Naturally prevent head lice infestations

As if parents weren't busy enough during the back-to-school season and the holidays, lice infestations sometimes decide to join the party!

What is a louse, anyway?

The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) is a small parasitic insect that feeds exclusively on human blood. Once settled into its host's hair, it bites the scalp and secretes an anticoagulant substance in its saliva that allows it to feed at will. This substance irritates the skin and causes the typical itching that is a telltale sign of a lice infestation, also known as pediculosis!

Lice do not jump, but they can move quickly from one person to another during a hug or other close contact (the most common means of transmission), or travel from one piece of clothing to another if they are grouped together, such as in a cloakroom. Lice can also be transmitted by sharing a hairbrush, hat, etc.

Adult female lice lay between 4 and 10 eggs (called "nits") per day, which hatch after 7 days. The lice reach the adult stage after 10 days and the females then begin their egg-laying cycle. This is why it can be difficult to get rid of lice: they reproduce at an impressive speed! This is also why you must repeat treatments to eliminate them for good.

How to detect the presence of lice?

Aside from the characteristic scalp itching, the only way to recognize a lice infestation is to run a nit comb (a fine-toothed comb specifically for dislodging lice and nits, sold in pharmacies) through the entire head of hair before examining it. Lice are very small, but they are visible to the naked eye.

Preventing infestations

Essential oils

Since lice are known for being stubborn, prevention is the priority! Like many insects, lice hate certain odors: lavender, tea tree, geranium, rosemary, clove, and peppermint are among the aromas that repel ants, spiders, mosquitoes, and other unwanted guests, including lice. The mechanism behind this is not yet well understood by science, but empirical evidence shows us that it works! We can therefore use these essential oils to keep lice away and prevent them from settling on our heads or those of our children.

Our favorite essential oil for this use is true lavender (Lavandula officinalis): in addition to being an excellent lice repellent (it is reputed to be THE most effective!), it is well tolerated by the skin and is suitable for children of all ages and health conditions. You can substitute it with fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ssp angustifolia); they are two different varieties of lavender, but they yield very similar essential oils.

For older children, you can add other essential oils:

From 3 years old:
Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) and bourbon rose geranium (Pelargonium asperum)
Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

From 6 years old:
Lavandin super (Lavandula burnatii super) and other lavandins
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) or field mint (Mentha arvensis)
Cineole rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis cineoliferum)
Clove (Eugenia caryophyllus) (can be irritating, dilute well in a vegetable oil!)

You can alternate essential oils or make a blend so you don't get tired of one scent, or always associate it with the stress of pediculosis!

Our citronella moisturizing lotion was designed to repel mosquitoes, but it contains ingredients that are repellent to lice (neem oil, true lavender essential oil). It’s an interesting turn-key solution for prevention!

Usage

· Place a few drops of true lavender essential oil (or other essential oils mentioned above, or a blend of them) on objects or surfaces that touch the head: hoods or coat collars, beanies, scarves, hair ties, scrunchies, headbands, car seats…

· Apply a few drops of pure essential oils behind the ears and on the nape of the neck. We rarely recommend the use of pure essential oils on the skin, but the risks of pediculosis can be considered an exceptional situation that requires special measures; desperate times call for desperate measures! For children under 6 and those with sensitive skin, we recommend applying essential oils diluted in a vegetable oil (see anti-lice roll-on recipe below). You can also dilute the essential oils in a moisturizing cream.

· You can use our flax seed gel recipe as a base to mix the essential oils; just add 3 to 5 drops of true lavender essential oil (or others, depending on age) to one teaspoon of flax seed gel prepared according to the recipe before applying it to the hair. The flax seed gel will not completely dilute the essential oils, but this mixture is well tolerated by the skin and scalp!

For children who are asthmatic, epileptic, or have particular health issues, we recommend consulting a naturopath or aromatherapist before using essential oils other than true lavender.

Diatomaceous earth

Diatomaceous earth is a clay-like powder that is harmless to humans and animals, but lethal to insects. It is both an insecticide and a repellent, so it can be used for prevention or treatment.

Prevention: Apply to the roots of the hair and brush with a comb or hairbrush to spread the diatomaceous earth throughout the hair. Tie the hair back.

Treatment: Apply a good amount all over the scalp at the hair roots, especially at the nape of the neck and behind the ears (the places where lice like to hide the most). Wrap the head in a shower cap or a t-shirt and keep in place for several hours or overnight. Wash the hair with regular shampoo, or a shampoo with essential oils (see recipe below).

Repeat the treatment twice: once after one week and a second time after another week (very important for eliminating nits that have reached maturity!). The treatment can be repeated later as needed.

Warning! Although diatomaceous earth is non-toxic and safe for human health, it is very volatile and can irritate the eyes or respiratory tract! Handle it delicately (to prevent the powder from flying everywhere!), you can wear a procedure mask or a cloth mask to cover the nose and mouth if needed, and protect the child's eyes during application. A trick that works well is to place a t-shirt inside out around the child's face (like a wig) so that the collar holds the diatomaceous earth on the top of the head and prevents it from falling onto the face or into the eyes. You can then close the t-shirt with a hair tie before leaving it in place for the treatment.

Getting rid of lice

If the deed is done and lice have settled on your darlings' heads (or your own!), know that you have more than one trick up your sleeve! In addition to the shampoos and treatments available at the pharmacy, you can add traditional methods using natural ingredients to stop the infestation. Diatomaceous earth can be used as an insecticidal treatment. It is important to treat the hair of the whole family at the same time to avoid re-contamination!

Coconut oil

Virgin or deodorized coconut oil has the particularity of containing very small fatty acids that plug the breathing holes of lice and cause their asphyxiation.

Neem oil

The azadirachtin contained in neem oil (also known as "neem oil") is an excellent natural insecticide. It is often used to treat infested plants, but it can also be used to get rid of parasites on humans (and animals).

Neem oil can be irritating to the skin in its pure state; keep it for children 3 years and older and dilute it with other vegetable oils, like coconut oil, at a rate of 10% to 20%. Also, avoid it for children who have particularly sensitive skin; coconut oil alone may suffice!

Oil bath (treatment)

¼ cup of coconut oil
2 tsp of neem oil

Melt the coconut oil and add the neem oil; mix well. Apply the mixture to the scalp. Comb through the hair section by section to ensure the mixture is well distributed throughout the lengths. Also make sure the scalp is well covered with the oil. Wrap the hair in a shower cap (so you don't oil the whole house!), let it sit for one hour, and wash the hair with your usual shampoo (you might need to use more shampoo than usual to remove the oil). Repeat the treatment after one week and a final time after another week.