Arg – my daughter is in her first year of primary school and this week came home with a letter announcing that the whole school is teeming with the dreaded head lice. In an attempt to avoid the highly chemical solutions used when I was a child I have done some research and come up with a selection of natural alternatives.

Lice are tiny insects commonly found living on the scalp and within the hair. The condition is very common among young children. Head lice can be transmittable and spreads by sharing combs, hairbrushes, caps, hats and hair accessories.

Traditional chemical lice treatments are toxic and unnecessary, I have horrible memories of being repeatedly doused in the stuff while my mum viciously combed my hair.  So what are the alternatives?

Aromatherapy Oils:

Widely used essential oils are: Tea Tree, Lavender, Oregano and Cinnamon.

The following essential oil blend can work well in fightig lice infestation:

• 5 drops Tea Tree Oil
• 5 drops Lavender Oil
• 20 drops Olive oil / Coconut Oil

Rub this oil in to the scalp. Leave on for about 1 hour. Wash off.

For excellent results, use a nit comb only once 15 minutes are up, i.e. before washing the hair. Use the oil twice a week. (Source – tanundranust.com)

Tea Tree Oil:

Tea Tree Oil is an amazing infection fighter. It kills the lice and also destroys their eggs. Lavender has a soothing and restorative effect.

• You can kill lice infesting sheets, napkins and blankets by adding 15 drops of Tea Tree Oil into the washing machine, along with the detergent.

To prevent further infestation, add 8 to 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil to the shampoo, or to a pint of water and fill in a spray bottle. Spray over the hair every morning with this solution.

If you want to pick up something ready made there are a few non toxic options on the market:

Fairy Tales Lice Goodbye £9.95:

Fairy Tales Lice Good-Bye is a new product to help remove nits. This is a nontoxic, pesticide free, enzyme based shampoo that is safe and effective. It has been clinically proven to dissolve nit “glue” to help parents remove lice and nits from the hair more efficiently.

Melvita – Capipoux £15.00

Capipoux hair gel helps to eliminate head lice and nits by coating them and blocking their air supply.

Capipoux uses no chemicals but uses Lavender, Geranium and Basil essential oils, known for their cleansing properties to combine with this physical process. This 100% natural gel is kind to the hair and scalp and may be used regularly as head lice do not become accustomed to it.