How to Get Rid of Head Lice

Want to know how to get rid of head lice? Keep reading for tips on choosing the right method for you, plus what to do about those toys and other items that can't be washed in hot water and dried on high heat.

Make sure they're lice-free.

The method of killing/suffocating lice can be chemical-based or green. No matter which route you choose to take, you'll need a metal comb to get the nits out. You will also need to have someone inspect the hair every few days to make sure all the nits are gone.

Probably the most common response to those "someone in your child's class has lice" letters that seem to go out every year is a chemical shampoo designed specifically for killing lice and their eggs. You can buy them at any drugstore. Options include:

• Rid
• Nix
• Pronto
• Clear

Keep in mind, these are insecticides, so if that makes you uncomfortable, you may want to steer toward a more natural option. These are not to be used on women who are pregnant or nursing, or on babies younger than six months. Consult with a doctor before using one of them.

If chemicals make you nervous, you can coat your hair from root to tip, not missing the spots behind the ears or a bit down your neck, with mayonnaise or Vaseline. Leave mayonnaise or Vaseline on for two hours, then rinse. Vaseline will be hard to remove, but according to About My Planet, you can use baby oil and dish soap to do so.

When rinsing in the shower, take a nit comb with metal teeth and slowly come through all the hair to remove eggs. If you would like, you can rinse with vinegar and water (50/50) in a few days to loosen up any eggs you may have missed, then comb through again.

Does the thought of vinegar running through your hair and over your back and shoulders in the shower sound like torture? You can use olive oil if you leave it on overnight, then comb through.

Whether you use chemicals or greener options, you have to be meticulous about removing all the eggs. They could hatch and give you the problem to deal with all over again. If you've been through your lice removal method of choice and you're still finding eggs, try to remove them with your fingers. The glue may have loosened enough to pull them off of the strands without other aids.

You want to stop those little guys from coming back after you're done with the treatment, though, right? That means there are a few extra steps:

The things that can't be washed can be bagged up — you don’t have to throw them out. Take your pillows, your kids' stuffed animals, etc, and put them in plastic bags (garbage bags work great). Tie up the bags tightly and put them aside for seven to ten days.

You'll want to change your sheets and pillowcases, of course. Wash them in hot, soapy water and dry them on high heat to kill the parasites. You should also probably bag up your pillows for a while and buy yourself some new ones (maybe you'll get an even better night's sleep, knowing the critters are no longer in your hair and having new pillows to boot!).

Make sure to vacuum any carpets thoroughly. If the lice are just camping out there until someone decides it's time for a Pilates session or a wrestling match, they'll just reappear later.

For furniture, be sure to vacuum what you can. Sprays are available but not necessary for furniture and some toys. Adult lice won't make it more than about two days without a host, and the lice shampoos available are effective longer than that post-treatment.

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