Home Remedies for Head Lice:

Lice are parasitic creatures that live and breed on the scalp, feeding on blood from the skin. This is a fairly common problem among children. Head lice are usually transmitted from one person to another through close physical contact. Children who play together, sit together in a classroom or share articles like towels, combs, hats or scarves are prone to getting head lice. Also, living in unhygienic or crowded conditions and not shampooing the hair frequently enough increase the chances of getting head lice. Technically known as pediculosis, this condition can be quite embarrassing and uncomfortable, causing a constant itchy feeling on the scalp and the eruption of red bumps on the scalp. If left untreated, this condition can lead to an infection and cause damage to the hair.

There are quite a few over-the-counter medicinal shampoos that are useful in getting rid of hair lice. However, if you want to solve the problem through natural means, you can try a few simple remedies at home. One of the most popular ways of delousing your hair is to soak your hair with vinegar for 10 minutes before shampooing. This is an effective way of destroying the nits in the initial stage of growth. You should also massage your scalp and hair with coconut oil after shampooing. You could also oil your hair with olive oil before going to bed every night and put on a shower cap. Let the oil soak into your scalp overnight and the next morning comb your hair gently. This is an excellent way of getting rid of head lice. For another remedy, mix two tablespoon of lemon juice with an equal amount of garlic paste and apply this on your scalp. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes and then rinse your hair thoroughly with cold water. The acidic nature of lemon juice is unsuitable for the growth of the lice, whereas the strong chemicals present in the pungent juice of garlic kills the parasites completely. You may also mix two tablespoons each of vinegar and lemon juice with the yolk of an egg, blend the ingredients well and apply it all over your hair and scalp half an hour before shampooing. Use warm water to rinse your hair. It is also useful to grind 10-15 almonds soaked in water for a few hours, add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice to it and apply the paste on the roots of the hair. Wash your hair an hour after application to get rid of lice naturally.