5 Natural But Effective Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Head Lice

[LoShiNi]

Six to 12 million children in the United States get head lice each year, and hundreds of parents try to do everything possible to get rid of them. Prescription insecticides are effective, but they can be toxic. At the same time, experts say that lice have become resistant to the over-the-counter treatment.

So, what can we do to solve this problem effectively? Luckily, there are several natural and useful methods to eliminate the lice. In addition, they are more preferable than harsh chemicals on your kid’s head.

First of all, don’t panic. Sure, they are gross, but lice can’t cause any harm to health. Secondly, you need to combine different types of treatment, because their eggs may survive treatments that kill the adult ones.


1. Combing and nitpicking

This is a classical method to get rid of lice, and you may do this in combination with other treatments. Just comb hair section by section, using a special comb. This measure will help you remove not only lice but nits too.



2. Pyrethrum

Сhoose over-the-counter products with pyrethrum — an active ingredient, derived from chrysanthemum flowers. This natural insecticide works well for adult lice. However, in some cases, the insects have become resistant to pyrethrum, so it can be ineffective. Doctors advise to repeat the application for the second time within 10 days to make sure that all live bugs are killed. You also have to comb to remove nits after applying pyrethrum.


3. Olive oil

This treatment may be found in almost every kitchen, which makes it one of the simplest remedies against lice. Olive oil is a great smothering agent that can be used to kill these bugs. Lice die when the ooze plugs their breathing holes. Olive oil should be applied overnight under a shower cap to make sure that lice don’t survive. It’s also necessary to comb nits, but olive oil will make the process easier.

4. Hair dryer

Experience has shown that hot air may be very effective in this battle, especially if we are talking about nits. A blow dryer using direct heat kills nearly 98 % of nits and 55 % of adult lice. Be aware that it is dangerous to use hot air after applying chemical remedies. Some of anti-lice treatments include flammable ingredients.

READ ALSO: 10 Natural Spider Repellents That Will Help To Keep The Home Spider-Free!

5. Mayonnaise

Well, it sounds weird, but this popular sauce may be a helpful tool against lice too. It works just like olive oil: The substance fills the breathing holes, so bugs can’t breathe. We get conflicting reports on the success of the mayonnaise method, but it works. You should apply full-fat mayonnaise overnight under a shower cap. Repeat seven or 10 days later for the better result.