Headlice and Neem

mother checking child for nits and headlice

Every September parents anxiously watch their children for signs of headlice as they return from school.

Every itch induced scratch results in a scramble through drawers for the nit comb and the weekly wet combing ritual begins. It can be frustrating and challenging to deal with headlice, luckily neem oil is a natural and effective treatment, interrupting the headlice lifecycle and nourishing the hair and skin.

How do you know it's headlice?

Itchy scalp and the presence of nits. These are empty egg casings stuck to the hair that can look like thick scurf or dandruff. Wet combing (see below) will capture headlice if present:

WET COMBING

Wash the hair with a shampoo
Apply ample conditioner (to which 4-5 drops of neem oil has been added)
Straighten and detangle the wet hair using a wide toothed comb
Once the comb moves through the hair without dragging, change to a head lice fine-toothed ‘nit’ comb.
Slot the teeth of the comb into the hair at the roots, with the beveled edge lightly touching the scalp and draw the comb down to the end of the hair with each stroke
Check the comb for lice with every stroke. headlice are small (1-3mm, thin, greyish insects. Remove them by wiping or rinsing the comb.
Work through the hair section by section, paying particular attention to the hair at the back of the head.
Rinse out the conditioner.
This should take anything from 10 minutes (short hair) to 30 minutes (long hair).

headlice on comb

Pediculosis capitis or headlice have been causing grief to human since ancient times- as evidenced by the discovery of a headlice egg (nit) on a 10,000-year old human hair. Astonishingly, the oldest readable writing in the world to date – the earliest sentence in the alphabet according to the archeologists who found the writing on a comb in Tel Lachish in southern Israel – says ‘May this (comb) root out lice of hair and beard’ referring without a doubt to ancient relatives of our headlice.

Who gets headlice?

Headlice are no respecters of social status, and are found on the hair of rich and poor, despite the stigma associated with infestation. In some countries it is more common to find headlice on women and girls, perhaps due to their longer hair or closer contact.

In the UK, a high incidence of headlice of 37.4% has been reported in some areas. This means that headlice can affect over 1/3rd of people each year, and children and people in cramped housing conditions are more at risk.

Why do you need to keep treating headlice?

Adult headlice lay eggs (nits) on hairs at scalp level, which then hatch into intermediate stage nymphs in about a week. These then become adults and the cycle repeats. Lice eggs are very resistant, so any treatment needs to be repeated at weekly intervals.

After wet-combing, try one of the treatments below. Neem oil is safe to use directly on the skin or diluted in a carrier oil, however there may be individual sensitivities: always patch test 24h beforehand to check sensitivity.

DIY Natural Headlice treatments

Recipe 1: Neem and conditioner

Mix 4-5 drops pure neem oil in a palmful of conditioner and apply to hair overnight.

Recipe 2: Neem and Coconut Oil (for irritated scalps)

Mix equal quantities of neem oil and coconut oil. Apply to scalp and hair, wrap in a towel and leave for 2-3 hours before rinsing

Recipe 3: Neem oil and tea tree oil (use when the scalp is irritated to prevent infection)

Combine a few drops of tea-tree oil with neem oil. Apply to scalp, wrap in a towel and leave overnight. Wash off in the morning.

Recipe 4: Neem Oil and leaf masque (extra strength)

Mix neem leaf powder with water to form a paste. Add a tablespoon of neem oil and mix. Apply to hair and scalp for 1 hour and rinse thoroughly.

Recipe 5: Neem and Vinegar or Lemon Juice rinse

Mix 10 drops of neem oil with apple cider vingar or diluted lemon juice and use to rinse through the hair after wet combing.

This can also be sprayed on the hair before school to keep headlice away.

Remember to also:

Wash bedding at over 60C
Freeze objects that cannot be washed at high temperatures (hats/brushes) for 5 days

How to prevent nits and headlice naturally?

Headlice have no wings, and are spread by close person to person contact. Although most often they are spread via head-to-head contact while playing, they can also be passed on via headwear and sharing brushes.

Add 4-5 drops of neem oil to conditioner and apply to dry hair. Comb through and allow to dry before sending children to school
Keep hair tied in plaits
Do not share headwear or brushes

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