Home Remedies for Head Lice

Studies have shown that 1% tea tree oil has the ability to kill lice within 30 minutes of application. 

You will need:

• 15-18 drops tea tree oil (concentrated)
• Cotton ball
• A towel

How to use:

• Before going to bed, pour a tiny bit of tea tree oil on a cotton ball and apply it on your scalp and hair. Make sure to cover your whole scalp.
• Keep a towel on your pillow.
• The next morning, comb out all the dead lice and nits from your hair.
• You can wash your hair with your regular shampoo after this.
• You can perform this remedy daily for a week.

Mouthwashes that contain alcohol have the ability to kill the lice. The 25% alcohol content in the mouthwash suffocates the lice and kills them.

You will need:

• A cup full of mouthwash
• Cotton ball
• A small bowl
• Shower cap

How to use:

• Take the mouthwash in a small bowl. Using a cotton ball, apply it on the surface of your scalp and hair.
• Cover the hair with a shower cap for two hours and then wash your hair with shampoo.
• After washing the hair, comb them to remove all the dead lice and nits. 
• You can do this remedy twice or thrice a week.

The oily nature of coconut oil does not allow the nits and lice to stick to the hair strands and hair shaft (base of the hair, where it meets the scalp). This disrupts their reproduction cycle and they stop multiplying. They also help in easy removal of lice from the hair.

You will need:

• Coconut oil
• 2-3 drops tea tree oil (optional)
• Cotton ball
• A small bowl
• Shower cap

How to use:

• Heat the coconut oil slightly. You can mix tea tree oil with your coconut oil - this step is optional.
• Apply the oil to your hair and scalp using a cotton ball and massage thoroughly.
• Cover your hair with a shower cap for at least two hours and then comb out the lice and nits.
• If you have added tea tree oil, you can leave the mixture in your hair overnight and comb out the dead lice and nits the next day.
• After you are done combing, wash your hair with shampoo.
• You can do this remedy twice a week.

A study on the efficacy of neem oil to eliminate lice showed that the application of shampoo containing neem oil can kill head lice within 20 minutes. 

You will need:

• 2-3 drops of neem oil
• Your regular shampoo

How to use: 

• Take a small amount of your regular shampoo in your hand or a mug/bowl and add neem oil to it.
• Apply this shampoo to your hair and scalp. Massage it in and leave it on for two minutes.
• Rinse thoroughly.
• After the hair is semi-dry, comb out the dead lice and nits.
• You can do this remedy twice a week.

The mixture of salt with vinegar helps in removing the lice as salt dehydrates the lice and vinegar helps loosen the grip of the lice.

You will need:

• 1 tablespoon table salt
• 1 cup white vinegar
• A spray bottle

How to use:

• Add the salt to a spray bottle.
• Now, add the vinegar to the spray bottle and close the lid.
• Apply this solution on your scalp and hair.
• Leave it on for three hours and then comb out all the nits and lice.
• After combing, wash your hair with your regular shampoo.
• You can do this remedy twice a week

According to one study, published in the International Journal of PharmTech Research, undiluted lemon juice can help to kill head lice within three hours of application. However, another study on the effectiveness of essential oils for removing head lice found that tea tree oil is better for treating head lice than essential oil of lemons.

While lemon juice can help to treat dandruff and make hair shiny, more research needs to be done to confirm the usefulness of lemon juice to treat head lice.

You will need:

• One lemon
• Cotton ball
• Shower cap
• A small bowl

How to do it:

• Squeeze the lemon juice into a small bowl.
• Apply the juice to your hair and scalp using a cotton ball. Make sure to cover the entire head.
• Put on the shower cap and leave the lemon juice in your hair for about three hours.
• Wash your hair with your regular shampoo and comb when semi-dry.
• You can do this remedy once a week.