Natural Remedies for Head Lice
June 1st, 2009 | 
Author: Are you the parent of a preschooler or an elementary school aged child? If you are, there will likely come a point in time when your child develops head lice. As frustrating as head lice can be, it is actually a common occurrence for most children between the ages of three to ten. This is because children are often close to each other during daycare or school.
When it comes to treating head lice, many parents head right on down to their local drug stores to stock up on lice killing supplies, such as head lice combs, lice killing shampoo, and other sprays. Unfortunately, some of these products may not only be ineffective for your child, but they may also put them at risk. Parents are always encouraged to avoid exposing their children to unnatural chemicals whenever possible. The good news, however, for parents of children with head lice is that there are a number of natural remedies and home remedies that can prove successful.
One remedy for head lice involves saturating the hair with vinegar. This approach is nice, as most individuals already have vinegar in their homes. Parents who have tried this way to kill and remove head lice recommend leaving the vinegar on the hair for at least an hour before washing it out. To prevent a mess, shower caps or other similar items can be placed over the hair. Of course, be careful doing so, as you do not want to use something, such as a plastic bag, that could endanger your child. It has been reported that vinegar will kill lice in as little as two or three days.
Tea tree oil is another natural and easy to way to kill head lice. There are some individuals who apply tea tree oil directly to the hair in small amounts; however, many parents recommend another approach. This approach involves placing about fifteen drops of tea tree oil in a bottle of shampoo. When doing so, it is best if the shampoo bottle is not completely full, as this allows the tea tree oil to spread evenly when shook. Tea tree oil, when combined with shampoo, should be used on a daily basis for at least five to seven days.
Mayonnaise can also be used to remove head lice. What is nice about this approach is that it should kill all types of head lice, including the eggs and adults. It is also nice, as all that you really have to do is walk right to your refrigerator. Mayonnaise should be applied to the hair and evenly spread. Many recommend leaving it in the hair for about an hours worth of time. As with applying vinegar to the hair, it is a good idea to cover the hair with a shower cap, just be sure to proceed with caution if you use a shopping bag or something else that can pose a risk of suffocation.
Another natural way to remove head lice is to physically do so. Although this approach is natural, it can be extremely frustrating and time consuming. What you will need is a comb, tweezers, and a flashlight. In fact, this approach should be taken even after you use tea tree oil, mayonnaise, or vinegar. These items will help to kill the lice in a child’s head, but you will still need to take steps to remove the dead lice and eggs from your child’s head. The best way to do so is with a comb or tweezers and when your child’s hair is still wet.
What is nice about using the above mentioned natural remedies for head lice is that they can be used even if you don’t have confirmation that you child has head lice. For example, if your notice a few specks on your child’s head that may resemble head lice, you can still use the above mentioned treatment options, without unnecessarily putting your child at risk or exposing them to many of the chemicals that are found in over-the-counter head lice medications.
Posted in Natural Remedies
June 16th, 2009 9:26 pm
I love that this is a natural remedy so I don’t have to worry about harming my children when treating lice. My two boys have brought home lice from school 2x in the past year.
June 17th, 2009 11:42 pm
I’ve heard about vinegar before. I teach kids gymnastics so i am really self conscious about lice since I am so close to their heads all the time. I am so paranoid so I apprecite the tips. I remember the stupid RID stuff when i was a kid… it smelt aweful.
June 19th, 2009 5:44 pm
i totally agree with you..vinegar is anyway good for hair as it also leaves the hair silky and shiny….well mayonnaise and tea tree oil are an add up to my info..cool tips and even easy to do..thank you!
June 22nd, 2009 4:12 pm
Great article and it reminds me so much of my home remedy book, but much more detail.
July 2nd, 2009 12:54 am
Nice tips. I’ve also heard that vaseline is good to kill lice. I can’t imagine trying to wash it out of a child’s hair though!
July 3rd, 2009 6:37 am
Hi,
Yes,you are right.I used vinegar for this problems,got success also.one of mine medical adviser friend suggested me this remedies.
Thank You Very Much for sharing..
