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Mama In The Now

Boy Mom Life With Humor and Hygge

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Prevent and Get Rid of Lice (Almost) Naturally

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There are affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations.

There are affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations.

It’s “back to school” season! Time to dust off the lunch boxes, pull out the backpacks and get your kids ready to learn. They will learn how to make friends, do math, read and share. I hope your kids share only toys, experiences and knock-knock jokes. May they not feel the need to share, exchange or bring home germs, pinworms or lice! (Be prepared to feel itchy in a matter of seconds!) Should your darling cherubs bring home any of the three evil forces, fear not – I am here to help you prevent and get rid of them all – because I have been there AND done that. You might as well learn from my mistakes experiences of how to combat lice (almost) naturally!

Prevent and treat lice (almost) naturally. Get rid of the unwanted lice with simple and no-stress solutions.

First, let’s learn a thing or two about lice, so we know what we are up against!

Sanity-saving facts about lice, just to make you feel better!

  • Having lice is NOT an indication of poor cleanliness!
  • They like clean hair! I know, shocking!
  • They do not spread infections or disease!
  • Lice cannot jump or fly! (Fleas and kangaroos jump, birds fly – not lice!)
  • You CAN break the cycle without breaking the bank!
  • Just talking about lice will make you itch! (You just scratched your head, didn’t you?!)
  • You do NOT need to tent the house or bring harmful chemicals into your home to combat lice!
  • The recently reported “mutated lice” are not the lice version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These lice are simply not as affected by the commonly used chemical treatments, which is why my (almost) natural options are effective and should STILL be your go-to solutions.

Ok, you should be feeling less anxious about the potential of a lice encounter. Let’s now talk prevention, how to avoid an infestation!

[bctt tweet=”Prevent and get rid of #lice (almost) #naturally! Everything you never wanted to know!”]

Lice prevention:

  • My best tips to prevent your kids (and you) from getting lice:
    • Do NOT wash hair daily.
    • Long hair: Keep the hair braided or in pony tails. Avoid free-flowing hair.
    • Short hair: “high and tight” hair styles are easier to keep lice-free.
    • Apply hair gel or hairspray daily, if applicable to the hair style.
    • Spray hair with Fairy Tales Repel Hairspray and Shield for Kids or a solution of water mixed with tea tree, lavender and rosemary essential oils.
    • Wash hair with a rosemary and tea tree shampoo such as Fairy Tales Repel Shampoo, Rosemary.
    • Teach your child NOT to share hats, head phones, hair bands, brushes or combs – EVER!
    • Discourage kids from putting their head next someone else’s (no selfies allowed) or ON anything in public areas (i.e. the school bus head rests, gym play mats or daycare nap mats.)
    • Check your child’s scalp daily for nits or live lice. Caught early, you may prevent a severe infestation and avoid spreading it to siblings and other family members.

If you find lice during one of your scalp examinations, fret not! I am here for you, every step of the process.

How do you know if you or your children have lice?

  • Does your child scratch his/ her head excessively?
  • Did you feel itchy before you read this article?
  • Inspect your child’s scalp and look closely behind their ears.
  • Do you see little nits (eggs)? (Hint: they look like sand on the scalp)
  • Is any of this “sand” moving? (Hint: sand doesn’t move, so chances are you are looking at a live louse)
  • THIS is what a louse looks like! (I am SO sorry if this image causes you nightmares. I was not my itention)

Unwanted! Tips and Tricks to Prevent and Treat Lice (almost) Naturally!

 

Let’s talk treatment, if you find your child being the graceful host to a small village of lice:

  • Don’t panic!
  • Be a good citizen, call your child’s school and the parents of their best friends.
    • You are not trying to find the source of the lice, but rather alerting others to check their children.
    • Together you will avoid a severe infestation.
  • Check the scalp and hair of ALL the household members.
  • Wash ALL bedding AND pillows in hot water and dry in the dryer.
  • Put all stuffed animals in large garbage bags, place in the garage for at least four days and then throw them in the dryer on high heat.
  • Run to the pharmacy, buy ALL the chemical treatments available, shave your kid’s head and then use the harshest of the treatments!
    • This worked on one of our boys – but I shudder at thought of the chemicals I used on his little innocent scalp! Or…
  • Make sure you have the following supplies on hand: metal lice comb, shower cap, Yellow Listerine Mouthwash and either Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, organic extra virgin olive oil or mayonnaise.
  • Rid yourself of lice with this proven, less harsh and much cheaper option:
    1. In the shower, wash the hair thoroughly with shampoo, rinse with Yellow Listerine Mouthwash (cover eyes well) and let the hair air dry.
    2. Slather dry hair with either Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, organic extra virgin olive oil or mayo. (Unless you wish to smell like a deli sandwich, I recommend olive oil or coconut oil, but to each their own!)
    3. Cover head with shower cap. Secure it at the base of the neck. Cover the pillow with a towel to protect from leaking oils. Try to get some sleep.
    4. In the morning, comb hair thoroughly with metal lice comb. Section the hair and comb from the scalp all the way through the entire length of hair. (I didn’t have anyone to do this for me when I had lice, but I combed the best I could.)
    5. Rinse the metal lice comb after every time it has gone through the hair to remove lice and eggs.
    6. Repeat this process daily for a week and then every other day for another week.
    7. This will eventually break the cycle.

