Home remedies for lice will prove to be very efficient as long as your respect the treatment instructions to the letter. It is crucial that you understand the main aspects of the life cycle of human head lice to be able to control and eliminate the infestation. You will be dealing with adult parasites, lice eggs (which are called nits), and immature lice (which are called nymphs) that may spring from the eggs before you get a chance to eliminate them.
To get the most out of your treatment with home remedies for lice, you will have to target all three development stages. Only when these have been eliminated will you be lice free. In this article, we will tell you about the most efficient home remedies for head lice and how to use them correctly so that you can get rid of these parasites naturally.
Try out these home remedies for lice to treat the infestation naturally.
1. Coconut Oil
According to the findings of medical study, the efficacy of the natural oil lice treatment is similar to that of insecticide-based pedicullicides. The aim of the natural oil method is to suffocate the lice. Coconut oil is one of the main home remedies for lice. It is extremely efficient and 100% natural. Furthermore, it has no side effects whatsoever, which makes it a strong alternative to permethrin-based remedies.
Instructions
- Apply the coconut oil from scalp to the tip of the hair.
- Apply the oil in generous quantities on the entire scalp area to efficiently cover the lice.
- Put on a shower cap over the entire lice infested area and make sure it stays in place.
- Check for any hair that may be coming out of the shower cap.
- Leave the coconut oil overnight (a minimum of 8 hours).
- Use a nit comb (see no.2 on our list) to remove the adult lice and some of the nits.
- Repeat the treatment at least three times at a five-day interval.
This is only the first step of the head lice treatment with home remedies. Complete the treatment to eliminate lice efficiently.
2. The Nit Comb
This is the most important tool you have at your disposal. You will use it to remove the dead lice from the hair after the natural oil treatment. You also need to know that the nit comb is the single most efficient way to get rid of nits. Lice place their eggs on the hair follicles and secure them into position with a glue-like substance. You will have to brush all the nits away from the hair to ensure that you do not have a new infestation.
Instructions
- Place the nit comb at the root of the hair.
- Brush slowly and thoroughly from scalp to the tip of the hair follicles to eliminate all the nits from the hair.
- Repeat for the entire scalp region to remove nits efficiently.
- Scan for any nits you may have missed. You must eliminate all of the eggs to prevent a re-infestation.
- Repeat the combing several times to ensure the complete elimination of the nits.
Use a nit comb after every natural oil application to remove adult lice. Then use it again to remove nits.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
This is one of the main home remedies for lice eggs. Apple cider vinegar is a strong degreasing agent and it will help you remove the nits from the hair follicles easier. Use the vinegar when you are looking to remove nits. Please note that this is not a remedy for adult lice. Its main use is to facilitate nit removal from the hair follicles.
Instructions
- Detangle hair by using a wide tooth comb.
- Apply the apple cider vinegar on the full surface of the hair.
- Leave the vinegar in for at least 5 minutes.
- Use the nit comb to brush hair thoroughly from scalp to tip.
- Brush the entire hair area to remove nits efficiently.
4. Melaleuca Oil
A recent medical study has found that melaleuca oil (or tea tree oil) is a very efficient treatment option for head lice. Cover hair from scalp to tips with a large amount of oil to suffocate the parasites. You will need to apply the oil at least three times to get the proper results. Then you will have to check for lice and nits and apply the natural oil again if you find any.
Instructions
- Apply the tea tree oil on the hair from the scalp to the tips of the hair.
- Detangle hair by using a large tooth detangling comb.
- Apply more melaleuca oil to ensure that all the hair is covered properly.
- Place a shower cap on the entire hair area.
- Leave the shower cap on for at least 8 hours.
- Remove the shower cap and use a nit comb to remove the dead lice and nits.
- Repeat the tea tree oil treatment at least three times every 5 days.
- Use a nit comb to remove nits between treatments.
If you do not see a significant improvement after the first natural oil application, you should seek medical help to contain the infestation.
5. Ylang Ylang Oil
Ylang ylang oil is one of the most efficient home remedies for lice. By covering up the hair with this natural oil and then placing a shower cap over the hair you will ensure that the lice are not able to breathe. Suffocating the lice is one of the main treatment options for pediculosis.
