Yes, a mix of coconut oil and tea tree oil can help with lice by suffocating adult lice and repelling them, with tea tree oil adding insecticidal properties, but it's not foolproof for nits (eggs) and needs to be combined with thorough wet combing for complete eradication, as home remedies often require repetition and don't fully dissolve the nit glue. Always dilute tea tree oil in coconut oil (a carrier oil) to avoid skin irritation and do a patch test first.
#2 - Get a little spray bottle and put 20 drops of Melaleuca/Tea Tree oil, 20 drops of coconut oil/olive oil and fill the rest with water. Spritz on your family's hair before leaving the house. Tea Tree oil will keep lice away, and refresh the hair. The Coconut oil will also condition your hair.
In particular, tea tree oil needed the shortest time (30 min) until all lice were killed at 1 % concentration, whereas the most effective oil for killing louse eggs appeared to be nerolidol that provided the 75 % abortive eggs 5 days after treatment. This ovicidal effect was also detected by Priestley et al.
To use, mix a few drops of tea tree oil into another oil, like coconut oil, and massage it into your scalp. Let sit for 10 minutes before rinsing out.
Coconut oil also works to su ocate lice and has been shown to be especially e ective when combined with anise oil. A study from Brazil found that after a four-hour period of coconut oil application, up to 80% of lice were dead. Coconut oil can be di cult to apply and comb out, as it hardens in colder temperatures.
Castor and coconut benefit from longer contact, but only if your pores can handle it. Sleep with it too often or too heavily and the effects of leaving oil in hair too long show up fast: clogged follicles, itchy scalp, even folliculitis.
Conditioner stuns head lice for around 20 minutes and makes hair slippery, making it easier to remove lice from the head.
The simplest way to dilute tea tree oil is with a carrier oil like coconut oil or almond oil. Mix 2-3 tablespoons of carrier oil with 2-3 drops of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is completely safe to use provided it is diluted correctly with a carrier oil.
Don't mix Tea Tree Oil with other active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, retinol, retinoids, tretinoin, Retin-A, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, vitamin c, etc. Best to use one or the other, not both. Never use it more than once a day – less is more!
Small studies have also shown that tea tree oil in combination with lavender oil can kill lice eggs and reduce the number of live lice. Tea tree oil seems to be relatively safe for use on the skin, although it can cause irritation or swelling for some. Remember, though, that it is poisonous if swallowed.
Identify Your Symptoms
Most people don't experience itching until they've had lice for 4-6 weeks. If you just started itching, your infestation likely began at least four weeks ago. People who have had lice before may develop itching more quickly during subsequent infestations.
When used at full strength, this essential oil can cause allergic reactions, dryness, blisters, and rashes. Either buy a product that contains diluted tea tree oil or dilute it yourself. For every one to two drops of tea tree oil, add about 12 drops of a carrier oil like argan, coconut, or jojoba.
If wet combing has not worked or is not suitable, you could try a medicated lotion or spray. These kill head lice in all types of hair, and you can buy them from pharmacies, supermarkets or online. Head lice should die within a day. Some lotions and sprays come with a comb to remove dead lice and eggs.
Moisturize dry scalp: Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a carrier oil. Massage the mixture onto your dry scalp for 10 to 15 minutes daily. Wash out the mixture with your regular shampoo.
Lice Hate Coconut!
Swap out your hair care products for some that are coconut scented or are made with natural coconut oils. Some studies have shown lice are repelled by the smell of coconut. If you're attached to your shampoo brand, you can simply add a few drops of coconut oil to it for a similar effect.
Tea tree oil may help reduce dandruff, calm scalp itch, and support hair growth. However, overuse can cause dryness and irritation or strip your hair's natural oils, making your hair more prone to damage. Always dilute tea tree oil before using it and do a patch test for reactions.
Take a teaspoon of tea tree oil and add a teaspoon of rosemary or eucalyptus oil to it 3. Mix it well and pour this into your normal shampoo mixture 4. Stir it well and use this to rinse your hair thoroughly.
Mix one tablespoon of organic coconut oil with ten drops of tea tree oil in a small bowl. Apply the mixture on your scalp and massage into your roots for ten minutes – be sure to focus areas you feel are extra dry or itchy.
Essential Oils: Some essential oils, like tea tree, lavender, and eucalyptus, have been touted to repel lice and even kill them. Oils must be mixed with a carrier oil (like coconut oil) before applying to the scalp, so the previous mention of olive oil can be just as effective.
Undiluted tea-tree oil is a pure natural product. In the presence of atmospheric oxygen but also when exposed to light and higher temperatures, oxidation processes occur leading to the formation of peroxides, epoxides and endoperoxides which have a sensitising potency and may trigger allergic skin reactions.
Never use products that can cause fire, called flammable products, to kill lice or to remove nits. Such products include kerosene or gasoline. Don't use products made for animals, such as flea shampoos.
Benzyl alcohol (Ulesfia). This lotion kills active lice, not eggs. It can treat head lice in children aged 6 months and older, and it's safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Comb the hair first, shampoo the product into dry hair, and let it sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing.
Lice cannot “fall” on pillows, sheets, stuffed animals, and other bedding unless the hair that they are attached to fall. But they can't live on these surfaces, or on hats, scarves, furniture, or carpet. They also can't live on pets or any other animals. Nits can't live without a human host.