Here’s a comprehensive list of the products I have used and therefore recommend:

Fairy Tales Repel Hairspray and Shield for Kids

Fairy Tales Repel Shampoo, Rosemary

metal lice comb

shower cap

Yellow Listerine Mouthwash

Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

organic extra virgin olive oil

This is not my first lice-related post. Two years ago I wrote a captivating account of my own lice infestation titled “Lice, Lice, Baby!” – because I was pregnant AND had lice, and who doesn’t love a timely Vanilla Ice reference?!

Lice Lice Baby

While you are itchy from reading all about lice, don’t miss my post on how to “Get Rid of Pinworms (Almost) Naturally“! This article is all the rage among moms with school-age children –  for good reason!

Get Rid of Pinworms (Almost) Naturally!

Don’t forget to brush up on how to keep your family healthy once “germ season” starts: “Ten Best Ways to Keep Your Family Healthy This Season!”

Spread Happiness, Not Germs

Mama in the Now Signature

Filed Under: Health, Life Style, Our Life, Parenting Tagged With: family, germs, health, Parenting Shortcut

Comments

  1. mommyinsports says

    August 26, 2015 at 7:23 AM

    OMG NO

  2. mommyinsports says

    August 26, 2015 at 7:24 AM

    Sorry don’t know why that went through. I was going to write, NO! I don’t ever want to experience this. But if we do, THANK YOU for writing this!

    • Mama in the Now says

      August 26, 2015 at 8:30 AM

      ha ha ha – yeah with little girls, I cannot imagine having lice. Thankfully when Jordan had it I could shave his head – it made nit-picking so much easier.

  3. Caryn says

    August 26, 2015 at 8:17 AM

    We love this shampoo. My son’s school had lice yet he didn’t. So, I assume it works and works well!

  4. Emily @ My Love for Words says

    August 26, 2015 at 5:10 PM

    Ahh! I seriously might have nightmares from that picture! Eww! I’ve never had to deal with lice, and I hope I never have to, but thanks for the tips just in case.

  5. Jennifer says

    September 1, 2015 at 10:30 PM

    We are going thru this and I’m a total wreck. I’ve spent nearly $400 this week on otc treatments and then two days later to a lice removal company. I’m praying this lice removal company did their job. We have a recheck in a week.

    Regarding the listerine rinse, do you put the listerine in the hair wet then let dry? Thanks!!

    • Mama in the Now says

      September 4, 2015 at 9:02 PM

      You can put the listerine in your wet hair – like towel dry hair. BEST OF LUCK – I know it’s a maddening feeling. Stay strong – you can break the cycle… you CAN!

      • Jennifer says

        September 9, 2015 at 10:14 AM

        Did the Listerine make your scalp dry? I’ve put it on a couple of times and either I have lice or my scalp is dry. I went to have my head checked yesterday by the lice removal company and they said I’m clear, but I still feel itchy!! ‘ I just want this to end! 🙁

        • Mama in the Now says

          September 9, 2015 at 9:50 PM

          I remember that the itchiness lasted a week or so longer… a lot of it (for me) was also mental. Just thinking of lice makes me itch! GOOD LUCK! Try to trust that you are lice-free!!!

          • Jennifer says

            September 14, 2015 at 1:03 AM

            Thank you so much for your response!! My family thinks I’m nuts because I still feel like things are crawling despite a professional head check and countless treatments. I said talk to me when you have had bugs crawling on your scalp, biting you, and laying eggs that hatch!! So disgusting!!

          • Mama in the Now says

            September 14, 2015 at 6:17 AM

            are you feeling better now?

          • Jennifer says

            September 17, 2015 at 11:13 PM

            It’s officially been three weeks tomorrow so I’m hoping we are in the clear, but I’m still absolutely terrified. ?

  6. Lydia says

    August 20, 2016 at 12:28 PM

    Thank you for the article, it’s been many years since I’ve had to deal with lice as my children are grown but I was watching my grandkids while my daughter and son-in-law were away on an anniversary trip and discovered that my grand daughter had lice. It took a while but we were able to get it cleaned up, I wish I would have seen your article sooner.

I am a Danish American mom of four boys parenting with heart, humor and hygge. Join me on this crazy ride. You will laugh more than you’d expect!

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