Symptoms of Head Lice:

Small red bumps on the scalp or neck
Itchy scalp
Lice eggs attached to hair shaft (these look like tiny white or yellowish oval shaped eggs)
Actually seeing live lice on the head

It is important that you make sure you or your child really have head lice before you treat for lice. The treatments can contain chemicals and be uncomfortable.
It’s easy to mistake dandruff for lice eggs. The best way to confirm it’s really lice is comb through the hair until you spot a live one. Lice can’t fly or hop but they can move pretty fast so it may be difficult to spot one.
If what you thought were lice turn out to be dandruff, you can simply use a medicated dandruff shampoo.

If you find live lice, you’ll want to treat them immediately. Lice can spread fast, adults lay up to 10 eggs a day. Here’s a list of the lice home remedies that have proven to be the most effective.

Head Lice Home Remedies

It’s important to note that lice home remedies are not *proven* to work. In most cases home remedies for lice do work, there are just no formal studies that “prove” it. The fastest way to guarantee that you rid yourself of lice is to use a medicated lice treatment shampoo, listed below in the “Head Lice Treatments” section.

Lice Home Remedies:

You’re basically going to try to “smother” the lice. You can use either:
Vaseline,
Olive Oil
Real Mayonnaise
Apply a good amount of your choice (we recommend Vaseline) to the scalp just before bed. Make sure you cover all areas of the scalp with at least a millimeter thick coat. Wear a tight shower cap, or wrap your head tightly in a bandana or plastic wrap. This will usually suffocate lice overnight, but may not necessarily kill the eggs. To kill the lice eggs, comb through your hair with a fine tooth comb as you’re getting out the Vaseline. By the time you’re finished getting the Vaseline out of your hair you should be rid of all the lice eggs. If the idea of putting Vaseline in your hair overnight isn’t your cup of tea, use one of the lice treatments below.

Head Lice Treatments

Lice treatments are pretty much guaranteed to rid you of lice, often times faster than the home remedies. The recommended products are
Rid
Nix

While these treatments do get rid of lice, they can sometimes fail to kill eggs. The best way to make sure you’re rid of the eggs is to comb through the hair with a fine toothed comb for about an hour after using either of these treatments, followed by an additional rinse in the shower.

Additional Information

Head Lice Myths

Though dog shampoo may actually be effective in treating lice as it does contain mild pesticides, it’s never a good idea to use dog shampoo on you or your child’s head.

It’s usually not necessary to wash everything in your house after treatment of head lice to rid yourself of the lice. At most you should just wash the clothing and items that the infected person came into direct contact with.

You shouldn’t have to shave your head to get rid of head lice. If the home remedies aren’t working, try one of the medicated treatments.

Resistant Lice

If you have lice that you just can’t seem to get rid of, try one of these stronger medications: (it’s recommended that you first try Rid or Nix)
Elimite (usually used for scabies, works on lice)
Ovide
Lindane