Head Lice Infestation

T.,
I have read that lice don't like tea tree oil...maybe the advice you were give about Paul Mitchell was because they have a shampoo w/ tea tree oil in it. Haven't personally tried it, but..why not? It's slippery and they can't hang on to the hair as well.

Good luck
L.

It doesnt matter what kind of shampoo you use. After you treated you girls hair did you also treat the house. A couple of years ago when I got head lice, my mother sterilized the house basically because the girls next door had head lice and their mom didnt clean the house after she treated their hair and they got it again. Also, talk to their doctor and she whick head lice treatment is the best for them.

You need to actually do the shampoo treatment for a few days. Regular shampoo will not get rid of it. You can get the kits at Walmart or any store like that. They are expensive, but they do work. Also you need to really deep clean your house and throw away or disinfect really good anything your kids may have slept on. The lice will continue to hatch and multiply on items of clothing and fabric if you haven't done that. Good luck!

Lice love clean heads, how often do you wash their hair? If its more than every other day or every 2 days, you might be washing it too much. I had a problem with lice when I was in school because of the little kids that their parents didn't take care of them, I got my hair full of dirt, grass, sand, whatever and since then I haven't had a problem with them. Also the lice can live on stuffed animals, sheets, pillows, soft furniture, you will need to treat those as well.

There is some over the counter lice treatments you might try. Best of luck.

T. I really feel your pain! I was one of those kids in school that always seemed to catch the lice, by second grade my hair went from being to the small of my back to a bowl cut- that actually did help! I have two girls now and I cringe at the day I have to go through it with them- I have a severe bug phobia! My MIL got me this great stuff called Fairy Tales, it's a natural organic hair care line made especially for children and made to get this- REPEL lice and other insects from hair! So far it has worked great. It's not expensive and I think totally worth it. The website is www.fairytaleshaircare.com Good luck!

Hi T.,

I had head lice all the time as a child. I firmly believe that some kids attract them more than others (I was also the kid who got eaten alive by mosquitos), and that it has nothing to do with being dirty or clean. The only thing that kept me from getting it was when my mom made all of us kids (there were 4 of us) start rinsing our hair in the shower with vinegar after we washed our hair, but before we put conditioner in it. Put it in an empty dish detergent bottle, and keep it in the bathroom. Let the bottle sit in the bottom of the tub while the water is running in order to get it warm. Otherwise it'll be really cold on their little heads. After shampooing, pour the vinegar on their heads, and let it sit there while your daughters wash their bodies. Rinse the vinegar out, and then put conditioner in. The conditioner helps to mask the smell of the vinegar, but it doesn't get rid of it all together. It's much more subtle after the hair dries, and I never minded it since it kept me from getting lice anymore. I did that from the time I was in 4th grade until I went to college, and then started using it again after college when I started working with children on a daily basis. My roommates were also co-workers, and they each got lice once, but I never did.

I know it sounds weird, but it worked for my family.

Hi T.,
First off, you have my sympathy!! My daughter got lice in Kindergarten and last year in first grade. And it's a big pain to get rid of. I used RID, chlorestrol for hair(from Walmart) and tea tree oil shampoo (which you can get at Sally Beauty Supply - and anyone can shop there, you just have to have a beautician's license to buy the perms). Anyway, I used the RID as directed(even the stuff you spray on the mattresses), then nit picked FOR HOURS(if you can do it outside in the natural sunlight; it's much easier to see the critters), all the while washing everything in that can be washed in the hotest water possible then drying everything on the hottest temp possible - including stuffed animals. Vaccuming EVERYTHING, mattresses and all. Before bed i would slather on the Chlorestrol put a shower cap on my daughter's head and let her sleep in that all night. (the only down fall is you have to wash her hair in the AM before school) We also used the tea tree oil shampoo for about a month to a month and a half and contined the insane vaccuming the entire time. I too didn't understand why my daughter would get them. When i was growing up it was on the 'dirty' kids that would get them? I would not wish lice on my worse enemy, it's the most horrible thing EVER! Good Luck!!

