Treating & Preventing Head Lice Naturally

Last updated on August 20th, 2022 at 12:06 am

I got that dreaded note home from school. “There has been a confirmed case of lice in your child’s school.” Lice! Eeek! The school lice note goes on to outline all the toxic pesticides you can marinate your child’s head in and I would rather avoid it at all costs.

I’ve not had any personal experiences with head lice yet. Hopefully, I never do but I wanted to look into it so that if it does happen I have a plan of attack in place and not be stuck at the drugstore buying a toxic chemical potion. Which is what happened to my dear friend Sommer when she was on vacation!

Unfortunately, when you do go to a drugstore the options available to us are slim. A quick glance at the selection of cures in the grocery store left 2 options, one a common brand called Nix.

So I wanted to also provide some tips on dealing with head lice naturally. As well as ideas on dealing with an infestation. And how to be prepared with natural non-toxic products if your child brings home the dreaded lice note.

Prevention

Preventing lice is not really a 100% foolproof practice. It happens and it’s not life-threatening (there are worse things!) but it is very inconvenient. I don’t know one person who wouldn’t take a few precautions if it’s possible to skirt a lice infestation. There are a few products that swear they are effective in deterring lice.

One is a product line I am familiar with and love and that is Babo Botanicals Lice Repel Shampoo and Conditioning Spray. Babo Botanicals had their product tested and it was deemed 95% effective in repelling lice.

Happy Heads has an array of Lice Prevention products and systems including their Scootie-Cootie Organic Repelling Shampoo and Leave-in Conditioner & Detangler. They’re infused with 100% pure essential oils and are sulfate & paraben free. Safe for use daily!

Washington Toxics Coalition offers some great advice that doesn’t require chemical intervention. Here are some highlights:

Encourage your child not to share headphones, headrests, hats, hair ribbons, barrettes, scarves, bicycle helmets, brushes, or combs.
Talk with your child’s teachers about storing coats in cubbies rather than hanging them on hooks where they can come in close contact with each other.

Preparation & Treatments

Having a few tools and products on hand in the event of lice can be a saving grace. You can’t control every situation. For instance, you may be on vacation, or visiting relatives and don’t have your non-toxic lice supplies. But if it strikes while you’re home you at least have the tools necessary to start treating the problem right away.

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Here are a few products to have in the “Getting Rid Of Headlice Naturally” arsenal.

Lice/Nit Comb. Apparently, many kits come with one but the “good” ones are ideal because they are made with stainless steel and are more effective in removing lice and nits.

One of the most popular ones is called Nit Free Terminator, which you can also find at Babo Botanicals for $14. It seems steep for a lice comb but I’ve heard from other mothers who have dealt with lice that having a good comb makes a huge difference in removing and ending the nightmare. I’d say having one in your house for a just-in-case situation is warranted.

Another one that is considered the “Gold Standard” by HeadLice.org is the LiceMeister.

Non-Toxic Topical Lice Treatments.

Here’s where it gets tricky. Since any immediate solution is going to fall in the drugstore category, you’re left with a few non-toxic options. Most non-toxic solutions need to be ordered online and waiting for delivery while lice are running rampant in your home sounds horrific. So having something around “just in case” can save you. Here is a list of brands that are free of toxic pesticides and use natural ingredients to treat and remove lice:

I don’t recommend trying other suggested natural remedies that I’ve seen circulating in the past, and advise that a pesticide-free product specifically made to remove and kill lice and nits is the best way to go. According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, “Studies have shown lice can survive in hair covered with olive oil, mayonnaise and even petroleum jelly–even when it is left on the hair overnight.” So this isn’t always a good option.

Tips For Removing Lice From Your Home

Removing the nits from your child’s heads is the key and not treating your home. Though follow-up cleaning is advisable. Using pesticides to spray your home is not recommended and unnecessary.

Diligent and daily combing to remove lice and nits is key. This should be done twice daily for at least 12 days or more.
Wash clothing, towels, and bedding in hot water and tumble dry on high heat for 30 minutes.
Soak brushes and combs in hot water above 130° F for 30 minutes or soak combs and brushes in rubbing alcohol for an hour.
Vacuum floors, furniture, and bedding your child may have had contact with. After vacuuming, remove the bag, seal the openings and dispose of it properly.
Bag up items that can’t be laundered (like stuffed toys) for 2 weeks.