Head lice are most unwelcome guests which gives us lot of discomfort, stress and many times embarrassment too. These are tiny wingless, six legged and blood sucking parasites that are extremely contagious.
People often choose chemical products to remove these small parasites from our hair. But, do you know essential oils have the capability to remove them easily? Yes, essential oils are best not only in protecting us from skin allergies and health issues they are also effective in removing and preventing head lice completely.
Check out 10 best essential oils to treat head lice, before that just take a look on causes of head lice too.
Causes Of Head Lice
Following are the ways you might get infected with these small parasites.
- The first thing is keeping your head closure to the infected person.
- Sharing the things of the infected person such as towels, comb, caps, etc.
- In very rare cases you may get infected from furniture and bed that contains lice.
Let’s see the best 10 essential oils for treating lice.
10 Essential Oils For Treating Lice
1. Peppermint Essential Oil
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The strong odor and the insecticidal properties present in this oil acts as strong lice deterrent. Even the menthol content in the peppermint make it best coolant for scalp inflammation or itching.
What You Need To Do
- Mix 4 table spoons of peppermint oil with 3 table spoons of olive oil and apply this mixture on the scalp and leave it for 30 minutes.
- Now, brush your hair using a nit comb to get rid of dead lice.
- Try to do this procedure at sink, so that no lice are escaped from the treatment.
2. Clove Essential Oil
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The eugonal and beta caryophylene will easily repel lice from the scalp. The strong odor of clove oil also helps in removing lice completely.
What You Need To Do
- Add 5-6 drops of clove essential oil to your shampoo and coat your hair with this shampoo.
- Let it remain for 5 minutes and then wash your hair.
- Comb your hair in wet hair using nit comb.
3. Neem Essential Oil
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Neem essential oil is loaded with numerous properties and also with insecticidal properties that easily destroys lice. It also helps in soothing the irritated scalp.
What You Need To Do
- Combine one table spoon of neem essential oil with one table spoon of coconut oil and massage this mixture on your scalp.
- Leave it for one hour and wash it off with mild shampoo.
- Repeat this every alternate day at least for a month to see best results.
4. Nutmeg Essential Oil
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The anti inflammatory properties in nutmeg essential oil helps in reducing lice on the scalp. The strong odor will make lice to suffocate and thereby hampering their breeding.
What You Need To Do
- Add 4 drops of nutmeg essential oil in 3 table spoons of olive oil and mix them together.
- Apply this mixture and comb your hair with nit comb to remove dead lice.
- Wash your hair thoroughly with mild shampoo.
5. Aniseed Essential Oil
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Aniseed essential oil has strong odor that cause suffocation to lice.
What You Need To Do
- Add 4 drops of aniseed essential oil to 3 table spoons of coconut oil and mix them together.
- Apply this mixture thoroughly on your scalp and cover your head with shower cap.
- Allow it to sit for 3-4 hours, you can also leave it the entire day and rinse your hair thoroughly with a mild shampoo.
- Regular use of this essential oil keeps the scalp clean and free of lice.
6. Lavender Essential Oil
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Lavender essential oil contains insect repelling properties that can cut down the risk of lice. This oil allows the lice to suffocate with its smell and prevent their proliferation.
What You Need To Do
- Mix 10 drops of lavender essential oil with any carrier oil and gently massage your scalp with this mixture and leave it for 10 minutes.
- Shampoo your hair and comb your hair using nit comb to remove lice completely.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly and repeat this regularly to see best results.
7. Tea Tree Essential Oil
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The antiseptic properties and the strong odor of this essential oil is effective in preventing lice. It also helps in soothing the irritation and infections caused by them. It also helps in preventing number of nits that are hatched to your hair.
What You Need To Do
- Add few drops of tea tree essential oil to your shampoo and massage your scalp with this shampoo and leave it for few minutes..
- Rinse your hair thoroughly.
8. Rosemary Essential Oil
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Rosemary essential oil contains insecticidal properties which is effective in reducing lice.
What You Need To Do
- Add few drops of rosemary essential oil to your shampoo and massage your scalp gently.
- Make sure you have applied it on every single hair strand on your head.
- Now, comb your hair using a nit comb and then rinse your hair thoroughly.
9. Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil
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Cinnamon leaf essential oil contains anti microbial and anti oxidant properties that helps in killing lice. The strong odors of this oil suffocate lice and make them to die.
What You Need To Do
- Take 3 table spoons of cinnamon leaf oil and mix it with 3 table spoons of jojoba oil and olive oil.
- Gently massage your scalp by applying this mixture and cover your head with shower cap.
- Let it remain for 4 hours and then comb your hair with nit comb from the roots to the tips.
- Rinse your hair twice to remove the dead lice.
10. Red Thyme Essential Oil
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The thymol component present in red thyme essential oil generates strong smell that leads to suffocation of lice. The cleansing properties of this oil keeps your scalp clean by removing the lice.
What You Need To Do
- Mix 10 drops of red thyme essential oil with few drops of coconut oil.
- Massage this mixture gently on your scalp and leave it for one hour.
- Use a nit comb to remove dead lice from your scalp.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly with mild shampoo
Tips
Here are some tips you need to follow while using essential oils.
- The standard dose of using essential oil is just 10 drops.
- Comb your hair twice a day to prevent them completely.
- You should not inhale these essential oils for too long, because they may cause headache, dizziness etc.
- You can also use anti lice shampoo with these essential oils.
- After massaging your hair with these essential oils, rinse your hair thoroughly. Leaving them for too long may cause damage to your hair.
- Don’t forget to do patch test before applying it on your scalp.
