Head lice! Freaking out!

[joflakes]

Hi all!

So on Friday night I made a horrible discovery...a head louse on my head. >_<

I work in a primary school with children who have them so it is an occupational hazard, I guess. Anyway, I have bought Hedrin Once Spray Gel, but I was wondering (after buying!) if it is really bad for my hair?

If it is bad, what do you recommend as an alternative?


The ingredients are:
Dimeticone 4%
Dodacetrien-3-ol
11-trimethyl
PEG/PPG dimeticone polymer
Silica Silyate

[Annibelle]

I don't know anything about that product, but the very best advice I've heard for treating this is a good oil soaking, preferably with a bit of tea tree EO. Drench your head in olive oil, maybe with some tea tree, and put it under a cap for like 24 hours. This should drown the little buggers. There should be some threads around here somewhere for more details.

[Ayjay]

I've heard somewhere that if you soak your hair in baby or mineral oil it kills them.

[joflakes]

Thanks both. I have just found one more of the little so and so's. I'll return that Hedrin I think as it was expensive!

[Annibelle]

Yes, I would do the olive oil/ mineral oil ASAP... and then from now on when you go to work, maybe mix some tea tree EO in with your conditioner or something, just to try to deter the suckers from coming back. >_<

[joflakes]

Yes, I would do the olive oil/ mineral oil ASAP... and then from now on when you go to work, maybe mix some tea tree EO in with your conditioner or something, just to try to deter the suckers from coming back. >_<

I have olive oil to hand so I'll use that I think...either that or my sweet almond oil.

That's a good idea...I'm just annoyed because I am SO paranoid and never wear my hair down at work because of the fear of catching them! I'm so unlucky! >_<

[CurlyMopTop]

Make sure to re-treat in a few days. Oil kills the ones that are hatched, but not the eggs. If you have a really bad case, I would retreat every few days for 10 days or so, just to make sure you have them all. Make sure to treat/wash/vacuum/throw in dryer any hair coverings, jackets/furniture/car where your hair has been to prevent reinfestation.

[jacqueline101]

I did the lavender conditioner on dry hair place under a cap for an hour comb out the conditioner. Rinse residue out,

[Magalo]

When I was young, my mother sprayed lavender essential oil mixed in water on our hair, every morning. Apparently it fight off lice. And none of her four children ever had head lices even after so many school infestation.

[joflakes]

Thank you everyone!