Hair lice infestation is a common problem among children, causing discomfort and inconvenience. These tiny parasitic insects thrive on the scalp and feed on human blood, leading to much itching and irritation. A louse can lay 50 to 100 eggs in a month, and lice lay these eggs in our heads. Within ten days, these eggs (commonly called nits) take their normal form. Lice can easily hide in the hair and grow quickly once in the head. That’s why removing them in a few days is impossible. Due to heavy itching, there is a fear of infection also. While several over-the-counter treatments are available, many parents prefer to adopt natural home remedies for treating hair lice before using chemical-based products.
Lice can spread quickly from child to child if they:
- Direct head-to-head contact or using a hat, scarf, comb, brush, hair clip, hair band, helmet, or clothing interchangeably.
- Use the same bed or carpet.
- Sit very close in school or play by staying very close.
Many types of medicines are available in the market to eliminate lice, whose regular use is effective once you find any symptoms. If you want, you can take the help of natural remedies to remove lice, which below are the best home remedies for treating hair lice in children.
Home remedies for treating hair lice:
Black pepper
Grind five to six black pepper and mix it in a cup of curd. Add one lemon juice as well. Apply it on your child’s head and wash it after 20 minutes. Lice will be gone.
Neem
Neem oil, derived from the neem tree, possesses strong insecticidal properties and is known for its ability to repel and kill lice. Neem oil also has antimicrobial properties that can soothe irritated scalps. Mix with carrier oil and apply it to the hair overnight.
Garlic
Grind garlic and mix it with lemon juice and apply it on the head at night while sleeping. Wash your head thoroughly with shampoo in the morning.
As another option, you can also mix garlic with cooking oil, lemon juice, green tea, and a little shampoo. Apply this mixture to your head and cover it with a towel or shower cap for 30 minutes after this shampoo.
Onion
Apply onion juice to the hair when there are lice, and wash the hair after three to four hours. Do this continuously for three to four days.
Custard apple seeds
Apply the powder of custard apple seeds to the hair at night. Cover hair well with a towel or shower cap. This kills the head lice and nits.
Lemon
Mixing lemon juice in coconut oil and applying it removes lice.
Camphor powder
Mixing camphor powder in coconut oil and applying it also ends lice and nits.
Petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly, when applied to the scalp, can smother lice by blocking their breathing openings. Apply petroleum jelly to children’s hair at night and remove dead lice with the help of a comb before washing hair in the morning.
Vinegar
Even after a lot of treatment, if the lice are not ending, then mix one spoon of vinegar in three spoons of water. Apply this mixture to the hair thrice a week at night. Wash your head thoroughly with shampoo in the morning. By doing this for a month, lice will end from the head.
Olive oil
Olive oil also prevents the lice from breathing and kills them. Apply olive oil to the head at night and cover the head with a towel or shower cap.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is a natural insecticide that is very effective in repelling lice. Make a paste of tea tree oil, natural shampoo, and coconut or olive oil. Apply it on the head and wash it with warm water after 30 minutes. Remove dead lice by combing out wet hair.
Sesame oil
Sesame oil has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and naturally insecticidal properties. Take a quarter cup of sesame oil, one teaspoon of tea tree oil, half a teaspoon each of eucalyptus and rosemary oil, and about ten drops of lavender oil and mix them well. First of all, wash the hair thoroughly with apple cider vinegar. Apply the above mixture after drying the hair and wrap the head in a towel overnight. Comb out the dead lice and then shampoo.
Salt
Make a paste of salt and vinegar and apply it on the head. Cover the head with a shower cap and leave it like this for 2 hours. After this, use shampoo and conditioner on the hair.
Ginger juice
Mixing two spoons of lemon juice and two spoons of ginger juice and rubbing it on the head kills lice.
Guava leaves with turmeric
Make a mixture by grinding guava leaves with turmeric and rubbing it on the head for two hours before bathing. You will be able to get rid of lice in this manner.
Also read: Natural Home Remedies To Eliminate Baby Dandruff
Henna
Lice runs away from the smell of henna. Put a small quantity of fresh henna (2-3 sticks) inside the pillowcase of each member of the household.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil acts as a natural insect repellent and helps kill lice. Mix a few drops of eucalyptus oil with carrier oil and apply it to the scalp. Before washing your hair, leave it in for a few hours.
Conclusion
When treating hair lice in children, home remedies can offer safe and effective alternatives to chemical treatments. The remedies discussed in this article, including tea tree oil, olive oil, neem oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt, and essential oils, have been used for generations to combat lice infestations. However, it is important to note that these remedies may not work for everyone, and severe cases of lice infestation may require medical intervention.
It is crucial to combine these remedies with thorough combing using a fine-toothed comb to remove lice and nits effectively. Additionally, washing bedding, clothing, and other personal items in hot water can help prevent re-infestation.
Important: Remember to consult with a healthcare professional or a pediatrician if the infestation persists or worsens despite home remedies. With patience, persistence, and the right approach, you can effectively rid your child of hair lice using these natural remedies.
