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21 Amazing Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Head Lice
Head lice infestation is a fairly common situation and an equally embarrassing one. Most of us have faced this issue at least once in our life. And we all deeply dread it, don't we? Head lice are parasites that may not be harmful, but they are downright irritating and embarrassing.
Scientifically known as Pediculus humanus capitis, head lice are mostly found in kids, but are not limited to them. Even adults face this issue, we're just more ignorant (you know what I mean)! They can spread through direct or indirect contact. Sleeping or hugging the person having lice, sharing combs, accessories, towel, clothes are some of the ways in which one can get infected by them. The symptoms include constant itching and irritated scalp.
There are various kinds of shampoos available in the market that guarantee to remove them, but these are filled with chemicals that may harm your hair and scalp in the long run. Many people resort to home remedies to deal with these issues.
If you want to know some home remedies to get rid of head lice, you're at the right place. Today, we bring to you some effective home remedies to treat lice. Read on and find out what these are!
1. Garlic
Due to its strong smell, garlic is very helpful in killing the lice. It has antibacterial properties[1] and thus helps in the treatment of lice.
Ingredients
•
10
garlic
cloves
•
2
tbsp
lime
juice
Method of use
•
Peel
the
garlic
cloves
and
blend
them
to
make
a
paste.
•
Add
lime
juice
to
the
paste.
Mix
well.
•
Apply
this
mixture
on
your
scalp
and
hair,
with
special
attention
to
areas
that
are
extremely
itchy.
•
Cover
your
head
using
a
shower
cap.
•
Leave
it
on
for
30
minutes.
•
Wash
it
off
thoroughly.
•
Comb
your
hair
later.
2. Salt
Salt has antimicrobial properties.[2] It dehydrates and kills the lice. Vinegar also has antibacterial properties that keeps the scalp healthy.
Ingredients
•
5
tsp
salt
•
½
cup
vinegar
Method of use
•
Mix
both
the
ingredients
together
in
a
bowl.
•
Apply
the
mixture
on
your
scalp.
•
Cover
your
head
with
a
shower
cap.
•
Leave
it
on
for
2
hours.
•
Wash
it
off
thoroughly.
•
Comb
your
hair
later.
•
Do
this
twice
a
week
for
the
desired
result.
3. Tulsi Or Basil
Tulsi has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.[3] It also has antiparasitic properties[4] and helps to get rid of the lice and keep the scalp healthy.
Ingredients
• A handful of basil leaves
Method of use
•
Make
a
paste
of
the
basil
leaves.
•
Apply
this
paste
on
your
scalp.
•
Leave
it
on
for
20
minutes.
•
Wash
it
off
later.
4. Neem Oil
Neem is well-known for its antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic and antimicrobial properties.[5] Neem oil helps to get rid of lice as well as dandruff. Coconut oil moisturises the scalp. It also helps to treat dandruff and lice.
Ingredients
•
20
drops
of
neem
oil
•
60
ml
of
coconut
oil
Method of use
•
Mix
both
the
ingredients
together.
•
Gently
massage
the
mixture
on
your
scalp.
•
Cover
your
head
with
a
shower
cap.
•
Leave
it
on
for
4
hours.
•
Comb
your
hair
thoroughly
with
a
lice
comb.
•
Wash
your
hair
later.
5. Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise suffocates and kills the lice and hence helps to get rid of them.[6]
Ingredient
•
1
tbsp
mayonnaise
•
A
few
drops
of
coconut
oil
Method of use
•
Mix
both
the
ingredients
together
in
a
bowl.
•
Apply
the
mayonnaise
generously
on
your
scalp
and
hair.
•
Cover
your
hair
with
a
shower
cap.
•
Leave
it
overnight.
•
Blow
dry
your
hair
in
the
morning
before
going
for
the
shower.
•
Shampoo
your
hair
thoroughly.
•
Using
a
lice
comb,
thoroughly
comb
your
hair
after
the
wash.
•
Wash
your
hair
again.
•
Pat
dry
using
a
towel.
•
Do
this
thrice
a
week
for
the
desired
result.
6. Onion
The pungent smell of onion helps to get rid of lice. It also has antibacterial properties that protect the scalp from bacteria and keeps it healthy. Onion possesses antiparasitic properties[7] that help to get rid of lice.
Ingredient
• 1 onion
Method of use
•
Make
a
paste
of
onion.
•
Strain
the
paste
to
extract
the
juice.
