What parent has never experienced the great joy of discovering that charming little bugs have taken over their children's scalps? With the start of the new school year, lice are back in schools and many children and parents will be faced with a big problem: "How to get rid of them? "

Did you say lice?

The lice are tiny insects that, while annoying, are not dangerous to your health. But unfortunately, once installed, they are difficult to dislodge and the icing on the cake, they reproduce quickly! They love clean, dry hair and their favorite places are the back of the ears and the back of the neck, where it is warmest. Be aware that there is no miracle cure and that these little beasts are becoming increasingly resistant to treatments designed to eliminate them. But then, what to do? Should we choose a chemical treatment to stop this plague? Or are there effective natural solutions? 

Chemical treatments, not so efficient!

You will find in pharmacies, parapharmacy or on the internet, a good number of products, all more chemical than the others, boasting to be super effective to get rid of lice.

Force is to note that these products are aggressive insecticides for the skin and scalp, that they are expensive and unfortunately not always effective ... In the long term, the scalp of your child will be irritated and lice always present!

The natural solution to fight lice

If you decide to opt for a natural solution, you will be faced with a multitude of treatment recipes. But which one to choose? What is really effective? 

I have personally tested all of the following treatments and I find them all equally effective. But on one condition!

That you repeat the treatment every 3-4 days for 15 days. I know it's tedious and energy-consuming but it's the only way to get rid of lice. In addition to the treatment itself, it is important that you wash clothes, coats, comforters, scarves, hats, bedding, etc. at 60°C. What you can't put in the machine, put in your freezer for 24 hours or in a sealed plastic bag for a week. 

• The lice comb will become your best friend. It allows to remove the nits after the anti-lice care. Apply it thoroughly to the entire wet hair. This takes time but is an essential step, regardless of the treatment chosen. Be careful not to overuse it because it tends to break the hair. 

• Mayonnaise, while not very pleasant to apply, does help smother lice and nits. Apply to the entire scalp and massage. Leave on for 2 hours and then rinse. Ideally, you should use homemade mayonnaise to which you have added cider vinegar. 

• Olive oil and coconut oil help suffocate lice. You can coat the skull with it and leave it on overnight. The next day, wash hair as usual. You will probably have to wash the hair several times to remove the "grease" from it.

• Onion juice while effective, can be unpleasant because of its strong odor. Simply extract the juice from several onions and massage the skull with the resulting juice. Leave on for 3-4 hours then rinse. The sulfur in the onion will suffocate the lice. 

• Bicarbonate, on the other hand, helps eliminate nits. Distribute the powder on the hair, massage and wash normally. You can also mix it with warm water, apply the mixture to the roots and leave it on for thirty minutes before washing the hair. 

• Vinegar will loosen lice and nits by dissolving the substance that allows them to cling to the hair. You can use white vinegar or cider vinegar, which is milder. 

• Essential oils can be helpful in getting rid of these beloved guests. This is the case of tea tree and lavender. Dilute the oils in 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil and leave for one hour under a swimming cap before washing and rinsing hair. Be careful not to use them on children under 8 years of age or on pregnant or nursing women. Also be sure to keep it out of your eyes. 

Get rid of lice with a natural home recipe

Here's a tested and approved recipe that is effective against lice and nits. Keep in mind that this does not exempt you from combing after treatment or repeating every 3-4 days for two weeks!

• Mix equal parts olive or coconut oil with cider vinegar. 

• Add a few drops of essential oil of tea tree (antiseptic) and lavender or lavandin (parasiticide). 

• Apply the mixture to dry hair and leave on for half an hour under a silicone pool cap. 

• Then, wash the hair 2-3 times to remove the "grease" from the hair and run the lice comb through the still wet hair. 

Natural alternatives to remove lice

• Lice especially like dry, clean hair, so don't wash your child's hair too often. Once a week is more than enough. 
• Also remember to tie your daughters' hair back before you take them to school. 

One last tip: make sure each member of the family has their own hairbrush or comb. When the lice are there, put the brush in a plastic bag in the freezer for 24 hours. 

I hope that with these natural tips, you will get rid of these little bugs. And for those who are wondering, there is no preventive treatment. Lavender is not a repellent but a parasiticide.

Advise your children and their friends to tie their hair back and especially not to share hats or other hair accessories. 

Good luck!