July 9th, 2009 10:30 am
Such a great idea not to put hazardous / dangerous chemicals of the head’s of our children! I tried Tea Tree Oil once, but what really got rid of them for me was a French herbal spray that I got in the pharmacy in France. I couldn’t read the ingredients, but it worked like a treat! So there are some good treatments out there.
July 13th, 2009 9:55 am
I have heard of this, but also am aware that headlice have mutated soemwhat to become un affected by modern day chemical remedies. interesting though!
July 21st, 2009 3:50 pm
I love this article. My son had lice and I didnt know what to do about it. I see lots of other kids with itchy heads and make sure my kid stays away from them. Head lice is a pain!
July 22nd, 2009 4:37 pm
Very good advice above, used the tea tree oil and shampoo and it worked a treat. Thanks
July 29th, 2009 8:03 pm
This was a great help for my head lice thankyou
July 30th, 2009 8:04 am
I am seriously amazed that Mayonnaise can remove head lice! It is sometimes hard to know as a parent if you should be using some of the chemical brands that are out there at the moment. I like the idea of a natural cure if they are effective!
August 7th, 2009 7:13 pm
[...] Natural Remedies for Head Lice [...]
September 7th, 2009 3:47 pm
realy nice text with the eiweiß, wieviel ist guat !!
September 13th, 2009 1:49 pm
It’s worked! I’m finally get rid of these troublesome little things! Thanks a lot
September 15th, 2009 9:35 pm
Theres another good reason to use the mayonaise approach. It is an old home remedy for giving your hair a richer healthier look and feel. Add mayonaisse to your hair and rub in scalp and leave in 15 minutes, then rinse completely out.
This was a very popular way to clean hair way back in the old days.
September 16th, 2009 12:25 pm
thanks for these great tips about head lice, will try em our on the kids and see what works best.
September 25th, 2009 9:07 pm
Funny you should mention the old mayonnaise / egg remedy. That was an old wives tale for ages but turns out to be one that is true. Not only helps make hair thick and stronger but also is good for dry scalp as well.
Excellent suggestions on head lice. Hopefully at our age, i hope we dont have to ever deal with those pesky bugs again.
October 19th, 2009 9:22 am
[...] Natural Remedies for Head Lice | Karen’s Free Health [...]
October 19th, 2009 5:17 pm
Thanks for the tips. I think I may have headlice. I have been scratching my head for a while. I clean it regular but it doesnt stop it. I understand they like clean heads, so i’m not too upset, but I need to sort it.
November 4th, 2009 9:28 pm
Thank you for posting this excellent advise regarding childrens head lice. What a nasty situation to have to deal with. As if the little ones arent antzy enough as it is, to add head lice to the equation can exasberate the most patient parents.
December 2nd, 2009 4:00 am
I am so close to their heads all the time. I am so paranoid so I appreciate the tips. I remember the stupid RID stuff when i was a kid… it smelt awful.
December 9th, 2009 1:14 am
While now there are even services to get your kids rid of head lice, I think natural way of doing things is the best and particularly vinegar technique seems apt.
March 2nd, 2010 10:35 am
Morning here
Vinegar are a good but smelly solution.
You should try lavander (lavande in french): powerfull and it smells good !
Cheers
March 30th, 2010 4:49 pm
My niece had head lice twice in the same year and the over the counter chemicals didn’t even seem to work that well. These natural alternatives sound much better. Not sure how she will handle the smell of vinegar or mayo on her head though…
April 26th, 2010 4:50 pm
I use to work on a inpatient psych unit for kids and we used vaseline, primarily to smother the lice and trap them from spreading throughout the unit to other patients. It was effective but very messy and difficult to get out of hair.
Thanks
Melissa
May 7th, 2010 6:30 am
I agree with you Karen lice can be killed quickly, easily, cheaply and safely with mayonnaise.
June 11th, 2010 2:53 pm
Thanks for this great information on head lice, my son has it right now and needing a cure I will try this out.
August 1st, 2010 5:39 pm
Thanks i like it ! Great post
August 7th, 2010 2:29 pm
Great article and it reminds me so much of my home remedy book, but much more detail.