Head lice can live on the head for up to three to four weeks and are spread very easily from person to person by direct contact. Regardless of anecdotal theory a lice infestation can occur in spite of pristine personal hygiene. Poor personal hygiene is not the reason for head lice.

The itching associated with head lice is a result of the body’s allergic reaction to the bite of the head lice. Itching may be felt throughout the head or along the neck. Redness or a rash may also be seen along the back of the neck or behind the ears. It is important to have someone to closely inspect the hair in order to confirm the presence of nits. It is easier to locate the nits along the hair shafts since the live adult head lice will move around quickly and are difficult to actually see. Be certain to check along the hairline, the back of the neck, and close to the scalp for the presence of nits.

The best treatment of head lice is prevention. It is important to avoid direct contact with another person who has head lice since direct contact is the mode of transmission. Treatment involves the use of a product that kills the lice. It is important to use a product that is toxic to lice but safe for humans. It is equally important to follow the manufacturer’s directions closely for the most effective treatment.

If you do contract a case of head lice, it is important to treat not only the hair but all the personal hair accessories, such as brushes, combs, etc, as well as the bed linens, clothing, jackets towels, pillows, etc. Treatment must also involve the surfaces where the head lice might have landed since head lice can live for up to two days on inanimate objects such as sofas, chairs, carpets and even stuffed animals. If a person comes in contact with the object where the lice are living then the lice can easily and quickly move from the inanimate object to the person’s hair setting up the perfect scenario for the breeding of more lice.

A bout of head lice is an itchy and bothersome condition to say the least…but the good news is that head lice are easily treatable. If you need more information on hair lice, stick around!

After every two weeks, they lay white eggs or nits on the scalp. These nits are in the form of tiny white dots. Human contact is one of the major causes for the spreading of head lice. Head lice are considered a problem as the presence of these parasites signifies unhygienic conditions.

If you share comb, hairbrushes, clothes, hats and helmets with a person having head lice then it may also lead to them. Existence of head lice will make you uncomfortable and leads to itching. School-going children need to taken care a lot from these head lice. If you find your child itching his/her head constantly then you need not panic. Here are some significant steps to follow:

* If your child is itching the scalp check the collar or pillow of your child for any black spots. These insects are minute, but visible to the naked eye.
* Look around the ears, back of the neck or under the fringe. These are the major hiding places of head lice.
* Look out for some anti-lice lotion or shampoo for the treatment of head lice.
* You must check all the family members, for it spreads from person to person.
* Usage of thin combs can also do wonders in making your child’s head free from head lice.
* Never opt for any chemical agent unless approved by the doctor.

If you notice any of these things in your kids, get those headlice taken care of immediately so they don’t spread. Head lice cures are simple if you get to them ASAP.

Home Remedy Treatments For Head Lice

The following two treatments were those that were found to have the best results after applying when using common, readily available items. The treatments are in no way a complete, or medically endorsed, list of head lice treatments but are those that seemed to work best for most head lice sufferers.

The treatments outlined here will address the problem of difficult louse and NIT removal making it easier for you to remove them. This is where they have their greatest strength in lice removal and prevention of re-infestation. These two treatments are not to be assumed as a head lice “killer”. They do not work in this fashion as with harmful pesticidical shampoos or similar treatments. NEVER assume that a louse is dead. They can hibernate and appear to be dead.

You will also notice that the steps in these treatments are similar. That is because these were hand-selected and deemed most effective from all the home remedies for head lice found based on safety and success responses from those using them. While there are only two provided in this guide, they are effective, and that is what has been focused on here.

“Sometimes The Simplest Answer Is The Right One.”
The “Mayo” Treatment

1-2 32 oz. Jars of Mayonnaise (the real stuff, no Miracle Whip) - depending on the amount of hair to be treated

1 Roll of Plastic Wrap or a Plastic Shower Cap(sometimes better)

1 Bottle of White Vinegar

1 Bottle of Denorex Dandruff Shampoo

1 Bottle of Dawn Dish-washing Soap

1-3 Rolls of Paper Towels

1 Metal NIT Removal Comb

Optional: 1 plastic spray bottle
Completely saturate the entire head of hair with Mayonnaise. Once done, wrap the head with plastic wrap, or shower cap(best for children) and leave mayonnaise on overnight, or for a minimum of 8 hours if performing treatment during the day.

Rinse out mayonnaise with warm water as best you can. Then apply a small amount of Dawn, or de-greasing type dish soap to the head and work into a lather to remove excessive “greasy” feeling. Rinse hair completely.

While hair is still wet, apply a normal size amount of Denorex Dandruff Shampoo to head and work into a lather. Rinse hair.

Towel dry hair and then apply white vinegar to the hair either by hand or with a small spray bottle.

Next, use the Metal NIT Comb and begin combing out the hair starting at the roots and continuing all the way down the hair shaft. Do this for the entire head and start at the top.

When using the NIT comb, remember to always comb in small, thin sections of hair, about ½ inch, to ensure complete NIT removal.
Repeat this entire process in 3 to 5 day intervals for the next 2 to 4 weeks to be sure that all lice are gone including and especially the NITs.

The Olive Oil Treatment

2-4 20 oz. Bottles of Olive Oil - Brand Name Not Important

1 Roll of Plastic Wrap or Plastic Shower Cap

1-2 Dry Wash Clothes

2-4 Dry Towels

1-3 Rolls of Paper Towels

1 Bottle of Dawn, or similar, Dish-washing Liquid

1 Metal NIT Removal Comb
Completely saturate the entire head with Olive Oil beginning at the top of the head and continuing on down to the ends of the hair.

Next, wrap the head completely with Plastic Wrap, or use the Plastic Shower Cap.

Leave oil and plastic on head overnight or for at least 8 hours.

If doing the treatment as an overnight treatment, be sure to lay down clean, dry bath towels anywhere the oil could leak out onto bedding. Use the wash clothes to wipe any extra oil that leaks from the head onto the face or body(as this is a natural occurrence when using such a treatment).

After 8 hours, or in the morning, remove the plastic wrap or shower cap and begin rinsing the hair with warm water(get it as hot as you can bare without being painful).

Next, add a small amount of Dawn dish washing liquid to your head and work into as much of a lather as you can(be careful to avoid contact with the eyes). And then rinse.

Last, begin to use the metal NIT removal comb and begin combing out small sections(about ½ inch in width). Be sure to wipe off the comb repeatedly during this process using the paper towels.

Clean out the NIT comb when you have finished combing the entire head with a bleach/hot water solution allowing the comb to sit in the solution for several hours.

Repeat this process in 2-4 day intervals over the next 7-14 days to ensure no re-infestation occurs.

THere are several other home remedies for head lice, but we felt these were the best ones to display for you.