How To Remove Lice With Olive Oil

Studies conducted by the Harvard School of Public health show that olive oil smothers and kills lice. The study recommends lice be smothered in olive oil for two hours. If the olive oil is rinsed from the hair in less than two hours, some louse die, but others may live. Other than treating hair for lice, treat the home as well by vacuuming floors and furniture and washing linens with hot water and soap.

Things You'll Need

• Olive oil
• Shower cap
• Lice-treatment comb
• Shampoo for oily hair

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Instructions

• 1

  Pour olive oil onto your hair while it is dry. Lean your head over a bath tub or sink. Pour olive oil onto the hair, covering all of it.

• 2

  Wait two hours before removing the olive oil. Two hours allows enough time for the oil to smother each louse. If you like, put the hair in a shower cap to keep the oil from dripping onto clothing or furniture.

• 3

  Remove the louse with a fine toothed comb designed for nit removal, such as a comb from a lice treatment kit. Start at the scalp and run the comb down each strand of hair. Rinse the comb out after each stroke. Keep track of hair that has has been combed by starting on one side and working your way around the head. Pay attention to behind the ears and the nape of the neck--these places are most popular among lice. Olive oil smothers and kills live louse. It makes the hair greasy enough that eggs are also easily removed with the comb.

• 4

  Shampoo the hair after all the louse and eggs are removed with the comb. Any clarifying shampoo for oily hair works. Do not rinse the hair before shampooing. Keep the oil in the hair and add shampoo. Lather the hair. Rinse out the shampoo and oil. Repeat.

• 5

  Check the head to ensure all louse and the eggs were removed. If you see any, use the comb to comb them out. Repeat the process if necessary.