Mix tea tree oil in your shampoo. Mix 3 to 5 drops of tea tree oil for every 1 oz of shampoo. Wash your hair with the product in the shower. After, work a fine-toothed comb through your hair. Use the comb to get rid of any lice or nits (lice eggs).
Tea tree oil appears to be able to kill some live lice (at least when used in conjunction with lavender oil), however we know that over-the-counter lice treatments are far more effective at killing live lice and getting rid of the eggs once an infestation has occurred.
That's because tea tree oil is a proven repellent of head lice. Studies have shown that tea tree oil is the botanical substance most effective at deterring lice. It is believed the slipperiness of the oil, and not the oil's scent, is what prevents lice from gaining ground on hair treated with tea tree oil.
Given tea tree oil's antimicrobial properties, it makes sense that it would work well as a home cleanser too. Basically anything that needs a simple cleaning can benefit from a basic tea tree oil mix. Combine 4 to 5 drops of oil with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.
Suffocate the Lice
Soak your child's head in olive oil or coconut oil. Cover with a shower cap for at least 2 hours (or preferably overnight). When ready, remove the shower cap, and separate the hair into small sections, then use a metal nit comb to carefully remove the lice and eggs. Rinse the hair well with shampoo.
Tea tree oil works by repelling lice because of its insecticidal properties. In addition to keeping the hair tied up and artificially dirty, you can use tea tree oil to repel a head louse looking for a new home. You may also include lavender essential oil or peppermint essential oil for this purpose.
Of the tested remedies, the team found that pure coconut oil was the only effective treatment. Within 4 hours of applying the oil, an average of 80% of the head lice were dead. The two most effective medicated shampoos killed 97.9% and 90.2% of lice in the same period.
Mix tea tree oil in your shampoo.
Mix 3 to 5 drops of tea tree oil for every 1 oz of shampoo. Wash your hair with the product in the shower. After, work a fine-toothed comb through your hair. Use the comb to get rid of any lice or nits (lice eggs).
Petroleum jelly (Vaseline).
Like olive oil, many moms swear by this (other options: styling gel or mayonnaise). The thick jelly supposedly suffocates lice by clogging their breathing holes. For best results, coat the hair and scalp, cover it overnight with a shower cap, and wash out the next morning. Comb for nits.
Vinegar contains properties that kill and get rid of nits and lice. This mixture should be applied directly to the whole scalp. Mix 1 cup of vinegar with 1 cup of warm water. Next, distribute this mixture onto the scalp and cover your hair with a hair cap.
Leave it on for 3-5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. By acting as a natural conditioner, tea tree oil also soothes the scalp and prevents flakiness. For Hair Growth: Do your hair follicles good by applying this oil mixture onto your scalp and massage it. If you like, you can even opt for a hot oil treatment.
This mixture helps loosen up the lice for easy removal. Mix 2 to 3 drops of olive oil with some tea tree oil and apply to the affected area of the scalp. Leave it in for about an hour and rinse it off with vinegar. Now comb your hair to remove dead lice.
Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp). Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes. Do not share combs, brushes, or towels.
Spinosad (Natroba).
Spinosad is approved for adults and children age 6 months and older. It can be applied to dry hair and rinsed with warm water after 10 minutes. It kills lice and nits and usually doesn't need repeated treatment.
Nix Cream Rinse® (permethrin based product) This medicine is put on hair that has been shampooed and towel dried. After 10 minutes, the medicine is rinsed off. Nix Creme Rinse® kills lice, but not the nits. It is the favored medicine because it may continue to kill newly hatched lice for a few days after treatment.
It is not usually possible to get rid of lice in one day, as an infestation needs to be treated. However, there are treatments that can help get rid of lice and symptoms caused by lice more quickly. Lice infestations must first be treated by improving the hygiene of the infected person.
Pyrethrin (Rid)
Rid kills living lice and is “safe and effective when used as directed,” according to Dr. Kanthula. She says there's no residual lice-killing activity after the product is rinsed off, so it also requires a second treatment.
Don't mix Tea Tree Oil with other active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, retinol, retinoids, tretinoin, Retin-A, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, vitamin c, etc. Best to use one or the other, not both. Never use it more than once a day – less is more!
Skin irritation: Tea tree oil can cause itching, redness, and swelling, particularly in people with sensitive skin. This is especially true if it is not properly diluted.
Because tea tree is stripping, applying it without a carrier on dry skin could leave your skin irritated and itchy. Alternatively, you can also apply a few drops to fungal infections (which could creep up on toenails) or bug bites.