head lice!

It's been years since I've had to deal with these buggers. The last thing I want to do is to soak my kid's head in poison, and from what I read the new generation of louse is resistant to the old poisons anyway.

If I recall correctly, the last time we got rid of them by soaking the head with oil and then meticulously combing each head for days (weeks?) on end.

Is there a better way? Shall I shave the lot of them bald? Sigh.

Bald works, but is rather traumatic for girls...

My EO book has a long list for lice: Tea tree, eucalyptus, black cumin, lavender, lemongrass, patchouli, thyme, rosemary, ravintsara

massage into hair and scalp, especially hairline of the neck, and leave on overnight. Wash all bedding in hot water.

When our little boy brought them home from nursery and shared them with the family I used a product called "Full Marks Solution". It is an oil based treatment - not a pesticide - that you apply to dry hair. It works by physically sucking the moisture out of the lice and eggs. This is similar to the way DE works on fleas - damage the carapace and they rapidly dry out and die. It was highly effective and had no odour at all.

The oils in it are, I think, synthetic but pretty much benign.

Follow up treatment with a metal nit comb to remove the debris and any remaining eggs.

I was hoping to hear that there was an easy DE solution. I guess there's nothing to replace nit picking.

I'd be worried about the inhalation risks of using DE on hair/near the face. Some googling suggests that it does eventually work but needs multiple treatment spread over an extended period, combined with frequent combing with the nit comb. I'd struggle to get my 2 year old to tolerate that.

Yeah, that's the worry with DE. Dusty!

Plus, even if it kills the bugs, the nits can keep hatching. I'm getting into the groove of combing now. It's satisfying in a monkey sort of way.

I've always wondered if lying in a hot bath with your whole scalp underwater and just your face above, for like five minutes, would drown lice. And nits? Of course, rubbing gently with your fingertips to make sure that there are no little bubbles.

I've found neem oil works better than anything. And apparently apple cider vinegar gets the eggs to detach from hair, but if your hair is coated in neem oil anyways then they are not going to last long. And of course combing!

I understand your frustration and concern about using strong chemicals on your child's scalp. Lice infestations can indeed be very challenging to handle, especially when trying to avoid traditional treatments that might be harmful. Here are a few methods that many people have found effective:

Wet Combing: This method involves wetting the hair and using a fine-toothed nit comb to remove the lice and their eggs (nits). It's usually done every three to four days for several weeks to ensure all lice and nits are removed.

Essential Oils: Some essential oils have properties that repel lice and can be used as preventive measures. Examples include tea tree oil, lavender oil, and peppermint oil. However, ensure they're diluted properly and do a patch test first, as they can be strong and potentially irritate the skin.

Oil Treatment: As you mentioned, soaking the head with oil (like olive oil or coconut oil) can suffocate the lice. After applying the oil, you can leave it on for several hours (or overnight with a shower cap) and then comb out the dead lice.

Vinegar: Some believe that a mixture of vinegar and water can help to loosen the glue that holds nits to the hair, making them easier to comb out. However, it's worth noting that this method doesn't kill lice, so combining it with other methods is advisable.

Over-the-counter treatments: There are newer, non-toxic treatments available that don't contain traditional pesticides. They might be a safer option if you're looking for something more potent than home remedies.

Professional Lice Removal Services: There are professional lice removal clinics, like NitPickyUSA, that offer services to eliminate lice without the use of harmful chemicals. They often employ natural methods combined with thorough combing using specialized tools.
https://www.nitpickyusa.com/top-rated-lice-removal-near-me
Shaving the head is indeed a surefire way to get rid of lice, but it's a drastic measure that might not be necessary unless the infestation is exceptionally severe or persistent.

Lastly, it's essential to remember that lice can survive for a day or two off the scalp. Ensure you wash all beddings, clothes, and personal items in hot water, vacuum your home, and seal non-washable items in plastic bags for a couple of weeks to prevent re-infestation.

Stay strong, and with persistence and consistency, you'll get through this!

When my oldest kid had lice back in 2nd grade, I used what I refer to in my head as the “salad dressing” treatment.  Start with oiling the hair and scalp, wrapping it so they can lounge around comfortably. The oil suffocates the mature lice and nymphs. Then comb through with a fine-toothed lice comb dipped in vinegar. Rinse the comb after each pull to get rid of the lice and nits. Make sure you comb entire head thoroughly.

Afterward, wash hair. Comb with vinegar every two days for a week, then repeat the oil treatment.

Second week comb with vinegar every two days until no nits or lice are seen.

My younger kid wanted nothing to do with all that combing and preferred a shaved head.

I ran all this by Dear Wife, a retired teacher and vice-principal. She dealt with this regularly in the office, so that kids could get back into class. You are all on the right track -- suffocate, comb, and be persistent so you catch the next hatch(es) in the two-week life cycle. Other suggestions include mayonnaise and tea tree oil.

If you feel suddenly itchy while reading this, you're not alone.

I found coconut oil worked better than the chemical stuff. The big thing that was important, though, was treating areas like car seats and washing things that could be washed in HOT water.

I had lice once.

I took a shower, then poured listerine on my head before wrapping my head in a towel for about 15 minutes.
Twice a week for a couple weeks.
It burned a little where they were biting.

A friend of mine had an electric comb that zapped the little devils.

For what it's worth, both my kids had head lice at some stage ( I never did, can't have had enough friends) and I never stressed out majorly over washing bedding and toys etc, more than the usual routine.

Hair dryer.

The nits can't survive being dehydrated. Idk if it kills the lice but it makes them alot easier to find.

I can tell you what I used to do for my kids if it's any help.

Oily "hair mask".  Olive oil or coconut oil to which Lavender, Tea Tree and Geranium essential oils are added, plus a tablespoonful of Neem oil.  Smother the hair with the blend and wrap the head in a towel for a few hours or better still overnight.  It will suffocate the lice.  Some say that it's good to wrap the hair in plastic and then a towel but I personally don't like plastic.  Use the lice comb in the morning or after a few hours.

Wash hair with normal shampoo to which Tea Tree essential oil has been added, comb with lice comb again, before rinsing.

The nits are glued to the hair and a rinse of 50/50 cider vinegar and water will help to dissolve that glue.  Use the comb again.

Repeat if necessary.  I wish you the best of luck whichever method you use, the blighters are certainly a right nuisance!

PS If you are into homeopathy, Staphysagria in low potency is also very good