Homemade Solutions for Head Lice

Head lice (pediculus capitis) are small, six-legged insects that live on human heads. They are light brown to yellow and can also be referred to as "louse." They flourish in warm environments (such as the scalp) and feast on blood. Though the bites one gets from lice do not transmit disease, they do cause itching.

Benefits of Homemade Lice Treatments

• As anyone who's battled the creepy crawlies knows, over-the-counter lice treatments are fairly expensive. Additional lice treatments are often required for optimal results. It can add up rather quickly, which is one reason homemade treatments are a better option for families, especially families with more than one child.

  Another benefit of a homemade treatment is that it doesn't expose your child to pesticides, even though the ones on the market for lice have been deemed safe.

Mayonaisse

• The thought behind the mayonnaise treatment is that it will "smother" any live lice, and it will also making combing out any eggs or nits a bit easier. It can be messy, time consuming and smelly. To do this treatment, completely saturate the head and cover with plastic wrap (never ever covering the child's face). After 1 hour, rinse and shampoo and then comb through the get any eggs or nits.

Tea Tree Oil

• This treatment is popular among homeopaths. Lice are reportedly repulsed by its scent and stay away from hair if they smell it. It's a worthwhile preventative treatment, usually with a dab behind each ear, or a few drops added to scent- free hairspray.

  The oil will smother live bugs and make the eggs easier to comb out. Parents should apply this to the entire scalp of the child and leave on from 1 to 2 hours. Comb out any eggs or nits and then wash hair.