Stop lice and nits! These little creatures sometimes settle on our scalp and cause particularly annoying itching and irritation. If they pose no danger to health, they should be combatted when they appear, in particular to prevent them from being transmitted to other people. So avoid lending your hats and other brushes! In fact, lice do not jump: contamination occurs by contact! Here are 5 natural remedies that will help you get rid of lice effortlessly and for good.
And above all, remember to treat your little ones’ clothes, bedding and comfort toys. Otherwise, these natural solutions will have been of no use…
1. Mayonnaise shampoo, one of the easiest lice remedies
Massage your scalp with mayonnaise (homemade is even better!). Above all, think about put a generous dose behind the ears and on the back of the neck. Head lice love to hide there! Then leave for 2 hours. Finally, shampoo and comb your hair to remove all the lice and nits that have colonized your scalp. And what’s more, dry hair loves this broke grandma treatment. Indeed, in addition to killing lice and making them easy to peel off, it nourishes the hair!
2. Onion juice shampoo
If you don’t have mayonnaise, you can use onions. Their juice contains sulfur to eliminate lice. To do this, you can cut several onions into very small pieces then press them in a colander to obtain the juice. Then massage your scalp with this juice, strand by strand, then leave for 3 hours before washing your hair. Repeat the operation one or two days to be sure of the results against this parasite.
3. An oil/vinegar mixture
In a bowl, mix as much vegetable oil as cider vinegar. Then massage into still dry hair. Then cover them with a towel and leave for around twenty minutes. Comb the hair and then shampoo to get rid of the lice.
4. Olive oil and lavender
In a spray bottle, put olive oil and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Tea tree or lavandin essential oil can also be used. Spray on head then cover with a swimming cap or cling film. Leave on for 1 hour then finish with a fine comb and shampoo. You can also use coconut oil instead of olive oil. Most vegetable oils are perfect for getting rid of lice without chemicals. For example, neem oil is excellent. These fatty substances will suffocate them very effectively and essential oils have a repellent and treating effect at the same time.
5. Baking soda
Be careful to protect your eyes carefully. Place the baking soda all over your hair then massage for 5 to 10 minutes. Finish with comb and shampoo.
The infestation will be nothing more than a bad memory, all without expensive lice comb, bad-smelling lice lotion or ineffective anti-lice shampoo from the pharmacy.
In addition to the remedies: how to eliminate lice in your home (clothing, bedding, sofa, etc.)?
Eliminating lice from your home requires a methodical approach to treating both the infested people and their environment. We have just given you anti-lice tips and treatments to treat infested hair. Now here are the steps to follow to remove lice from clothing, bedding, sofa and other surfaces!
First, wash all clothes, sheets, pillowcases, towels, stuffed animals and other textiles that have come into contact with the infested person at a temperature of 60°C or more. If items cannot be washed on high heat, use a high heat dry cycle for at least 30 minutes. Items that cannot be washed or dried at high temperatures may also slip in an airtight plastic bag, then in the freezer for 48 hours. Indeed, extreme cold kills lice and nits. To remove lice from a hairbrush, soak it in hot water (60°C) for 10 minutes. You can also use rubbing alcohol or white vinegar to disinfect. Rinse well and let air dry before using again.
Then pass vacuuming mattresses, carpets and floors to remove hairs, nits and lice that may be present. Vacuum too on all upholstered furnitureincluding the sofa, armchairs and chairs with particular emphasis on seams and crevices. Remember to empty and clean the vacuum cleaner bag or tank after each use to avoid reinfestation. Moreover, use a steam cleaner if possiblebecause heat can kill lice and nits. If you don’t have one, you can rent one from a specialized site at a low price. This may help you out!
Finally, note that you can seal items that cannot be washed, vacuumed or frozen in an airtight plastic bag for two weeks. Lice cannot survive more than 48 hours without feeding, but nits can survive longer. Also regularly expose clothing and bedding to fresh air and sunlight, as lice and nits do not like dry, hot conditions.
What prevention for reinfestation?
Inform all family members and close contacts of the measures to take to prevent the spread of lice. Encourage the use of personal combs and brushes and avoid sharing hats, scarves, hair bands and clothing. This also applies outside. Indeed, once again, lice cannot neither jump nor fly. Limit the business exchanges or close contacts at school or during extracurricular outings is therefore essential.
At the same time, make sure to inspect family members’ hair regularlyeven after the lice have been eliminated, to quickly detect any new infestation. Certain essential oils such as tea tree, lavender or neem oil can be added to shampoo to help prevent lice. You can find other preventive tips against lice here.