Super Lice

Lice! If you haven't been affected by it, you probably will at some point. It happened to us last week, just as I was putting my youngest daughter to bed. A few scratches here and there gave me pause. Sure enough, she had the dreaded lice. I called my husband to stop by the pharmacy on the way home and pick up the cancer causing bug killing shampoo. I treated everyone in the house, including myself, then began picking through everyone's hair. By midnight, I was exhausted, but woke up at 3:30 am and started washing and drying all the bedding in our house. The next day, we slathered our  hair with coconut oil and wrapped our heads in saran wrap, as oil will suffocate the little buggers. Once we rinsed out the oil, I sprayed my daughter's hair with apple cider vinegar (The vinegar will de-stickify the nits so they can be picked out easier). We went out on the porch where we could see better in the sun and began nit-picking. My sweet friend came over to pick through my hair, as it is impossible to do your own head. After I was certain I looked through every strand of hair and pulled out every egg, I sprayed our heads with a mixture of distilled water and 10 drops of the following oils. Tea tree, rosemary, peppermint, and lavender. (Apparently, the lice do not like the way those oils smell and will prevent them). After you do all of this, you need to check your children's hair every day for several days. It's also important to re-treat your hair after a few days to make sure you kill any bugs that may have hatched. 

I know there is controversy over the over the counter lice shampoo VS natural treatments. I don't have a strong opinion necessarily, as I use both types of treatments. Of one thing I am certain. If you don't get every single egg out of the hair, the eggs will hatch and you will have bugs again. Getting ALL the nits out is the highest priority. And please do not keep it a secret. I know it can be embarrassing, but if you don't tell people you have been in contact with, you risk spreading it to them, others, and getting it back yourself. Here are some helpful tips:

Treat the live bugs with natural or over the counter shampoo

Get ALL the nits out (use apple cider vinegar to help destickify the eggs and a fine tooth metal lice comb)

Blow dry hair as heat also kills the lice 

Wash and dry bedding  

Dry on the hottest setting any stuffed animals or pillows that cannot be washed

Vacuum your house

Re-treat the hair after a few days to kill any lice that may have hatched

Tell others that you have been in contact with to be on the lookout

I hope this is helpful. 

Be bug free and be well

BHW