15 Best Home Remedies For Head Lice and Nits

Head lice feeds on your blood and leaves on scalp and hair shaft. Lice is parasite which requires a host for its survival. It spreads due to getting in touch with infected person. If you are having a sleepover with your itchy head friend then think again. Itchy scalp is very common symptom of head lice. When this parasite is present in your pubic area then it is known as pubic lice. These home remedies for lice will help you get rid of them quickly.

Where do lice come from? Sharing a contaminated comb can spread lice in family members. So always have your own comb and hair styling products. Sharing the pillow or bed which was occupied by infected person will spread lice into your head. Due to their fast reproduction, lice eggs are causing red bumps and itching of scalp.
There is head lice treatment medicines available which promises results in few days. Lice treatment can not be done overnight. The eggs are produced very quickly, resulting into wide-spread. How do you know you have lice? Some common symptoms are itching head and red bumps on scalp. If you are having both of this, then your head is filled with lice eggs.

What does lice look like

Parasites which leaves in your head can be of many type. Not everything crawling on your scalp is lice. Some times people confuse between bugs and head lice. They are similar but not the same. Bugs can spread through infestation of eggs through jungle safari. But lice spreads through physical contact or sharing contaminated material, such as towel, pillow, or same bed.
Consider head nits as domestic version and head bugs as wild version of parasite family. Lice nits are the eggs. They produce eggs in bundles. A single eggs bundle can produce large number of super lice. They suck your blood through scalp, due to this you get red small bumps.

Lice Treatment

Everyone wants to get rid of head lice quickly? and you might find over-the-counter medicines which promise to remove lice eggs overnight. The fact is they can’t, it requires regular treatment to whip them out. Homemade remedies are effective treatment for lice removal.
Some local medical shop sell, low concentrated rat position to kill nits. But it is very harmful for you scalp and can trigger baldness.

Lice Shampoo

So what about shampoos which claims to remove lice from your head. lice shampoos are effective but comes with a hefty price tag. They are effective in removing nits (eggs) but most of these shampoos struggle in cleaning them completely. If your scalp have nits then there is no use of it. Nits will turn into dozens of lice again once they are matured.
These commercial shampoos are good for people suffering from light infestation. Why most these shampoos are ineffective. Every living being become resistant to artificial chemical compound. Super lice which are big in size and they become resistant to over-the-counter medicines and shampoo.
Lice remedies which are processed with the help of natural products have no side-effects. Homemade remedies can treat lice and their eggs. It prevent them from recurring and promote healthy scalp and hair.

How To Get Rid Of Lice

Decades ago treating head lice with pesticides and shampoos produced result. Now a days they got resistance from pesticides. Graying of hair, hair fall, and scalp flaking are big side-effects of pesticides. So lets use some home remedies for lice removal which are good for scalp and hair.

15 Home Remedies For Head Lice and Nits

1. Tea Tree Oil

The antibacterial, anti-parasite, and insecticide properties of tea tree oil make it an effective home remedies for lice. Essential oils are part of healthy living. Due to their health benefits and fatty acids essential oils are always making our lives better.
You don’t have to pick lice and nits from hair anymore. Tea tree oil can flush them out with in matter of few days. It kill nits and prevent them from growing. You will feel instant effect like roaming head lice problem will be solved with in few days.
Process 1: Virgin Tea Tree Oil

• Wash your head and leave it to dry naturally.
• Apply tea tree oil directly on your scalp.
• Leave it for 1 hours then comb your hair.
• Use fine comb, so that even baby lice is also removed.

Process 2: Tea tree oil and aloe vera

• Take 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel.
• Add 20 drops of tea tree oil and mix them well.
• Apply thick layer of this herbal paste on your scalp.
• Warp a towel tightly on your head.
• Leave it for 1 to 2 hours.
• Wash your hairs with mild herbal shampoo and blow dry.
• Repeat this remedy 3 times a week for quick results.

2. Garlic For Lice Treatment

Garlic is potent antimicrobial. The smell of garlic have suffocating effect on parasites. Garlic can suffocate lice to death. The crawling will stop and nits will be washed away. It paralyses them and prevent them from laying eggs.
Garlic is used to treat armpit rash, acne and other skin ailments. The use of homemade garlic paste will also cure small red bumps on scalp caused but nits.

• Take 2 garlic cloves and crush them to make paste.
• Apply this paste on your entire scalp and lower hair shaft.
• Leave it for 2 hour and rinse with lukewarm water.
• Garlic paste will also reduce dandruff.
• Use this remedy daily for quick results.

3. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is another excellent natural treatment for head lice. It’s soothing properties will heal damaged scalp cells and reduce inflammation. The pungent smell of aloe vera works as lice repellent which kill them by suffocation.
It is a herb which promotes healthy skin and check parasite infestation. The strong smell repels bugs and microorganism.

• Take 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel.
• Apply them directly over your head.
• Keep it until it get dry.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and blow dry.
• Use this remedy alternative days.
• You can also mix 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.
• Keep this solution on your scalp overnight to get quick results.

4. Coconut Oil for Lice

Coconut essential oil is popular natural lice treatment. The anti-parasite and anti-inflammatory ability of coconut oil remove head nits from hair shaft, redness, itching and inflammation. It stops them from roaming and crawling on your scalp.

• Take 3 tablespoons of organic coconut oil.
• Apply heat for 2 to 3 minutes to warm the oil.
• Massage your head with this warm coconut oil.
• Leave it on your scalp for 2 hours.
• Take a fine comb and comb you hair to remove nits.
• Alternatively, mix 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil.
• Rubs your scalp and hair shaft with this solution.
• Use this remedy everyday until you get rid of super lice and their eggs.

5. Salt Solution

Salt gives desiccation result on parasite. It is best way to get rid of head lice and nits (eggs). The sodium solution kill them by extracting all moisture from them. It prevent them from spreading and moving around your head.

• Mix 1/4 cup of common salt with quarter cup of white vinegar.
• Apply this on damp hair and spread equally on your head.
• Leave it for around 1 to 2 hours.
• Rinse with water and blow dry.
• Use this remedy 3 times a week for quick results.

6. White Vinegar

White vinegar is one of the best natural ways to get rid of lice at home. The acetic acid in white vinegar works as lice repellent. It stops them from roaming around and kill nits.
After using white vinegar for nits removal, brush your hair with fine comb. It will extract them from scalp and hair shafts.
Process 1: White Vinegar Solution

• Mix 1 cup of water and 1 cup of white vinegar.
• Soak your hair and scalp with this solution.
• Keep it for 1 to 2 hours then comb your hair.
• Comb for until you have covered entire head.
• Wash your hair and blow dry.
• Repeat this remedy until signs goes away.

Process 2: White vinegar and Tea tree oil

• Take quarter cup of white vinegar.
• Add 15 drops of tea tree oil and mix it well.
• Apply this on your head and cover it with shower cap.
• Leave it for 2 hours then rinse with water.
• Do this 3 times a week to kill nits.

7. Olive Oil Treatment

Olive oil will kill lice and their eggs. It is an inexpensive home remedy which can treat itching and swelling. Parasite infestation leads to dandruff which can cause hair fall. Olive oil is vitamin E rich essential oil, which promote hair growth and reduce hair fall.
Process 1: Virgin Olive Oil

• Apply thick layer of olive oil your head.
• Take a fine comb and brush your hairs inside out.
• Comb for 10 minutes then wash your hairs.
• Repeat this daily until you get rid of head super nits.

Process 2: Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Coconut oil

• Take 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
• Add 1 tablespoon of organic coconut oil.
• Apply this essential oils solution your damp head.
• Comb your hair for 5 minutes to remove eggs.
• Use this remedy before going to bed for fast results.

8. Petroleum Jelly For Head Lice Treatment

Oxygen is essential for any living being for survival. Parasites might suck your blood for foods but they need oxygen in order to survive. Petroleum jelly stops oxygen supply which kill head lice and nits.
It also make your scalp slippery which stops crawling and roaming.

• You can find plain petroleum jelly from medical stores.
• Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly on your scalp.
• Cover you head with shower cap.
• Wear this cap overnight.
• Wash your hair and condition in the morning.
• Do this remedy daily before going to bed and keep it overnight.

9. Mayonnaise for Head Lice Treatment

Mayonnaise are very helpful in eliminating lice eggs. They create oily and smooth scalp texture. It prevent bugs from roaming and moving around your head.
It is believed that mayonnaise can suffocate head lice. After applying this homemade remedy try to comb your hairs thoroughly to remove nits and eggs from between your hair shafts.

• You can get mayonnaise over the counter.
• Cover your head with thick layer of mayonnaise.
• Wear a shower cap for 2 hours.
• Wash your hair and condition.
• Use this home treatment daily to get rid of nits.

10. Sesame Seed Oil

Sesame seed oil have potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and nits repellent abilities. The health benefits of sesame seed oil also promote scalp soothing and works as anti-dandruff agent.
The viscosity of sesame oil prevent bugs from moving around your head. Due to antibacterial agent, it reduce head itch and red bumps of scalp.