•
Gently
massage
the
juice
all
over
your
scalp
and
hair.
•
Cover
your
hair
with
a
shower
cap
or
a
towel.
•
Leave
it
on
for
2
hours.
•
Wash
it
off.
•
Comb
your
hair
thoroughly
with
a
lice
comb
after
the
wash.
7. Orange Juice
Orange contains citric acid[8] which has antimicrobial properties[9] and helps to maintain a healthy scalp. Orange is also an insectiside which will help you get rid of lice.
Ingredient
• 2 oranges
Method of use
•
Squeeze
out
the
juice
from
the
oranges.
•
Wash
your
hair.
•
Pour
the
orange
juice
all
over
your
hair
after
the
wash.
•
Leave
it
on
for
20-30
minutes.
•
Using
a
lice
comb,
thoroughly
comb
your
hair.
•
Rinse
your
hair
later
with
warm
water.
8. Baking Soda
Baking soda has antibacterial properties[10] that help to cleanse the scalp. It has antiparasitic properties that help to get rid of lice.
Ingredients
•
1
tbsp
baking
soda
•
3
tbsp
hair
conditioner
Method of use
•
Mix
both
the
ingredients
together.
•
Divide
your
hair
into
sections.
•
Apply
the
mixture
on
each
section
of
your
hair
and
the
scalp.
•
Using
a
paper
towel,
immediately
wipe
off
the
mixture
from
your
scalp
and
hair.
•
You
will
see
that
the
lice
have
stuck
to
the
paper
towel.
•
Shampoo
your
hair
later.
9. Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek seeds nourish the scalp and help to get rid of dandruff. It has antifungal, antioxidant and antibacterial properties[11] that help to keep the scalp clean. It has antiparasitic properties that[12] will help you get rid of head lice.
Ingredient
• Fenugreek seeds (as needed)
Method of use
•
Soak
the
fenugreek
seeds
in
water.
•
Let
them
soak
overnight.
•
Blend
the
seeds
in
the
morning
to
make
a
paste.
•
Apply
the
paste
all
over
your
hair.
•
Leave
it
on
for
30
minutes.
•
Shampoo
your
hair.
•
Using
a
lice
comb,
comb
your
hair
thoroughly
after
the
wash.
10. Butter
Butter helps to suffocate the lice and kill them.
Ingredient
• Butter (as needed)
Method of use
•
Apply
the
butter
on
your
scalp
before
going
to
bed.
•
Leave
it
on
overnight.
•
Shampoo
your
hair
in
the
morning
with
a
mild
shampoo.
•
Comb
your
hair
with
a
lice
comb
after
the
wash.
11. Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly also helps to get rid of the lice by suffocating them and thereby killing them.
Ingredients
•
Petroleum
jelly
(as
required)
•
Baby
oil
(as
required)
Method of use
•
Apply
the
petroleum
jelly
on
your
scalp
before
going
to
bed.
•
Leave
it
overnight.
•
In
the
morning,
remove
the
petroleum
jelly
using
baby
oil.
•
Comb
your
hair
thoroughly
using
a
lice
comb.
•
Shampoo
your
hair
later.
12. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice contains citric acid and thus has antibacterial properties[13] that helps to keep bacteria at bay. It also has antiparasitic properties that help to get rid of lice.
Ingredient
• 1 large lemon
Method of use
•
Squeeze
out
the
juice
from
the
lemon.
•
Gently
massage
the
lemon
juice
on
your
scalp.
•
Cover
your
head
with
a
shower
cap.
•
Leave
it
on
for
1
hour.
•
Rinse
your
hair
thoroughly
with
hot
water.
•
Comb
your
hair
with
lice
comb
to
get
rid
of
the
lice.
13. Almonds
Almonds help to nourish the scalp. The oil from the almonds helps to suffocate the lice and hence helps to get rid of lice.
Ingredients
•
2
tsp
ground
almonds
•
3
tbsp
lemon
juice
Method of use
•
Crush
the
almonds
to
make
a
paste.
•
Add
the
lemon
juice
in
it.
Mix
well.
•
Gently
massage
the
paste
on
your
scalp
and
work
it
into
the
length
of
your
hair.
•
Cover
your
head
with
a
shower
cap.
•
Leave
it
on
for
half
an
hour.
•
Shampoo
your
hair
using
hot
water.
•
Comb
your
hair
with
a
lice
comb
after
the
wash
to
remove
the
lice.
