Head Lice Treatment and Prevention

Head lice is the bane of every parent with school age children. It's not necessary to shave your child's head or spend hundreds of dollars on over-the-counter lice treatments. You can use items already in your home for head lice treatment and prevention.

Head Lice Treatment: Tea Tree and Olive Oil

Mix equal parts tea tree and olive oil, thoroughly wet hair and rub into scalp. Leave on for 30 minutes to an hour. Wash hair with shampoo, then rinse hair using vinegar. Comb out small sections of hair with a metal lice comb to get rid of the lice and nits.

Another treatment is to wet hair completely with olive oil, put a plastic bag or shower cap over hair and leave it on overnight. Wash hair with shampoo and rinse with vinegar. Wait 5 minutes, then rinse hair with warm water. Comb sections of hair until it is free of dead lice and nits.

Add 10-15 drops of tea tree oil to your bottle of regular shampoo to prevent lice re-infestation.

Head Lice Treatment: Coconut Shampoo

Buy a bottle of Suave Tropical Coconut shampoo. Using this shampoo will kill the lice and prevent re-infestation.

Apply the shampoo to dry hair, then use a lice comb. Rinse comb under hot water and wipe it off on a paper towel before combing the next section.

Once hair has been completely combed out, rinse shampoo out and dry hair. Rinse hair with vinegar, wrap in a towel and wait for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water, and then wash hair with shampoo to get rid of the vinegar smell.

Head Lice Treatment: Dog Flea Shampoo

This is a very effective head lice treatment. Wash you child's hair with dog flea shampoo. Use a lice comb on hair to get rid of dead lice and nits.

Head Lice Treatment: Mayonnaise

Take a jar of mayonnaise, apply to hair being sure to cover all hair and massage into the scalp. Wrap hair in plastic and wait for 2-3 hours. Wash hair with shampoo and comb well. Repeat treatment again in 4-7 days if needed.

Head Lice Treatment: Listerine

Use the original Listerine mouthwash. Wet hair completely and leave it on overnight. In the morning, rinse hair with cold water only. You can also wet hair with the Listerine and leave on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing hair with water.

Head Lice Prevention Tips

- Sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax on your carpet and on furniture. Use a small brush to rub it into the carpet. In 48 hours vacuum carpets and couch. It kills fleas and lice quickly.

- After vacuuming, dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag by putting it in a garbage bag, sealing it and putting it in a trash can outside.

- Wash all bed sheets, towels, and clothing in hot water. Dry all items using high heat. For pillows and other items you can't wash, put them in plastic bags, push all the air out and seal. Leave them in the bags for about two weeks to suffocate and kill lice.

- Comb hair everyday with a metal lice comb for at least two weeks after head lice treatment. It is best to do this with wet hair as the lice and nits are easier to see.

- Tell your children not to share hats, combs or other personal items.

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