Home Remedies to get rid of Head Lice

It is common for children to have head lice. However, the problem is not always confined to children alone. Head lice are very small parasites that live on our hair shaft and scalp, feeding from the blood. Usually head lice are transferable from one infected person to another. Combing out can be the only way to get rid of them.  However, that can be a cumbersome task. Here are few home remedies through which you can get rid of head lice.

The usual way

The common and traditional way of removing head lice is using a nit comb. We have to admit that none other method is as effective as this one. This is because it is only through this method; we actually kill the head lice. In the other methods, we try to suffocate them using different ingredients and then get rid of them from our hair.

Methods of suffocation

There are several methods through which you can suffocate the head lice and get rid of them.

Almond Oil or Olive Oil

Both of these oils are effective to combat head lice. Coating your entire hair with almond or olive oil can help in killing the lice by suffocating them. You have to do this once in a week.

How to do:

Separate your hair into several small parts and coat your hair with the oil. You can also coat your comb with the oil and then do the combing. After that leave it for some time and rinse your hair with hot water. This will help in removing the excess oil from the scalp.

Essential Oils

Similar to almond and olive oils, Essential Oils can also be helpful. However, make sure to have a test with your child as it might be allergic. Some of the essential oils that can be used for this purpose are peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and neem oil.

How to do

You should not use essential oils alone. Mix 15-20 drops of essential oil to 50 ml of olive oil and use them on scalp. Let it sit for 12 hours and they comb your hair in the morning. Then shampoo it out thoroughly to get rid of head lice.

Vaseline

You can smother your hair with Vaseline to get rid of head lice. You can also use mayonnaise or any oil for this purpose. This could actually be a longer process; however the effects are worth it. Apply the Vaseline on your scalp and cover it with a shower cap for overnight. In the morning, shampoo your hair without water. Now take a basil leaf juice and apply it on your head. Once done, start combing your hair with a wide-tooth comb. Now use a nit comb and remove the lice as normal. After that, use shampoo again to rinse your hair well.

Neem oil

Since neem oil is a natural insecticide, it is effective in killing lice. You can buy a shampoo with neem oil or use the oil itself before shampooing.

Garlic

The head lice is quite repulsive to garlic odour and ultimately it suffocates it.

How to do

Garlic paste

Lemon juice,

Green tea,

Shampoo, conditioner

Any cooking oil

• Mix ask the ingredients together to form a thick paste.
• Coat the entire scalp with this paste.
• Cover it for around half an hour.
• Wash it off with shampoo.
• Use this method once a week for a month until you get the results.

Alternatively, you can also use another method with garlic.

• Grind 8-10 garlic cloves to form a paste.
• Mix few spoons of lime juice to it.
• Apply this mixture on your scalp.
• Leave it for half an hour and rinse well.

Apple cider vinegar

• Rinsing your hair with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water can loosen the lice from scalp.
• Then use coconut oil or Olive oil to suffocate them.
• Leave the oil for eight hours on the hair.
• Then wash it off with shampoo. You can also use nit comb to remove the lice before shampooing.
• You have to do it once a week until you get rid of all the head lice.

Getting rid of head lice can be a long process. You have to keep in mind to treat the entire family. Also maintain a good hair routine so that you get rid of head lice faster.