14. Baby Oil
Baby oil too helps to get rid of the lice by suffocating and killing them.
Ingredient
• 5 tbsp baby oil
Method of use
•
Massage
the
baby
oil
generously
on
your
scalp,
paying
special
attention
to
the
roots.
•
Cover
your
head
with
a
shower
cap.
•
Leave
it
on
for
4
hours.
•
Comb
your
hair
with
a
lice
comb.
•
Shampoo
and
condition
your
hair
later.
15. Rubbing Alcohol
Alcohol has antimicrobial properties[14] and thus helps to cleanse the scalp. It acts as a disinfectant[15] and keeps the scalp healthy and free of lice.
Ingredient
• 5 cups rubbing alcohol
Method of use
•
Pour
the
rubbing
alcohol
on
your
scalp,
by
bending
over
a
sink.
•
Apply
a
leave-in
conditioner
on
your
hair.
•
Using
a
lice
comb,
comb
through
your
hair.
•
Shampoo
and
condition
your
hair
later.
16. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.[16] It thus helps to cleanse the scalp. It has antiparasitic properties that help to get rid of lice.
Ingredients
•
A
few
drops
of
tea
tree
oil
•
A
few
drops
of
chemical
free
shampoo
Method of use
•
Mix
both
the
ingredients
together
in
a
bowl.
•
Gently
massage
the
mixture
on
your
scalp
and
hair.
•
Leave
it
on
for
20
minutes.
•
Wash
it
off.
17. Clove Oil
It has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties[17] and helps to keep the scalp healthy. It has antiparasitic properties[18] that help to get rid of lice. The aroma of clove oil also helps to drive the lice away.
Ingredients
•
4-5
drops
of
clove
oil
•
A
few
drops
of
shampoos
Method of use
•
Mix
both
the
ingredients
together.
•
Gently
massage
the
mixture
on
your
scalp
and
hair.
•
Using
a
lice
comb,
comb
through
your
hair.
•
Wash
it
off
later.
18. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil has antimicrobial properties[19] and keep the scalp clean and healthy. It has antiparasitic properties too.
Ingredients
•
A
few
drops
of
lavender
oil
•
2-3
tbsp
coconut
oil
Method of use
•
Mix
both
the
ingredients
together.
•
Gently
massage
the
mixture
on
your
scalp
and
hair.
•
Shampoo
your
hair.
•
Using
a
lice
comb,
shampoo
through
your
hair.
•
Wash
your
hair
with
normal
water.
19. Olive Oil
Olive oil repairs damaged hair and helps to prevent dandruff. It has antimicrobial properties[20] and antiparasitic properties that help to maintain scalp health.
Ingredient
• Olive oil (as needed)
Method of use
•
Gently
massage
the
olive
oil
on
your
scalp
and
hair
before
going
to
bed.
•
Cover
your
head
with
a
shower
cap.
•
Leave
it
overnight.
•
Comb
through
your
hair
in
the
morning
using
a
lice
comb.
•
Shampoo
your
hair
using
a
tea
tree
oil
shampoo
later.
20. Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil conditions the hair and is an effective ingredient to get rid of lice. Eucalyptus oil has antiseptic and disinfectant properties[21] and helps to keep the scalp healthy and get rid of lice.
Ingredients
•
2
tbsp
vegetable
oil
•
1
tbsp
olive
oil
•
10-12
drops
of
eucalyptus
oil
•
1
tsp
coconut
oil
Method of use
•
Mix
vegetable
oil
and
eucalyptus
oil
in
a
bowl.
•
Add
olive
in
the
bowl.
•
Now
add
coconut
oil.
•
Mix
all
the
ingredients
together.
•
Apply
the
mixture
on
your
scalp
and
hair.
•
Cover
your
head
with
a
shower
cap.
•
Leave
it
overnight.
•
Shampoo
and
condition
your
hair
in
the
morning.
21. Alcohol And Tea Tree Oil
Both alcohol and tea tree oil have antimicrobial, antiseptic and antiparasitic properties, hence this mixture helps to get rid of lice and other microbes and maintain a healthy scalp.
Ingredients
•
4
oz
alcohol
•
20
drops
of
tea
tree
oil
Method of use
•
In
a
spray
bottle,
mix
both
the
ingredients
together
and
shake
well.
•
Spray
the
mixture
on
your
scalp
and
hair.
•
Leave
it
on
for
1
hour.
•
Wash
your
hair.
