10 Best Remedies to Get Rid of Lice Naturally in One Day

Lice are small insects that develop on the scalp and feed on human blood. They can spread from person to person through contact. Dealing with them can be frustrating. But you do not require harsh chemicals to get rid of them! With natural home remedies, you can effectively and safely clear them out. This blog will guide you on “how to get rid of lice naturally in one day” and how to prevent them! 

How To Get Rid of Lice Naturally in One Day: 10 Effective Remedies

How to remove lice naturally in a single day? Though it’s possible to get rid of lice in one day, using these natural remedies several times can be helpful:

1. Wet Combing 

According to a study, wet combing is the best approach to detect lice as water makes it difficult for the lice to hold onto hair strands. Wet combing is very effective but time-consuming. This is how you can perform wet combing:

How to do:

1. Take a fine-toothed comb. Use a cloth or newspapers around the area you choose to sit. 

2. Spray the water all over the hair. You can use a little hair conditioner along the strands of the hair. 

3. This makes the hair strands slippery, and the lice instantly fall off the scalp when combed. 

4. Divide the scalp into various sections and slowly comb the hair. The lice and nits will fall off and accumulate on the neck and the newspapers.

2. Neem Leaves / Neem Oil 

Using neem leaves to keep insects and parasites away is an age-old tradition. Neem contains azadirachtin, an insecticide that kills the lice. You can also use neem water to get rid of lice naturally in one day. 

How to use:

1. Pluck a few leaves and boil them in water.

2. Make a paste and apply it to your scalp and leave for 2 hours.

3. Wash your scalp with regular shampoo.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar 

Apple cider vinegar is one of the best home remedies for lice, as its acidity makes the scalp an unfavorable environment for lice to grow. Vinegar dissolves the sticky substance that helps the lice cling to hair strands. Thus, they fall off and can be washed away. 

How to use: 

1. Carefully apply vinegar to your scalp and massage gently.

2. Leave for 3 hours and wash the scalp. The head lice will be washed away, leaving you with a clean scalp.

3. Repeat the process as per your preference.

4. Tea Tree Oil

Due to the strong aromatic scent and healing properties of essential oils like anise oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and anise oil, lice are less likely to breed on a scalp. Research showed that tea tree oil is one of the best essential oils for lice that kills up to 100% of lice within 30 minutes of application.

How to use:

1. Add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice into a carrier oil (vegetable oil, coconut oil). 

2. Massage the oil mixture onto your scalp. Leave it on for 2 hours or more, then wash the scalp.

5. Heat 

Lice and nits cannot survive in extreme heat (>55°C) for more than 5 minutes. An easy way is to use your hair dryer to bring heat to your hair.  

How to do:

1. Use the blow dryer on the highest setting. Bring the nozzle close to the hair shafts. 

2. Any lice clinging to the hair strands will be paralyzed due to the hot wind blowing in their direction. 

3. Comb the hair with a fine-tooth comb to pull off the lice from the scalp.

6. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a thick, dense oils that suffocate the lice on the head when applied on the scalp. The lice get caught up in the oil and find it difficult to move around the scalp.  

How to use:  

1. Apply the oil on the scalp and leave for 4 hours. For better results, leave overnight. 

2. You can wash the scalp with a regular shampoo or comb the lice with a fine-tooth comb. 

7. Petroleum Jelly 

Available under the brand name Vaseline, petroleum jelly suffocates lice and prevents them from running around on the scalp. It was also found to prevent the eggs and nits from hatching. It stops the continuous life cycle of the lice. This method can be messy, but it is very effective to get rid of lice naturally in one day. 

How to use:

1. Apply petroleum jelly on the scalp either with your fingers or with the help of a fine-tooth comb.

2. Massage it all over the scalp and leave for 3 hours or overnight. 

3. Repeat the treatment to be completely free from lice. 

8. Garlic 

Garlic consists of compounds, sulfur, and allicin, which have antimicrobial effects that help kill lice. Their strong odor also suffocates the lice, which makes it difficult to breathe. 

How to use: 

1. Crush 8-10 cloves of garlic and make a thin paste with a little oil.

2. If you don't fancy the thick paste, mix the crushed garlic in excess oil and mix well.

3. Apply the paste or the oil onto the scalp and leave for one hour. You can comb your hair to remove the lice or wash the scalp with warm water. 

9. Olive Oil 

Coating your hair with olive oil and covering it with a shower cap or plastic wrap can help suffocate the lice. This makes it tough for them to breathe, which, in turn, kills them. 

How to use:

1. Apply olive oil all over the hair and scalp.

2. Cover the hair with a shower cap or plastic wrap to keep the olive oil in place.

3. Leave the olive oil on for several hours or overnight.

4. Rinse the olive oil out of the hair with warm water and shampoo.

5. Use a fine-toothed lice comb to comb out the lice and nits (eggs) from the hair. Soak the comb in hot water after each pass through the hair to kill any remaining lice.

