Both of my girls have always had long thick hair. They are also prone to head lice. After a long struggle with them, I searched online for a remedy. I found Neem Oil. It is an all-natural pesticide that is so safe you can use it on kids and pets. It is made from the seed of the Neem Tree. I ordered it and did a mix of 1/2 Neem and 1/2 olive oil ( or another carrier oil) put it on the hair, cover with shower cap and leave for 8-12 hrs. Then shampoo out. Not only does it kill the lice, it makes it easy to remove the eggs,(most come off in the wash. It also helps prevent re infestation for a short while. Mix the oil with water and dish soap and spray the beds and carpets.(you can find the exact measurements online) ONE Word of WARNING: It smells like old onions and garlic. But it works great and price is good if you look online. I bought an 8oz bottle 2 years ago and still have some!
When we were on our third round of lice in one school year, I came across this home remedy that works way better than any commercial pesticide made to treat lice.
1. Soak hair in the medicine flavor original Listerine (store brand works too). Cover with a shower cap and wait one hour. This step kills the lice. 2. Soak hair in apple cider vinegar. Cover with a shower cap and wait another hour. This step helps loosen the nits.
3. Wash as normal. During the conditioning step, use a large quantity of conditioner to cover the whole head. While conditioner is in pull the nit or flea comb through all parts of the hair (Nit comb around $10.00, flea comb $2.00 and they are the same thing pretty much). Make sure to rinse the comb each time you pull through the hair to wash away any lice or nits that came out in the comb. 4. Pick out as many nits as possible after you finish washing. One daughter it was easier to do when her hair was damp and the other was easier when her hair was dry.
Make sure to clean all areas of the house that may be in contact with the lice. Listerine can be put in a spritz bottle and used at least once a week as a preventative as well.
My grandparents and parents both have used kerosene to get rid of head lice it burns a little where they have bitten but it kills them quick and the oily residue smothers the eggs so they will not hatch.
I have heard rave reviews about the Mayo. When my daughter caught lice, we had to get a prescription from the dr. because over the counter stuff did not work. Our nurse called me when she was not on duty and told me to try mayo, but I had already used the toxic mix.
I've made lice killer from a heavy salt solution. Boil water and add as much salt as can be dissolved, until it's almost a paste. This is the same basic solution as is being sold with a perfume agent as a non-toxic head lice remedy.
I used to use alcohol myself on my kids but it burns them where the critters have been eating on their scalps. It does seems to make the nits easier to remove also for some reason. But wish I'd known about the mayo thing back then! Much more pleasant I'm sure. I use to hate to see the first of the school year roll around as I knew 1 or more of my kids would show up with them. Man, I can just think of these things and my head starts itching!
I worked at a large doctors office in college, and the nurses recommended mayo for the lice cases that didn't work with the Ridex stuff. Also, as a teacher, I was told to spray my hair heavily with hairspray, esp. by the neck area, when there was an outbreak. Worked for me!
You don't actually HAVE to use any chemicals or other products at all. All you have to do is pick the live lice and the eggs out. Of course, that is easier said than done. My daughter had them recently and it took me four hours the first day to pick through her hair. It was pretty awful.
I did use a special lice-killing shampoo after that initial four hours, but it was only because the live lice freaked me out (found 13 of them--shudder!) and I didn't want to find any more live ones. The shampoo only kills live ones, it doesn't "kill" eggs. You still have to pick every.single.egg/nit out. I checked her hair every day for about a week, finding a few more each time. Strange when you think you've got them all, but it's really hard to get them all the first or second time.
I went to checking once or twice a week until I didn't find any at all after awhile. A month perhaps? I never did find any more live or dead bugs, only the eggs and I'm not sure if that's because I used the shampoo or not. Probably not as it doesn't kill eggs. Or perhaps I missed a live one in the initial picking and the shampoo killed it and I washed it away with the shampoo.
Ugh. Hope I never have to deal with this again, but with three small daughters I can assume it's in my future.
hey, the best way to remove head lice is to soak hair (and scalp) in any perfume you may have lying around. you don't even have to pick 'em out! perfume kills all. my aunt insists on sending me cheap, horrible- smelling perfumes as presents, and they work absolutely fantastic :)
Make sure you use Tea Tree Oil. Also Olive Oil rubbed into it has been promoted by public health. Google the subject line and you will get lots.
Make sure what you use is safe for all ages of children, adults, etc. Some things can absorb into the skin, creating severe reactions. Besides using a product you must PICK OUT each nit in the hair. Get a fine comb and magnifying glass to help. Section off with clips as you go through the hair. Lice does not create disease, but it is uncomfortable to say the least and most schools won't allow the students return until all has been cleared and restreated several times. Some work places have rules as well for the wellness of the person and rest of employees.
Mayonnaise, Preferably a cheap home brand type mayo in the jar. Grab a good handful and smooth it over the kids hair, if they have long hair right to the ends. and pile on top of their head, pop on a shower cap and leave for as long as possible or overnight.
Next morning rinse hair with warm water and watch the little critters slide away. Leaves my daughters hair soft and silky, and also kills the eggs, run through with a nit comb and you are good to go. Added bonus it is also great for your hands and nails. Long live good old mayo.
I had a lice issue when I was a kid, and then started to use Mayonnaise. It suffocates the lice, but is pretty greasy. I eventually just got my hair cut really short, so they were easier to get and treat.
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Tip: Homemade Head Lice Remedy
Archived on 02/24/2009
To get rid of head lice, just buy a cheap bottle of mouth wash (the kind that contains alcohol). Saturate the hair with mouth wash and a good conditioner, put shower cap on and leave on for one hour. Rinse out and comb with lice comb, all the bugs should be dead. Kills the eggs too. Don't forget to wash all bedding, hats, coats, brushes, etc. and vacuum the house good. This should take care of the lice without costly and dangerous products. My daughter and niece got them. After using all of the other stuff (that didn't work), tried this and they were gone. We have not been bothered with them since. Good luck!
By Suzanne from Norfolk, VA
Answers:
RE: Homemade Head Lice Remedy
You can use apple smelling shampoo as a preventative. And keep your hair up in a hair tie if at all possible. (01/07/2009)
We used the soap Cetaphil (or generic brand). Coat hair thickly and let dry. Rinse out and use the lice comb. Repeat every 2-3 days until all signs of lice are gone (then do it once more just to make sure, LOL!). Gentle on your child's scalp and leaves hair soft. Worked much better than the harsh chemical products.
As Suzanne said, don't forget to also wash any linens, hats, coats, pillows, anything that may have come in contact with the infested person in HOT water and vacuum furniture. I did my daughter's bed linens daily. Oh and don't forget your car seat as well.(01/08/2009)
A low cost, green eco friendly, healthy natural way to deal with lice is to make a homemade liquid from soap berries, which grow on the China berry tree and have been used for thousands of years. They work very effectively. (01/09/2009)
