How to Get Rid of Head Lice: Top 8 Home Remedies for Removing Head Lice

Get Rid of Head Lice

Head lice and nits are a common problem, especially for kids. Head lice should be treated as a means to stop itching and help prevent their spread to others. Find out how to get rid of head lice if your child is affected.

1. Listerine to Get Rid of Head Lice

This is one of the most highly recommended head lice home remedies. It has been reported to work in less than 2 hours in some cases. You should spray the Listerine on with a spray bottle rather than lathering it directly on with your hands. Shampoo your hair first and then apply to Listerine. You can try both the methods described for coconut oil either leave the Listerine on under a shower cap and then rinse it out in the morning, or leave the cap on for two hours and then thoroughly rinse, comb and tweeze the hair.

2. Rubbing Alcohol for Removing Head Lice

Although this may not be the natural solution some people are looking for, it is commonly available around most homes. The alcohol is reputed to kill off the lice after several applications over a few days. Be very careful to avoid getting it in your eyes or any other body orifice as it causes a strong stinging sensation.

3. White Vinegar Home Remedy for Head Lice

Some people recommend using straight vinegar applied to the scalp, while others recommend mixing it with water. The recommended dose when mixed with water it to mix it in a 31 ratio of water to vinegar. Give the substance a thorough massage into the scalp for about twenty minutes. Soak a towel in the vinegar mixture and wrap it around your head and leave it there for about an hour.

While some experts speculate about the actual usefulness of this method for killing the lice themselves, it does help to loosen up the lice eggs (nits) so that you can then more effectively remove them with a comb and tweezers. After you remove the towel from your head, go through your hair thoroughly and pick out all the nits and lice you find.

4. Coconut Oil Remedy for Head Lice

Again there is speculation over whether this treatment will entirely kill off the lice on its own, but by smothering the lice in this substance they become easy targets for picking off with tweezers and combing out.

There are different methods for using this substance. Some people recommend lathering coconut oil on before bed and placing a shower cap over it, then thoroughly rinsing and combing the hair in the morning.

Another method suggests massaging the coconut oil into the hair, placing a shower cap over it and then using a blow dryer with the cap still on, thus heating up and killing some of the lice. You then leave the cap on for the next couple of hours and then comb and tweeze out the remaining lice and nits.

5. Mayonnaise Home Remedy for Head Lice

The method used with mayonnaise is similar to that used with coconut oil. Some people simply prefer to use mayonnaise because of a belief that the thickness of the substance has more of a choking effect on the lice.

6. Tea Tree Oil to Get Rid of Head Lice

Tea tree oil is naturally non-toxic, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. It is commonly used in the treatment and prevention of lice and dandruff. To make a natural home remedy to kill head lice, mix 2 ounces of vodka with 20 drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle. Spray it on your hair. You can easily reapply the alcohol/tea tree spray frequently as a way to help prevent re-infestations.

7. Use Medicated Shampoo for Removing Head Lice

Use a delousing shampoo, and leave it in your hair or your child's hair for 10 minutes. That’s a long time to spend in the shower, so you may prefer to do your shampooing in the bathtub, where you can read or listen to music while the shampoo does its job.

8. Wet Combing for Removing Head Lice

Wet combing treatment (often called 'bug-busting') is a way of removing head lice from the head. You can easily get rid of head lice by wet-combing hair with a special head lice comb. The use of conditioner with wet combing can help immobilize the louse and make it easier to catch.