• Mix 2 tablespoons of sesame seed oil with equal amount of coconut oil.
• Soak your hairs with this essential oil solution.
• Comb your hair for 10 minutes.
• Wash with mild shampoo and blow dry.
• Do this remedy 4 times a week to get quick results.

11. Neem For Natural Lice Treatment

Indian Lilac or margosa are other common names for neem. It is strong anti-parasite and works as natural head lice repellent.
It reduce inflammation and bumps from scalp by killing nits (nits are tiny eggs). Neem will prevent your scalp from flaking and check dandruff.
Process 1: Neem Leaves

• Fry handful of dried neem leaves on a pan.
• Crush them to make smooth powder.
• Add 3 teaspoons of tea tree oil to make a paste.
• Apply thick paste on your scalp.
• Leave it for 2 to 3 hours until it get dry.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and use mild shampoo.
• Do this natural nits treatment daily for fast results.

Process 2: Neem Oil

• You can get neem oil from any herbal store.
• Apply neem oil on your head.
• Keep the oil for 30 minutes.
• Wash your hair for with mild shampoo.
• Practice this herbal remedy for nits removal.

12. Indian Gooseberry 

Indian gooseberry is a popular herbal remedy for head lice removal. It is rich in vitamin C and magnesium. During old times, it was used as parasite repellent to prevent bugs infestation.
It also promote healthy scalp and reduce any fungal infection. People uses Indian gooseberry to fight with dandruff.

• Take 5 Indian gooseberry and put them in blender.
• Add 2 tablespoon of lemon juice.
• Blend this for 5 minutes to make thick paste.
• Apply this herbal paste on your scalp.
• Warp plastic paper around your head and leave it for 2 hours.
• Wash your hair and blow dry.
• Repeat this natural remedy 3 times a week.

13. Onion Juice

Onions are rich in natural minerals and vitamins. The sulfur rich onion works as insect repellent. It reduces itching of head and kills roaming head lice.
Nits colonies can trigger dandruff and hair loss. Which can make your itchy scalp worse than before. Sulfur is very effective in reducing infection and it is potent bug repellent.
Process 1: Onion Juice

• Pour half cup of warm water in blender.
• Add 2 normal size onions.
• Blend this for 5 minutes, squeeze out the blended paste for juice.
• Apply this juice on your scalp and leave it for 1 hour.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and blow dry.

Process 2: Onion Paste

• Crush 2 onions into thick paste.
• Add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil.
• Apply thick layer on your scalp and hairs.
• Cover it with shower cap and keep it for 3 hours.
• Wash your hairs with mild shampoo.
• Use this home remedy daily until you are free from signs of lice.

14. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar wash will help you get rid of nits faster. It loosen the glue which stick nits to your hair shaft. The anti-fungal and antibacterial properties of apple cider vinegar prevent dandruff and red bumps.
It will stop your frequent itching and scratching of head. Apple cider vinegar is used as anti-parasite from centuries. It heals common skin ailments such as pimple, warts, cold sore ans many more.

• Mix 10 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into 1 cup of warm water.
• Rinse your scalp with this solution.
• Let your skin absorb ACV for 30 minutes.
• Use a nit comb to remove dead nits and super lice.
• Wash your hair with mild shampoo and blow dry.
• Repeat this natural treatment daily.

15. Castor Oil

High viscosity of castor oil can suffocate head lice and kill nits. Castor oil will make your scalp very slippery which can stop movements of parasite.
I take suffocation is among the best natural ways to get rid of lice. It prevent them from reproducing. Using a nit comb after the application can remove all off them from your hairs.

• Wash your hairs with cold water.
• Apply thick layer of apple cider vinegar on your damp hair.
• Wrap a towel and keep it for 2 hours.
• Rinse your hair with baby shampoo and blow dry.
• Repeat this essential oil treatment for 1 week.

How to prevent head lice

• Don’t share same comb.
• Avoid sharing same pillow, bed clips.
• Don’t go on frequent sleepover.
• Wash your hair with herbal shampoo.
• Minimize head to head contact.
• Rinse your hair twice a week with lemongrass juice.
• Instruct your child not to share personal belongings.
• Avoid sharing shared spaces and hats.

It is difficult to prevent spreading of head lice in children, but adults can follow above mentioned prevention tips. Instruct your child to do the same. Natural lice treatment are effective and many people rely on this. According to Mayoclinic the anti-lice shampoo and medicines are not effective. Over-the-counter products ingredients are not regulated by FDA. Hence it require more study and research to prove effectiveness of OTC products. Avoid them and try best home remedies for lice removal.

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