Head lice are parasites that live on the hair and lay hundreds of eggs. It doesn't take long for a person with head lice to become completely infested with it quickly. Contrary to popular belief head lice isn't a sign of poor hygiene. In fact most of the time these parasites look for a host that is very clean. Children often come into contract with head lice in a school environment.
There are many good natural home treatments for head lice you can use. They are less expensive than over the counter products and they work just as well. You also don't have to worry about the effects of the harsh chemicals found in various over the counter lice treatments.
If the individual doesn't seem to have very much lice then you may be able to remove them with tweezers. You need to look carefully though to make sure you don't miss any lice or eggs. If you do it can lead to an infestation in very little time. A magnifying glass is a very useful tool for this process.
Use a good shampoo to help remove anything you may have missed. It is an old tale that using dog shampoo is a good treatment option but there are some harsh chemicals in them that you don't want to use, especially on children.
If you find there is quite a bit of lice to deal with you can use various food products as a natural home treatment for head lice. Smother the scalp and all of the hair with a thick layer of mayonnaise. Place a shower cap on the head and let it sit for a couple of hours. It won't smell the best but it will kill all of the lice and the eggs on the head. Using a fine comb go through each section of the hair. You will be able to remove the lice as you do so. Wash the hair with very warm water and a good shampoo afterwards.
Some research has shown that olive oil can be a good treatment for head lice if you leave it on long enough. To make sure you have killed all of the lice and the eggs it should be left on for at least three hours. Cover the scalp and hair with a shower cap or a towel for that period of time. Rinse your head and carefully comb it out from the top down. If you still see lice after you are done repeat the process.
Many adults find that using essential oils including tree oil is one of the best natural home treatments for head lice. It isn't a good choice though for pregnant women or for very young children due to the high concentration of the oils. Be careful which essential oils you mix together though. Your best bet for removing head lice is a combination of tree oil, lavender oil, and neem oil.
Removing head lice can be quite a time consuming process regardless of which of these natural home treatments for head lice you choose. However they are a safe alternative to harsh chemicals that can leave your child feeling uncomfortable or that their scalp can have an allergic reaction to.