6. Repeat the combing process several times throughout the day to ensure that all lice and nits are removed.

10. Onion Paste 

Of late, onions have gained attention for their antibacterial and hair-fortifying properties. With their strong essence and sulfur compounds, onions can help you discourage lice growth and kill lice.

How to use: 

1. Make some onion juice by blending the onions with water in a blender.

2. Apply the juice on the scalp and leave for 2-3 hours.

3. Comb the hair to remove the dead lice from the scalp.

Are Natural Remedies Effective to Get Rid of Lice?

Natural remedies are often considered effective ways to get rid of lice, but their success can vary from person to person. While some people find that certain natural treatments can help reduce or even eliminate lice infestations, others may not experience the same results. It's important to remember that natural remedies may work better when used correctly and consistently. 

Because these treatments typically avoid harsh chemicals, they are often considered safer for children and those with sensitive skin. However, it's always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional before relying solely on natural remedies for lice removal.

Professional Treatments to Get Rid of Lice

If natural remedies do not work or you quickly get lice again, consult a dermatologist for effective treatments. Those include:

Topical Insecticides: 

• Permethrin 1% lotion: Helps kill both lice and their eggs. 

• Pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide: Kills lice but not their eggs. 

• Malathion 0.5% lotion: Kills lice as well as eggs. 

• Spinosad 0.9% suspension: Kills lice and their eggs as well. 

Prescription Medications: 

• Ivermectin 0.5% lotion: Helps get rid of both lice and their eggs.

• Benzyl alcohol 5% lotion: Eliminates lice but not their eggs.

Certain Precautions:

• Use the medicated shampoos and lotions as directed. One application is enough to get rid of lice, but you may need to apply the second time in about 7-10 days to alleviate newly hatched eggs.

• Wash clothes, bedding, and other infected items in hot water.

• Vacuum thoroughly.

• Avoid sharing your personal items.

Symptoms of Lice: How to Know?

The following are the symptoms of lice on the head:

• Intense scalp itching 

• Scalp irritation

• Nits on the hair shafts

• Feeling like a live louse that quickly moves on the scalp

• Lice in the comb after combing the hair

• Headache: In some cases, lice can cause headaches

If you notice any of these symptoms, see a dermatologist for proper care. 

Potential Causes of Head Lice

These factors contribute to head lice:

• Direct Head-to-Head Contact: The common way through which lice spread, particularly in children.

• Sharing Personal Items: Sharing infected combs, pillows, scarves, or hats can also spread lice.

• Close Living Spaces: Lice easily spread in crowded settings such as camps, schools, and daycare centers.

Best Lice Prevention Tips

To prevent lice infestation, you can follow these tips:

1. Avoid close contact with individuals who have lice.

2. Don't share personal items such as hats, brushes, and pillows with others.

3. Keep your hair clean and well-maintained.

4. Use a lice-repellent shampoo or spray on your hair.

5. Check your hair regularly for lice or nits (eggs).

6. Wash bedding, towels, and clothing that may have come into contact with lice in hot water and dry them on high heat.

7. Vacuum your bed, furniture, and floors regularly to remove lice or nits.

By following these prevention measures, you can greatly reduce your risk of getting lice and help stop the spread of the infestation. 

Head Lice vs Dandruff: What’s the Difference? 

Head lice are sometimes mistaken for dandruff, so understanding the difference between both in terms of location, appearance, itching, contagion, and movement can help take appropriate measures to treat and prevent them: 

Can Lice Damage Your Hair?

Lice themselves do not damage your hair. But, they can lead to extreme scratching and itching that cause hair damage. This potentially causes hair thinning and breakage that even leads to hair loss. Hence, it is very crucial to permanently get rid of lice with medical treatments.

Things to Avoid When Trying the Methods to Kill Lice

DON’T consider these things when alleviating lice:

• Never use excess amounts of prescribed medicine for lice treatment to try to quickly get rid of them. Extra dosages can cause severe damage.

• Do not use the same lice treatment more than 2-3 times. Frequent repetitions can build resistance to the medicine and reduce its effectiveness.
  Do not use more than 1 lice medicine at the same time. Instead of quickly killing the lice, they can cause harm.

• Avoid conditioners as they work as a barrier for lice medicines and stop them from properly sticking to your hair shaft.

• Moreover, never use lindane shampoo for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend it because its misuse and overuse can be dangerous for the brain or other parts of the nervous system. 

Summing Up 

How to get rid of lice naturally in one day? With wet combing, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, neem leaves, camphor, garlic, onion paste, etc, you can clear out the lice effectively and safely. Remember, consistency is key, and with the right approach, you’ll find it’s possible to naturally eliminate lice without much fuss. However, the best idea is to visit a doctor for the appropriate treatment.