How to Remove Nits With White Distilled Vinegar

Nits are lice eggs. They are small, oval-shaped, white eggs that attach to the hair, usually within an inch of the scalp. Although lice shampoos kills adult lice, any surviving nits may hatch within a week or two and lead to re-infestation. Removing every nit with a good metal lice comb is an essential part of lice treatment. Since nits attach to the hair with a cement-like substance, combing alone can miss a few nits. The addition of white distilled vinegar to the treatment can help dissolve the nits' bond to the hair shaft.

Things You'll Need

• Lice shampoo
• Towels
• White distilled vinegar
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Lice comb
• Paper towels

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash the hair with a lice treatment shampoo recommended by your doctor or pharmacist. Rinse out the shampoo thoroughly and towel dry the hair to remove excess moisture.

• 2

  Have the infected person lean back over the sink or tub. Hold a towel over their eyes to protect them. Pour one to two cups of white distilled vinegar onto the hair to saturate it.

• 3

  Wring out excess moisture gently and wrap the person's head in a towel. Leave it on for approximately one hour.

• 4

  Remove the towel. Shampoo the hair with regular shampoo. Use conditioner to make it easier to comb through the tangles. Rinse it and towel off the excess moisture.

• 5

  Comb through the hair while it is still damp using a metal lice comb. Work on one small section at a time, pulling the comb from the scalp through the ends of the hair.

• 6

  Examine the hair as you go to ensure there are no nits. Secure sections as you finish them with hair clips to keep it out of the way as you comb through other sections.

• 7

  Wipe the comb on a damp paper towel and rinse it repeatedly to remove any nits clinging to the teeth as you work. Dispose of the paper towels in an outdoor receptacle after combing.

• 8

  Check the hair daily for more nits. Repeat the treatment seven days later to ensure all lice are exterminated and all nits are removed. Continue checking the hair daily for another week. Repeat the treatment if any further nits are visible.