Lice are every parent’s nightmare! Your child comes home with a few lice that he got from his friends or cousins and before you have time to say “phew”, all the bedding is infested and so are the members of your family. And of course, it itches and you have to treat the whole household well (hair, sheets, clothing, pillow, sofa cover, comforter, etc.) to avoid their return and not infest other people. So, even though there are many natural remedies to get rid of lice, prevention is the best thing to do to avoid all this effort. Staying at summer camp or going back to school are times of risk, but also the most favorable times to adopt good anti-lice habits. Here are some grandmother’s tips to avoid head lice and prevent these parasites from entering the hair of your dear little ones!
1) Teach your child that you should never lend your belongings
Contrary to what many people believe, lice do not fly or jump. So only contact allows these critters to spread! So, if your child lends a rubber band to help out a friend or their hat, scarf or clothes for any reason, this increases the risk of infection.
2) Hair maintenance is a crucial point to avoid lice
For many parents, impeccable cleanliness is essential against lice. However, they are not in no way attracted to dirt et much prefer nice, clean hair ! So, there is no need to wash them more than necessary. The good idea is simply to tie your hair properly to prevent them from being able to hang on easily. Another technique to reduce the risks: a short cut, because short hair is less easy to reach. On the contrary, long hair is generally more attractive to lice! Finally, when the school reports lice infestations, take care toinspect your children’s hair to spot the first signs and deal with the problem quickly. In case of itching or if you see a parasite, you will need to start an anti-lice and nit treatment as quickly as possible (lotions, shampoos, balms, etc.).
3) To avoid lice, opt for willow bark
For a shampoo with repellent effects, turn to the willow bark products that will help your child slip through the cracks in the event of an outbreak at school. In addition, you can make a hair mask based on toulocouna oil. It is also a good, very effective repellent against these little unwanted creatures.
4) Repellent essential oils
Certain essential oils can have a small anti-lice repellent effect: fine lavender, lavender, lemon, oregano, fragrant geranium… You can apply a few pure drops on clothes (hats, scarves, caps, elastics, collars, etc.). Otherwise, they can be diluted in vegetable oil behind the ear and on the back of the neck. It is also possible to add two drops in shampoo being careful not to get product in your eyes. To make a repellent spray, use a dispersant to dilute around twenty drops of essential oil in 250 ml of water. In any case, be careful with the famous lavender essential oil which is said to act as an endocrine disruptor in young boys!
What action plan for treatment against an infestation?
Are the lice already there? As for treatment, there are many natural products available to you. This can be vegetable oils like coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, etc. Quickly follow this link to discover a remedy that suits you to pair with a lice comb (special fine comb). In addition, ban the hairdryer, because the lice love the heat which promotes their development. Also, prohibit business loans or sharing to avoid contamination of the whole family. For example, make sure everyone has a brush and hair accessories personal. Boil brushes and combs in water and freeze cuddly toys and infested objects for eight hours. Furthermore, lock sheets, clothes, pillows for 10 days in a plastic bag then wash the laundry at 60° minimum. For everything else (armchairs, car headrests, etc.), think about the vacuum cleaner!