Head lice do not cause any disease but they are very annoying and very humiliating and embarrassing when one scratches his/her head in public and someone tells you that there is a louse crawling down your neck.
Here are a few tips that will assist you in keeping your head lice free.
Natural Remedies For Head Lice
Lice Nit Comb
Invest in a good quality Lice comb. Buy separate for each of your family members. You will be using them for clearing the lice from head, no matter what method you use for killing the lice. These are very fine toothed comb made of plastic or metal for removal of lice.The plastic ones are preferred because the metal comb tends to cut the scalp. Comb your hair with this, starting from the scalp and ending at the tip of the hair. Rinse the comb in bowl of hot water after every time the comb leaves your hair. To have your head lice free repeat this process every day for a month.
Medicated Shampoo
Specially formulated shampoos for lice are available in the market. These shampoos are OTC product and do not need any prescription to buy them.Apply the delousing shampoo on hair and wait for 10 minutes. Rinse it with warm water. Comb your hair with very fine toothed comb. There will dead lice and nits on the comb. Repeat this process every alternate day for a month.
Herbal Lotions
Herbals oils are concocted together and sold in market as lice killing lotions. These are easily available in medical stores. Apply this to your head scalp and to your hair with your fingers. Make sure to apply it to every inch of your hair and scalp. Leave it for ten to fifteen minutes and wash your hair with your favorite shampoo. Repeat this once in a week.
Coconut Oil
This method is the most effective lice removal method without any use of chemicals and is totally safe, even on small children. Apply coconut oil in the hair in good quantity and leave overnight. In the morning, comb your hair with the lice-comb and wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Comb your hair again. Your hair is now free from lice and nits. Repeat this process again after a week.The fatty acid in the coconut oil stays in the hair even after washing; it suffocates the lice and prevents them from having a grip on the hair. It is advisable that you oil your hair with coconut oil once in a week.
To make this process even more potent, mix a teaspoon of camphor with 200ml of coconut oil and apply as mentioned above. The lice don’t have a chance to survive.
Petroleum Jelly
Smother your hair with petroleum jelly. Cover it with a shower cap and go to bed for the night. In the morning wash your hair with a shampoo. You will need a lot shampooing to get rid of the petroleum jelly from your hair.Like the coconut oil, the petroleum jelly suffocates the lice and prohibit it from having a grip. Comb your hair with the lice-comb to remove the carcass of lice.
Also Read
Home Remedies For Lice
Home Remedies For Growing Hair Faster
Home Remedies For Lice Removal
Home Remedies For Itchy Scalp
Vinegar
Vinegar is very good in removing lice. First shampoo your then apply vinegar to it. You can apply full strength or dilute it with 50% water. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse.The vinegar kills the lice and dissolves the nits. Comb your hair with lice-comb to remove the dead lice.
Mayonnaise
Douse your hair with mayonnaise. Cover it with a shower cap and leave it for the night. In the morning wash your hair with a shampoo and comb it thoroughly.. Like the coconut oil and petroleum jelly, mayonnaise suffocates the lice and prohibits it from moving around.
Rubbing Alcohol
Benzyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol is also very good in removing head lice. Apply directly to your head and cover it with a shower cap. Leave it for fifteen to twenty minutes. The fumes generated from the alcohol kills the lice. Make sure to comb your hair with the lice-comb. Do not use alcohol on children below 2 years of age. Alcohol also makes your very dry and brittle; use conditioner or olive oil to regain moisture.
Soak Head
Soak your hair and scalp in water for ten minutes daily and then comb it with the lice-comb to remove the dead lice. To make it more effective put few drops of Neem oil in the water.Make sure that you breathe normally, because if not, instead of the lice you may be dead. It is not recommend for small children as they might suffocate.
Your Bed
Lice cannot fly, but only crawl. You can only contact them when you come in close proximity of person carrying them. Bed and pillows are main source from where you can get lice. It is necessary that you pay attention to your bed and pillows. Vacuum clean your bed on regular basis. Wash your bed sheets and pillow covers in maximum hot water applicable for that material. Do not share bedding and pillows. Also ensure that the entire family members have their separate bed, bed sheets and pillow covers.
Your Cloths
All the cloths that are washable wash them in hot water. And the cloths that cannot be washed, get them dry cleaned. If dry cleaning is not possible then seal them loosely in a plastic bag with naphthalene balls and leave them in the sun for five to six hours. The strong odor of naphthalene and lack of air will suffocate the lice. Make sure that you do not share clothes.
Personal Belongings
Never share your personal belongings, such as, caps, hats, combs, hair brush, and hair ribbons. All the things that can be washed. Wash it in very hot water. The things that cannot be washed seal them in transparent plastic bags with naphthalene balls and leave it for six to eight hours.. Once you have treated them, make a point never to share them again.
Shave Your Head
If all other methods fail, you can always take this extreme step of shaving your head. With no natural habitat for them the lice will cease to exist. You will get rid of the lice and who knows you start a new craze.
