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12 Natural Ways To Kill Head Lice (It’s Disgusting, But It Happens!)
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9. Coconut Oil
Like other oils, coconut oil will suffocate the adults while make it almost impossible for the eggs and nits to stay stuck to the hair shaft. Saturate your child’s dry hair and scalp with coconut oil. Put a shower cap on their head and leave on as long as possible (overnight if you can). Comb through your child’s hair using a lice comb, then shampoo as you normally would. Repeat every 3 to 6 days until you are certain that all the lice have been killed and removed.
10. Petroleum Jelly
This is another way to suffocate adults and manage the eggs and nits. Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly to the scalp and hair before bedtime. Cover with a shower cap and leave on overnight. Use a bit of baby oil to help remove the petroleum jelly. Then use a lice comb to remove the dead lice, eggs, and nits. Shampoo as you normally would. Repeat every other night until the lice problem has been resolved.
11. Tea Tree Oil
Many people find that this is one of the most effective methods of all, since tea tree oil is a natural insecticide. Mix 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil into 1 ounce of shampoo. Then add 3 tablespoons of coconut or olive oil. Rub this solution into the hair. Cover the hair with a shower cap and leave on for 30 to 60 minutes. Comb out the parasites using a lice comb, then shampoo as you normally would. Repeat every 6 days to ensure that you have killed all the lice. Never apply tea tree oil directly to the scalp, as it can burn or irritate the skin.
12. Blow Dryer
Lice like to be warm and comfy but not overly hot. After using any of the above methods, you can blow dry the hair, paying attention to the scalp, to try to kill off any nits, lice, or eggs that might have lived through the treatment or that might have been missed by the comb. This won’t take care of them by itself, but in addition to the other treatments, this is another powerful tool.
Extra Tips:
- Be sure to section off the hair while you comb it, especially if the hair is long. This ensures that none of the eggs or nits hide or get missed while combing
- Use white conditioners as it makes the eggs easier to see
- Be thorough when combing. This can be time consuming, but is worth the effort
- Lice cannot live long without a human host, so although you don’t have to wash everything in the house, be sure to wash towels, pillows, blankets, scarves, hats and bedding in hot water, and dry them in the dryer or in direct sunlight.
READ ALSO: Scratching Your Head but Not for Ideas? 12 Ways to Stop an Itchy Scalp
Prevention Tips:
- Spray the hair with hairspray before going to school or other places where your child might come into contact with lice. Apparently, lice don’t like hairspray and the eggs can’t stay stuck to the hair
- Add about 20 drops of tea tree oil to 8 ounces of your favorite shampoo. Regular use will kill any adult lice that your child might have picked up that day
- Wash hairbrushes and combs in very hot water with soap and tea tree oil. Dry them with a blow dryer or put them in direct sunlight
- Instruct your child to not bump heads or touch another child’s head
- Instruct your child to never share combs, brushes, hats, hair ties, or towels.
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