It really is possible to get rid of head lice & nits fast naturally and easily.
Which is great news because :
- Lice shampoos often don’t work & nits are back before you know it.
- Too many natural head lice remedies are crazily complicated!!
The natural remedies for lice in this guide are all very simple and will not only get rid of lice fast naturally but also prevent them taking hold again.
The lice remedies are also all based on stuff in your cupboards so you can act fast without rushing out to spend a small fortune on lice sprays & shampoos you just don’t need!!
I do hope this guide helps. Let me know what works best for you.
Contents
I’m going to start with a quick guide to why lice shampoos don’t work.
But if you just want to act fast, jump to my step-by-step instructions on how to Get Rid of Lice Fast Naturally.
I will then also cover :
Problems With OTC Head Lice Treatments & Shampoos
Expensive OTC head lice shampoos promise to get rid of head lice fast.
In my experience they don’t and can in fact cause more scalp itching and irritation than the actual lice!!
It is a pretty common experience.
Research suggests the effectiveness of permethrin based lice shampoos fell to 20-30% as lice grew resistant.
New lice shampoos are now on offer but as a parent it is impossible to understand what they contain.
A lice shampoo like Nix, for example, contains over 28 ingredients. Whilst Lyclear contains “Osmolone” an unspecified “hypertonic complex”.
The majority of OTC lice shampoos come – if you look carefully – with warnings of side effects including :
“Eye irritation, itching and irritation around the eyes, flaking of the scalp, contact irritation and redness of the scalp, ears or neck”.
Natural lice shampoos are available. But they are seriously expensive.
And I found we could actually get rid of head lice fast naturally with just a few cups of oil from my kitchen cupboard PLUS a nit comb!!
This quick, cheap DIY lice treatment also improved scalp & hair health.
For me, it is now a no brainer.
I never buy OTC lice shampoos and just use these simple steps to get rid of head lice fast naturally.
Simple Steps To Get Rid Of Head Lice Fast Naturally
There are 5 key steps to getting rid of head lice fast naturally :
- Comb out lice & nits with oil
- Apply 1st overnight treatment
- Shampoo out in morning
- 5 minute daily comb through
- 2nd treatment & shampoo.
Follow these steps on how to get rid of head lice naturally as soon as :
- You spot any lice or nits
- School or friends report nits
- Anyone has a sudden itchy scalp.
Gather up this stuff you’ll need and get started. It will take 20-30 minutes per child – all head lice remedies do.
You needn’t wait until evening but your kid’s head will be covered in oil until morning so take a call on it!!
If you have had a persistently itchy scalp check out these itchy scalp remedies & treatments as well.
What You Need To Get Rid Of Head Lice & Nits Naturally
To get rid of head lice you will need :
- A nit or other fine tooth comb
- Any of these combing oils
- These essential oils (optional)
- Cling film or a shower cap
- An old towel
- 5-10 hair bands for long hair.
As with so many home remedies it is best to act fast with what you’ve got.
Combing Out Head Lice
Step 1 to get rid of head lice is simply to comb out lice, eggs & nits with oil.
You can add essential oils.
The oil suffocates the lice and also detaches lice and eggs from hair :
- Brush hair well to detangle
- Half fill bowl with cool water
- Take first small section of hair from lower on scalp next to face
- Put a blob of oil on it
- Comb through close to scalp
- Inspect & rinse comb each time to spot and remove lice & nits
- Comb section 4 or 5 times
- Repeat for section of hair above
- Progress through all sections of hair as systematically as you can.
In just 20 minutes I have cleared horrifying numbers of lice this way!!
But one top tip – it is horribly dull for your kids so put on an audio book.
I find it easier with longer hair to separate the sections into plaits :
- Do 5 plaits with upper scalp hair
- Then 4 plaits with neck line hair
- Leaving 1 loose section by face
- Comb this loose section first
- Then undo plait above & comb
- Then plait both sections together so they are out of the way
- Move onto next lower plait etc.
Next step is the overnight treatment.
Overnight Lice Treatment
Step 2 to get rid of head lice is just:
- Take a big dollop of oil
- Comb it all through hair
- Make sure neck line gets plenty
- Cover hair in cling film or bath cap
- Leave in overnight
- Using old towel to protect pillows.
The oil suffocates remaining lice, relieves itchy scalps and deep treats hair so its harder for new lice to attach themselves and their eggs.
Shampoo Out Treatment
In the morning wash hair thoroughly.
You can use your regular shampoo or if you have an assortment in the bathroom see if you’ve got one of these best shampoos for head lice.
You can add a few drops of these lice killing essential oils to shampoo.
A tiny drop of gentle dish or Castile soap will help clear heavier olive oil.
Blow dry hair well making sure you direct heat at the nape of neck.
We’ve now done the bulk of the work, the next step is nice and quick.
