How to Prevent and Treat Lice using Essential Oils
If you’ve dealt with head lice, you know how much of a nightmare it can be. The constant itching, the fear of spreading it to others, and the endless treatments that have to be applied can be quite frustrating.
Unfortunately, many head lice treatments either don’t work effectively, aren’t suitable for sensitive skin, or don’t remove all of the eggs. This means the lice are back before you know it, and your hard-earned money was spent on useless lice treatments that you painstakingly applied every day, with little to no results.
Luckily, there is a natural, effective, and affordable solution that can help prevent and treat lice.
Whether you’re dealing with lice yourself, or your kids came home from school with the dreaded itch, we’ll teach you how to use essential oils to treat lice and prevent future outbreaks.
Everything You Need to Know About Lice
Head lice is something that a large number of us have to deal with at some point. Lice are much more common in children and one study states that as many as 12 million school-aged kids in the US get lice each year.
Head lice spread from head to head due to close contact, which is common when children are playing closely together. They can also be spread by sharing items like hairbrushes or hats.
Unfortunately, lice don’t usually go away on their own. Instead, they lay eggs and continue to live in your hair, causing an itchy feeling on the scalp when they bite the skin. Lice are more active at night and can make it difficult to sleep. In small children, painful sores can be cause by excessive itching.
Is Using Essential Oil for Lice Prevention or Treatment Even Worth the Hassle?
Can essential oils really be used for lice prevention? And how do essential oils compare to traditional head lice treatments? Let’s dive into the science behind essential oil for headlice.
Research shows that using essential oil treatment for head lice is extremely effective. In one study, essential oils were found to be more than twice as effective as a regular head lice treatment and didn’t cause any adverse side effects in adults or children.
Another study showed that essential oils stay active in the hair, working to repel lice for longer than standard head lice treatments.
Why Essential Oils are a Better Approach to Lice Treatment or Prevention Than Traditional Alternatives
Not only do essential oils seem to work better than traditional treatments, but it’s also much safer, especially for children. Most regular head lice treatments contain neurotoxic pediculicides, which paralyze and kill lice.
However, many people are sensitive to these chemicals and they can cause itching and irritation of the scalp. More seriously, they can cause neurological complications if accidentally swallowed by a child and have also been linked with an increased risk of developing childhood leukemia.
What Essential Oil is Good for Head Lice?
Why Get Your Essential Oil for Head Lice at Revive?
All of the best essential oil for head lice can be found at REVIVE, where you can get an incredible range of essential oil products at amazing prices. At REVIVE, all our essential oils are 100% pure, unrefined, and steam distilled at low temperatures to retain all their natural goodness.
All of the plants used to create REVIVE’s essential oils contain powerful healing benefits, and are ethically and sustainably sourced. REVIVE also offers organic essential oils and CBD essential oil.
Mixing essential oils can bring even more powerful benefits, and a great way to do this is to build your own essential oil set and use an essential oil diffuser to enjoy the effects. If you’re looking to apply essential oils topically, you can also find roll on essential oils at REVIVE.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a wonderful essential oil for head lice. Studies have found tea tree oil to be just as effective as regular lice treatments, with a 1% tea tree oil solution able to kill head lice and their eggs within 30 minutes. Tea Tree is also best known for its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties which will help kill and bacteria left behind from those annoying pests.
Lavender Oil
Not only does lavender oil have a lovely, calming fragrance, but one of the ways to use lavender essential oil is to treat head lice. Lavender is a safe and effective treatment for head lice, and can also be used as an essential oil for lice prevention.
However, lavender oil doesn’t kill the eggs of head lice, so it’s best to combine it with another oil, like tea tree oil, to make it even more effective.
Neem Oil
Most bugs and pests absolutely detest neem oil which makes it one of the most effective pest deterrents for plants and people alike. In fact, shampoos containing neem oil can kill head lice within 30 minutes, which is faster and more effective than most regular lice treatments. Neem oil is also the best essential oil for bug repellent, and can be used to make your own DIY bug repellent for your home or garden.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucaylptus oil comes from eucalyptus trees, and has a range of healing properties. Eucalyptus oil can kill both lice and eggs, with one study showing that eucalyptus oil killed all head lice and eggs within one hour of treatment. 97% of the time, only one treatment of eucalpytus oil was needed to fully eradicate the lice.