Instructions
- Apply 3 tablespoons of ylang ylang oil on the entire surface of the hair.
- Use a wide tooth detangling comb to smoothen the hair.
- Apply a generous amount of ylang ylang oil on the hair.
- Smear the oil from the scalp area up to the tip of the hair.
- Apply the shower cap and leave it on for at least 8 hours.
- Brush the hair thoroughly with a nit comb to eliminate dead lice and nits.
- Wash the linens, the pillow cases, and the towels that the infested person has slept on.
- Repeat the home remedy for head lice treatment at least three times with a 5-day interval.
If you see any adult lice or nits after the third oil application, you must repeat the treatment.
6. Lavender Oil
The study that reported the efficacy of melaleuca oil as a treatment option for lice also found that lavender oil is also a solid option. This is one of the most popular home remedies for lice because of its delightful scent. In fact, lavender oil can also be used in lice prevention because it acts as a powerful repellent.
Instructions
- Apply some lavender oil on the hair and use a wide-tooth comb to detangle the hair properly.
- Smear the lavender oil on the entire surface of the hair.
- Cover the hair with a shower cap and leave it on overnight (for at least 8 hours).
- Use a nit comb to remove adult parasites and eggs from the hair.
- Repeat at least three times to prevent a re-infestation.
7. Lime Juice
Lime juice is another strong degreasing agent that you can use to facilitate nit removal. In fact, it is one of the most efficient home remedies for lice eggs. However, it is important that you know that it will not affect the adult parasites. Its main use is to dissolve the glue that the lice use to secure their eggs onto the hair follicle.
Instructions
- Use the juice from 10 limes for the nit removal procedure.
- Detangle hair with a large tooth comb.
- Apply the lime juice onto the hair.
- Use the nit comb to remove the eggs from the hair.
- Repeat the procedure on a daily basis between natural oil applications.
8. Anise Oil
Anise oil is one of the key home remedies for lice. You can use it for the natural oil procedure to suffocate lice. Use the anise oil alone or mix it with other natural oils and cover the entire hair area. There are no known side effects to anise oil, so you can apply it as many times as you need.
Instructions
- Smear the anise oil onto the entire surface of the hair.
- Cover the hair area with a shower cap and leave it in overnight.
- Use a nit comb to remove the dead adult parasites and the eggs.
- Repeat the procedure for at least three times every 5 days.
9. Olive Oil
The olive oil you use for your salads is also one of the most efficient home remedies for lice. When you apply a large amount of olive oil onto the hair, the lice will be covered in it and they will not be able to breathe. The shower cap you put on afterward must be secured into place to minimize the amount of air that the lice have access to. You will not be able to remove the air inside the shower cap. As such, you cannot suffocate all the parasites in one application. This is why you need to repeat the procedure at least three times before you can eliminate all the adult parasites.
Instructions
- Apply a generous amount of olive oil onto the hair.
- Put on a shower cap and secure it into place.
- Leave the olive oil in for at least 8 hours.
- Remove the dead lice from the hair by using a nit comb.
- Apply olive oil again after five days.
- Repeat as many times as necessary to eliminate all adult parasites and eggs.
10. Essential Oil Mix
Using a mix of essential oils has actually been proved to have a higher efficacy in suffocating lice than one natural oil at the time. You can use any combination of the natural oils in our list of home remedies for lice and the results will be satisfactory.
Instructions
- Mix in the oils in a non-metal container.
- Apply the essential oil mix onto the hair to cover the full length of the hair.
- Put on the shower cap and secure it into place.
- Remove the shower cap after at least 8 hours.
- Use the nit comb to remove the dead parasites from the hair.
- Repeat the procedure until all the lice are gone.
Conclusion
To sum up, these home remedies for lice can help you eliminate the infestation naturally. Begin your treatment with the natural oil procedure as instructed above. Use the nit comb daily for the following five days and then repeat the oil procedure for as many times you need to successfully eliminate the lice. If these methods do not prove efficient from the first steps of the treatment, you should seek professional medical assistance.
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