Daily Comb Throughs
Step 4 is simply :
- Spend 5 minutes once a day
- Wet combing hair sections
- To clear any errant lice & eggs.
Quick wet combing daily is doable and really does break the nit cycle.
Stick to it!!
Follow Up Overnight Treatment After 7 Days
The last step in getting rid of lice is the day 7 follow up treatment. It is absolutely essential with both OTC shampoos and natural remedies.
As any missed eggs will now hatch.
If you have time, go back to step 1 and re-comb sections but if you don’t, do repeat step 2 & 3.
I then follow up with super quick wet comb throughs for 7 more days.
Now we have cleared the nits let’s learn how to prevent them returning.
How Do You Prevent Head Lice Returning Naturally
Lice have a habit of coming back.
That can be due to skipping the 2nd treatment or lice resistant shampoo.
But usually another kid at school shared them just as we got clear!!
And that is the problem : everywhere there are kids, there are head lice.
So we need a really simple doable routine to prevent them taking hold. These are the 8 highest impact ways to stop head lice coming back :
- Quick Weekly Wet Comb
- Lice Repellent Shampoo
- Plaits For School
- Don’t Share Brushes & Combs
- Don’t Share Head Gear
- Wash Hair Less
- Eat Less Sugar!!
- Monthly – Or So – Scalp Treatment
Quick Weekly Wet Comb
A quick weekly wet comb before hair wash keeps on top of lice and eggs before they get established.
Most weeks you won’t see a thing.
But those few minutes are time well spent to prevent lice coming back.
If you can’t keep it up all year, focus on August to October and January.
Lice Repellent Shampoo
Switching the family to the best natural shampoos for lice can help.
These shampoos are all great for scalp health and will also treat dandruff and dry itchy scalps.
Plaits For School
It is lovely to have long hair loose but do plait it everyday for school. It cuts contact with other kids’ hair.
Wash Hair Less
We might think frequent hair washing prevents lice. It doesn’t!!
It actually damages our scalp and many of us suffer with dandruff and dry itchy scalps plus horribly dried out frizzy hair from over washing.
It is easier for eggs to hide from treatment in a damaged scalp.
Eat Less Sugar!!
Surprising as it seems sugar can be behind repeat lice problems.
Excess sugar is a big trigger for psoriasis, itchy scalps & dandruff.
Horribly eggs get lodged in crusty damaged scalp & are hard to clear.
Try to cut sugar between meals.
Don’t Share Brushes & Combs
I’m all for sharing – less clutter!! – but everyone needs their own brush.
And train your kids up to know we just don’t share brushes and combs.
Don’t Share Head Gear
Also try to avoid sharing hats, caps, helmets, headbands, hoodies etc.
Or any other head gear at all a little lice or nit might be hiding on!!
Monthly Scalp Treatment
Simple natural oils like coconut are amazing for scalp health. A quick scalp massage and deep condition for 30 minutes every month or so keeps on top of hair lice and nits.
Best Oils For Head Lice
You can use just about any food safe oil you have in your home to get rid of head lice fast naturally.
But if you have a choice these are the best oils for wet combing head lice and overnight treatments :
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Sunflower oil
- Grape seed oil
- Almond oil
- Anise oil
- Castor oil.
The oil kills head lice by suffocation and dislodges pesky eggs & nits.
You need up to 2 cups / 450 ml so don’t use a super pricey oil. But even organic olive & coconut is cheaper than OTC head lice shampoos!
My fave choice is coconut oil as it is :
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-bacterial
- Anti-inflammatory
- Smells lovely
- Washes out easier than other oils.
I stock it for all sorts of quick DIY home remedies including :
- Sore throats
- Sunburn
- Athlete’s foot
- Pinworms
- And even constipation!!!
Essential Oils For Head Lice
Essential oils can be added to other natural head lice remedies to increase effectiveness.
The best essential oils for lice are:
- Tea tree
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Eucalyptus.
You can add drops of an essential oil to your comb through oil, overnight treatment and lice shampoo but carefully follow product guide.
I am not a big fan of essential oils. We don’t need them for most quick home remedies but I do stock Tea Tree Oil as it is useful for :
The Best Natural Shampoos For Head Lice
We don’t need medicated shampoo to get rid of or prevent head lice.
In fact over use of harsh and medicated shampoos make it harder for our scalp to look after itself and easier for lice to take hold.
So the best shampoos for head lice are gentle, scalp friendly products made with fragrances lice avoid :
- Coconut
- Tea tree
- Lavender
- Peppermint
As there is evidence tea tree oil kills lice you could also add it – following product guidelines – to shampoo.
And there you go, a big guide to getting rid of head lice fast naturally plus simple practical tips on preventing them coming back.
Do let me know how you get on.
For more quick home remedies for common family ailments check out these posts :
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Original image sources : Torrey Wiley & Greg Westfall
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