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Home Remedy for Head Lice

Let’s face it, head lice are pretty unpleasant and most people have suffered an infestation at some point or another. Commonly we have experienced the itching of their tiny legs on our scalp during out childhood. Children are more likely to get them, due to contact through play and being around lots of other kids at school or at the playground.

Despite being gross and a bit of nuisance, they are very common, pretty harmless and nothing to be ashamed about. So firstly, let’s clear up some common misconceptions about these little creatures.

Common Misconception Number 1

It is a widespread assumption that having head lice is connected to being unclean. This is far from the truth; in fact head lice prefer clean hair! Not hard to understand really, when they choose your head for their new home! Of course they are looking for a clean environment- wouldn’t you if you were a head louse? The practical reason for the little bugs is that their eggs stick better to clean hair, rather than oily hair- this of course allows them to have lots of little baby lice.

Common Misconception Number 2

It is mostly assumed that head lice spread from one head to another by close contact only. Guess what? Not true! They can also spread through the sharing of items, such as a hair brush, pillow, soft toy or hat.

Common Misconception Number 3

Ever wondered why having killed and combed all the head lice out, you are still itching and scratching within a week? Killing the lice will not solve the problem. This is because lice eggs hatch after about 7-10 days. If they are not removed you will be re-infested.

Remedies for Head Lice

There are many over the counter remedies that can be used to treat head lice, however, rather than reaching for the chemical option, you can choose home remedies that are just as effective! These can be found in your kitchen! Here are some suggestions:

1.)  Olive Oil and Vinegar

Yes, it’s true! Your ingredients for salad dressing can indeed get rid of head lice! Just rub in the olive oil into your hair and sleep on it. In the morning, wash the oil out, and follow by applying the vinegar (white wine vinegar does the job best). Leave the vinegar on for 5- 10 minutes. This may sting a bit, but hey- it’s worth it. Wash out the vinegar, and hey presto- the lice are dead. After this apply some hair conditioner to the hair and make sure to then use a metal nit comb. Run it thoroughly through the hair making sure all the eggs are gone (you will be able to tell when the comb comes out clean).

2.)  Mayonnaise

I know, this is normally what you put in a sandwich, but it works! Cover your hair in mayo (take a picture for a laugh) and then put a plastic bag on your head- this will help not to make too much mess. For this to work you need to leave it on for about an hour, and then apply heat to your head. You guessed it, blow hot air onto your head using a hair drier. After this wash the hair and apply conditioner. Again, remember to use a metal comb to remove any eggs.

3.)  Garlic

You are right, this sounds more like a recipe, but garlic contains powerful natural chemicals, which will kill the lice. Here is what to do. Make a paste from the garlic and add some lemon juice (this can be fresh or bought) apply to hair and leave overnight. Wash hair and run a metal comb through the hair until no eggs appear on it. For this to work, make sure you repeat the procedure over 4-5 days.

So if you or someone you know is itching and scratching, chances are the remedy will be in your kitchen. Remember, the little bugs can pick any head for their new home, so don’t worry- happy bug killing!

Author’s Note: The article ‘Home Remedy for Head Lice” has been written by ‘Iva Dragostinova’ who is an Outofstress.com expert author.  All rights reserved. If you want to reproduce this article in your ezine or blog, please contact “reprints@outofstress.com”