•
Using
a
lice
comb,
thoroughly
comb
through
your
hair.
- [1] Ankri, S., & Mirelman, D. (1999). Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic.Microbes and infection,1(2), 125-129.
- [2] Wijnker, J. J., Koop, G., & Lipman, L. J. A. (2006). Antimicrobial properties of salt (NaCl) used for the preservation of natural casings.Food Microbiology,23(7), 657-662.
- [3] Mallikarjun, S., Rao, A., Rajesh, G., Shenoy, R., & Pai, M. (2016). Antimicrobial efficacy of Tulsi leaf (Ocimum sanctum) extract on periodontal pathogens: An in vitro study.Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology,20(2), 145.
- [4] Buchineni, M., Pathapati, R. M., & Kandati, J. (2015). Anthelmintic Activity of Tulsi Leaves (Ocimum Sanctum Linn)–An In-Vitro Comparative Study.Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences,1(2), 47-49.
- [5] Jerobin, J., Makwana, P., Kumar, R. S., Sundaramoorthy, R., Mukherjee, A., & Chandrasekaran, N. (2015). Antibacterial activity of neem nanoemulsion and its toxicity assessment on human lymphocytes in vitro.International journal of nanomedicine,10(Suppl 1), 77.
- [6] Mumcuoglu, K. Y. (1999). Prevention and treatment of head lice in children.Pediatric Drugs,1(3), 211-218.
- [7] Eltaweel, M. (2013, December). Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity of Onion Extract (Allium cepa) on Staphylococcus aureus; in vitro study. InInternational Conference on Chemical, Agricultural and Medical Sciences(Vol. 1, pp. 60-2).
- [8] Penniston, K. L., Nakada, S. Y., Holmes, R. P., & Assimos, D. G. (2008). Quantitative assessment of citric acid in lemon juice, lime juice, and commercially-available fruit juice products.Journal of Endourology,22(3), 567-570
- [9] Georgopoulou, M., Kontakiotis, E., & Nakou, M. (1994). Evaluation of the antimicrobial effectiveness of citric acid and sodium hypochlorite on the anaerobic flora of the infected root canal.International Endodontic Journal,27(3), 139-143.
- [10] Drake, D. (1997). Antibacterial activity of baking soda.Compendium of continuing education in dentistry.(Jamesburg, NJ: 1995). Supplement,18(21), S17-21.
- [11] Rampogu, S., Parameswaran, S., Lemuel, M. R., & Lee, K. W. (2018). Exploring the Therapeutic Ability of Fenugreek against Type 2 Diabetes and Breast Cancer Employing Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine,2018.
- [12] Snehlata, H. S., & Payal, D. R. (2012). Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.): an overview.Int J Curr Pharm Rev Res,2(4), 169-87.
- [13] Tomotake, H., Koga, T., Yamato, M., KASSU, A., & OTA, F. (2006). Antibacterial activity of citrus fruit juices against Vibrio species.Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology,52(2), 157-160.
- [14] McDonnell, G., & Russell, A. D. (1999). Antiseptics and disinfectants: activity, action, and resistance.Clinical microbiology reviews,12(1), 147-179.
- [15] Infection Prevention and Control of Epidemic- and Pandemic-Prone Acute Respiratory Infections in Health Care. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. Annex G, Use of disinfectants: alcohol and bleach.Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK214356/
- [16] Carson, C. F., Hammer, K. A., & Riley, T. V. (2006). Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties.Clinical microbiology reviews,19(1), 50-62.
- [17] Nuñez, L., & D'Aquino, M. (2012). Microbicide activity of clove essential oil (Eugenia caryophyllata).Brazilian journal of microbiology,43(4), 1255-1260.
- [18] Mukhtar, M. A. (2011). The effect of dietary clove oil on broiler performance.Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences,5(7), 49-51.
- [19] Adaszyńska‐Skwirzyńska, M., & Szczerbińska, D. (2018). The antimicrobial activity of lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) and its influence on the production performance of broiler chickens.Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition,102(4), 1020-1025.
- [20] Medina, E., Romero, C., Brenes, M., & de CASTRO, A. N. T. O. N. I. O. (2007). Antimicrobial activity of olive oil, vinegar, and various beverages against foodborne pathogens.Journal of food protection,70(5), 1194-1199.
- [21] Bachir, R. G., & Benali, M. (2012). Antibacterial activity of the essential oils from the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine,2(9), 739-742.
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