critters then shampoo and comb out with a good nit comb. Then use coconut conditioner every 2-3 days and comb comb comb. You can also buy essential oil and add shampoo. here is a good mix:
According to Mama Herb, “Mix your shampoo with 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil and 1 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil. Apply this combination into the hair. Wear a tight-fitting shower cap. Wash off after an hour.” If the skin has been irritated by the bites, add 2 drops of chamomile to the mix to soothe the skin. The combination of tea tree and eucalyptus oil is thought to either suffocate the lice, or numb them sufficiently to make them easy to comb out.
tea tree oil
olive oil
coconut oil
peppermint oil
lavender oil
cinnamon leaf oil
eucalyptus oil
chamomile oil to sooth scalp
another oil is neem they do not like the smell at all
HELP !!! My daughters hair is full of lices big and small since 2 years , lot of methods but none is working to finally remove the eggs , is there anything to kill the eggs once and for all so that they can’t grow to become lices and give eggs again
Thanks so much for all the helpful information on this website. Not only do I find information on how to get rid of lice, but also a lot of kindness and compassion. Thank you all.
I’ve been dealing with lice since last summer its getting very frustrating. I can’t seem too get rid of it on my 3 year old son and myself. I’ve tryed everything from permetherin cream and mayonnaise and olive oil. I don’t know what else too do.
As a child I was always a magnet for lice. Now I have two teens & one of them is a magnet, and low & behold I am still too.
In the past 12 months we’ve had them 5 times. Yes, 5. So far I’ve done the following:
Nix – didn’t kill them or help with the eggs.
Coconut oil overnight soak worn tea tree and acv rinse.
I have the terminator comb which works magically. I thought that I finally found the combo to kill them. Now, we have them for the 5th time. I’m convinced that getting lice so easily has to do something with our blood. For example, I’ve never been bit by a mosquito, yet lice love me (I also have 1 kidney, so I think that has something to do with it). I’m O+ and so is my kid that keeps bringing home lice. The other kid has a different blood type.
I’ve now purchased fairy tales line of lice supplies and we’re using that. Friday I did out hair. Lots of dead bugs & I meticulously went through every strand of hair & removed nits.
Saturday I did the lice good-bye again, a few more dead bugs & nits. Skipped Sunday.
Today I went through her hair again and pulled out another 5-7 bugs and more nits. I don’t understand how this is happening! I am OCD when it comes to come through, yet, they’re still there.
My home is clean (I truly am OCD), linens washed. No reused towels & I used diatomaceous earth in my home and on the bedding. What gives? I hate the fact that kids can go to school with nits. The APA has stated that nits don’t matter because they’re not mature. But if a child attends school with nits during the day, by end of school day they can be hatched.
If anyone has any suggestions I’m more than willing to try. This time we’re also both on a round of antibiotics (which makes me cringe) but with the amount of times we’ve got lice I feel like I have no choice. I’m about ready to call the doctor for Rx shampoo, but I know brags just going to cause dread on our hair & I really don’t want our scalp soaking it up & getting into our system.
I don’t have kids but I do have a sister who is notorious for dropping her kids off to spend time with me and it never fails I get a phone call from her anywhere from a few hours later to days later saying “I think the kids have lice can you check them? And if they do treat them.”
She of course helps in any way including treating her home, so even couple weeks I was fighting lice. They seemed to love me and one of my neice the most. I think there may be something to them liking o+ blood. So this lead me to 2 tried and true methods that have worked wonders.
Method 1 is kind of costly depending on the length and thickness of hair, so I only use it when I need a quick fix. LiceMD it is about $10 for a 4 oz bottle at Walmart. It is pesticide free and non-toxic. It is Dimethicone, which is what silly putty is made from. Put it on dry hair, put on a shower cap, and it says wait 10 minutes but I am a bit into over kill and leave it on for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Comb hair, bugs and nits fall out, as I was combing I found them dead on my hand. (Then do follow up treatment that will follow the second method. )
Method 2 is Denorex it is about $8 to $10 for a 10 oz bottle at Walmart. My uncle from France recommend it for two reasons one is the lice and 2 is me and my neice have super sensitive scalps. The biggest key is to remember to shake the bottle before every use! Apply to dry hair, add shower cap, let sit for at least 5 minutes and if the kids can handle the tingling up to 10 minutes. Rinse hair, the bug can and do fall out. Do this for 6 to 10 days karats how long it takes eggs to hatch.
*Follow up use Denorex as regular shampoo once ore twice a week.
Clean house: 1 strip beds and furniture and spray them with alcohol, I use 91%, careful of the smell. After about an hour spray with vinegar, I use apple cider. After another hour spray with a mixture of alcohol and tea tree oil or clove oil (only ones I had on hand).
2 wash clothing and bedding. Put bedding and clothing in washer and douse with alcohol and either tea tree oil or clove oil. Then put them through a second wash with regular detergent. Dry on high for no less than 50 minutes (I dry for 60 minutes)
3 hard surfaces whip down with alcohol and vacuum the other furniture. Be sure to empty the vacuum in the dumpster outside, never in the house incase one survived.
4 Bag anything that can not be washed and put it somewhere away from everyone for 2 weeks, I put mine in the attic, freezes in the winter and burns in the summer.
Remember lice can not live for more than 48 hours without feeding and newly hatched have to feed within 24 hours or they die.
Hope this helps. I have been lice free even with out breaks for 4 years.
I think Lufenuron would work- prevents the bugs from making their shell of chitin. It’s what they use in dog and cat anti flea pills. Food grade is available on the internet. It works for at least a month which is longer than their life cycle.
put vinegar on hair for 10 to 15 mins and use a comb with teeth close together to comb through. to get rid of lices.