Most people suffer from the problem of head lice, at least once in their lives. Lice could be transmitted to your hair from a friend, colleague, or even a complete stranger who occupied your bus seat before you. Lice can be quite annoying and troublesome as they cause severe itching and make you feel embarrassed in public. They are parasites that live on human scalp and survive by sucking blood from it. The problem of hair lice can be overcome by following some simple steps at home. Here’s how you should go about removing lice from your head.
Complexity Level: Moderate
Time Required: 20-30 minutes
Resources Required:
- Lice comb
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Hot water
- Rubbing alcohol
- Vacuum cleaner
- Coconut oil
- Mayonnaise
- Shower cap
Instructions:
There are various methods of removal of lice. You can opt for any one of the methods of killing the lice as per your convenience.
1. Wash clothes in hot water
This is the first and the easiest method of getting rid of lice. All you have to do is heat some water and dip the clothes in it for about ten minutes. This will kill the lice as well as their eggs. Also dry these clothes on the hottest possible setting. Once you are done with washing and drying seal off the clothes in plastic bags and do not use them for at least a month. Do not share your clothes or bedding with anyone for some time. This will prevent transmission of lice.
2. Clean the house
Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the entire house including carpets, mattresses, bed covers, etc. Use plastic bags to secure all the upholstery and mattresses. Make a bleach solution using 1 part of bleach in 10 parts of water and use it to clean the house daily.
3. Heated air
Find some professional who use heated air to do away with lice and their eggs. This method is quite efficient and effective in the removal of lice from the root.
4. Kill the lice by drowning
This method is quite effective but time-consuming. It is quite safe and can be used on the members of the family. Start up by saturating the scalp and hair with some oil or mayonnaise, use showers cap to cover the head for about 8 hours. You can use a plastic bag in case you do not have a shower cap. After the time has passed you will have to shampoo the hair directly, do not wet the hair. Apply good amount of shampoo to your hair and lather. Cover the scalp again for about 30 minutes. Rinse your hair properly and then remove the tangles with a wide tooth comb. You will have to section the hair into about an inch sections and start removing the lice with a specialty comb. Repeat this procedure in all directions of the hair so that you are able to get rid of maximum lice. Do not forget to rinse the comb in hot water frequently. Wash your hair again and rinse. Repeat this process once every week.
5. Use coconut oil
You can use extra virgin organic coconut oil for the purpose of killing lice as it is capable of suffocating the lice and their eggs. Heat about two large scoops of oil and dab the oil into your hair and scalp. Massage your hair for a while. Wrap the hair with a cling foil or simply wear a shower cap. Shampoo your hair after two three hours, follow this by using a comb to remove dead lice and eggs.
6. Use a lice comb
Lice comb is a comb that has very fine teeth so that the lice and their eggs can get stuck in between the teeth. This method is not very reliable as there are chances that some lice or eggs might still escape and continue thriving on your scalp. To use this comb, you will have to first shampoo your hair properly. Follow the shampooing with intensive conditioning which you can do by dabbing lots of conditioner into your hair. Start combing your hair with the lice comb, make sure you wash the comb in hot water every time you run the comb into your hair. Divide your hair into sections and cover the whole of scalp from every direction. You can do this once or twice a week for at least 2 months.
7. Rub alcohol
You will have to buy rubbing alcohol first. Pour some alcohol in the middle of your forehead and wet your entire hair with it. Rub it with your hands into the length of your hair and also the scalp. Dab some conditioner into your hair and use a lice comb afterwards. Shampoo the hair and apply conditioner.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What kind of shampoo should be used?
You can use almost any kind of shampoo that suits your hair, however, for better results anti-lice treatment shampoos are recommended.
Quick Tips:
- Do not share your clothes, bedding, etc.
- Eat a lot of garlic to avoid re-infestation.
Things To Watch Out For:
- When rubbing alcohol make sure that the alcohol does not enter your eye.
- Throw the plastic wrap inside trash can to avoid any hazard.