Geranium Oil
Geraniums are bright, colorful plants that are often used in gardens to keep bugs away. Geranium oil has a strong scent that acts as a natural lice repellant, making it the best essential oil treatment for head lice. It also has soothing effects and helps with itching and irritation, which are a big part of head lice.
Thyme Oil
Thyme essential oil is another great choice for treating head lice. Thyme has insecticidal properties and also prevents lice from laying eggs in your hair. Even just a 5% solution of thyme essential oil has been shown to kill 100% of lice within 30 minutes of treatment.
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary essential oil has a strong scent that naturally repels head lice. Research has shown that rosemary oil kills lice very quickly, with one study finding that rosemary oil killed head lice within 2 minutes. Not only is rosemary essential oil a fast-acting treatment for head lice, but it’s also all-natural and safe.
Peppermint Oil
There are more than 10 uses for peppermint oil, including as a treatment for head lice. Peppermint oil has been shown to be at least as effective as standard treatments for head lice, without the potentially harmful side effects. Due to its high menthol content, peppermint oil is also a great essential oil to get rid of ants.
Cinnamon Oil
Cinnamon essential oil is another option when it comes to treating head lice. Cinnamon oil has been shown to be just as effective as other, commercially available treatments for head lice. You can also combine cinnamon oil with other essential oils to create relaxing essential oil blends.
How Do You Use Essential Oils for Head Lice?
The best way to use essential oil for head lice is to combine several of the oils mentioned above to create a powerful essential oil blend that you can then apply to the scalp.
Creating an Essential Oil Mix for Head Lice
So, how do you create an essential oil mix for head lice? First, choose 3-4 of the essential oils listed above. Because these oils are so concentrated and strong, they shouldn’t be applied directly to the skin. Instead, dilute topical essential oils first in a carrier oil.
The best carrier oil for your essential oil treatment for head lice is neem oil, as this oil itself can kill lice. Once you have your carrier oil, add a few drops of each essential oil to it. Store the solution in an airtight container, such as a bottle with a screwcap lid.
Applying to the Scalp
Wet your hair first, but don’t dry it – you want to apply the oils to wet or damp hair. Pour a small amount of the essential oil mixture into your hand, then massage essential oils through your hair, or your child’s hair.
Make sure you follow long hair all the way from the roots to the ends, and focus on areas of the scalp behind the ears and at the base of the neck, as lice love to lay their eggs there.
Treatment Frequency & Duration
Leave the solution in the hair for 30-60 minutes, then use a head lice comb (or just a regular fine-tooth comb) to comb through the hair, small sections at a time. After each comb through, rinse the comb in a bowl of water with a few drops of essential oils added, to remove lice from the comb and ensure any live lice can’t crawl back into the hair.
Once you’re done brushing, wash the remaining solution out of your hair with shampoo and conditioner. Repeat the treatment every 2-3 days until you no longer see any signs of lice or eggs when you’re brushing the hair.
Other Lice Treatment Tips Beyond Harnessing the Power of Essential Oils
Essential oils are a quick and easy way to treat head lice, but there are some other things you can do to make them even more effective. Here are some ideas:
- Wash your clothes and bedding as lice can survive on surfaces for up to 48 hours
- Vacuum your home to remove any lice living on carpets or couches
- Avoid sharing personal items like headphones, hats, or sunglasses
Bringing Our Conversation on the Best Essential Oil for Lice Prevention/Treatment to a Close
So, what essential oil is good for head lice? As you can see, you have a lot of different options to choose from. Creating an essential oil mix for head lice is the best way to harness the power of several essential oils, just don’t forget to dilute your oils in a carrier oil first!
At REVIVE, you can find everything you need to finally get rid of head lice for good. Plus, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you’re using natural, safe products that won’t cause harm to you or your children.
Looking for a bulk supplier of essential oils? REVIVE is also an essential oil wholesale distributor, with hundreds of high-quality, all-natural oils to choose from at the best possible prices.
Are you ready to finally say goodbye to pesky head lice? Remove lice the natural way, with essential oils from REVIVE.