I don't think the kind of shampoo you use on a regular basis matters, although I have heard that they do not like tea tree oil, so maybe a shampoo with that... basically it sounds like you have some resilient little buggers there that will need multiple treatments. I can't stress enough how important it is to CLEAN EVERYTHING in the meantime. Vacuum carpets, wash bedding, favorite stuffed animals... all of it. Also car seats or booster seat covers. Make double sure you pick through the girls' hair really well too, checking for nits. One lice treatment is pretty much the same as the rest, so no recommendations there. I'm sending good wishes your way because I know how frustrating this problem can be!!

T.,
First off, know that you are not alone. Lice has a reputation of being something that "dirty" children get, but lice are actually attracted to "clean" hair. (This is why you see the slicked back look so much in Middle Eastern countries - to help prevent head lice. My boys had a case at the end of summer and just had a case as they went back to school. Just be diligent. Check their heads frequently and pay attention when they are scratching their heads. Hang in there!
KB

I got head lice a few times when I was younger. I have never heard that they don't like certain shampoos. I would try your SIL's suggestion though, it can't hurt anything. To get rid of the lice they have now you should wash their hair a couple more times with RID or other shampoo made for killing lice and thouroughly clean your house. Wash all linens and clothes, and vacuum all rugs or anything upholstered. Maybe your daughter got it from a friend at school and after you got rid of it last week she contracted it again from the same person.

I don't have personal experience (thank goodness), but two of my neighbors' girls got lice. You need the over-the-counter treatment that includes for hair/head, comb and treatment for furniture I believe. You have to wash everything, treat toys, furniture, etc. One neighbor bagged stuffed animals, toys, etc. and left closed up (with treatment, I think). They also got tree tea oil shampoo b/c lice don't like it. You have to really comb and get the eggs off hair shafts.

Head lice prefer clean hair over dirty hair so the type of shampoo doesn't matter- it's more how often you shampoo. Most likely you aren't getting all of the lice when you've treated them, particularly if you are still finding live ones a few days to a week later. If any eggs are left, they will hatch and begin to reproduce quickly. The only way to get rid of it is to be absolutely meticulous when you are treating their heads and make sure every single egg is gone. Also make sure you boil their brushes, combs and other hair things. Good luck!

When you are treating your daughters are you also cleaning their bedsheets and cleaning up every where they have been? Do they have thick hair? Thick holds more of them so therefore it takes longer to get rid of. My little sister back when she was in school she had the problem but it was on going. I am 36 and when I was growing up my dad used kerosene on us yes kerosene. It definately killed them. I didn't know there were certain shampoos that lice didn't like. I have never heard that before.
You may have to take them to the DR. to have him prescribe something for them. Good Luck
Sh

Everyone seems to say their pediatricians told them lice like clean hair. Our pediatrician disagrees. We have always loved her because she takes a more holistic approach rather than just writing out prescriptions all the time - which is what we believe is right for our children and their immune systems. If lice like clean hair then why don't we adults - who shower on a daily basis - seem to ever get them when our children have them? Let's face it - most kids don't start showering on a daily basis until they are older than 10.

This is our experience:

My daughter had it twice within her first year at school at it drove us crazy. What we learned about lice was 2 things - they won't live in clean hair and they won't attach themselves to hair folicles with "product" on them. Think about it - how often do adults get head lice? Even if their children get them, parents usually don't. My daughter had been using my hairbrush. I was so freaked out that I was going to have lice too, but I didn't get them. So we make sure that her hair is washed every night and we use a leave-in conditioner. She hasn't had them since and neither have my other 2 children - it's been 3 years. I don't think it really matters what kind of shampoo you use. We still use a "no tear" shampoo & conditioner. Sometimes Johnson & Johnsons or Suave or whatever is on sale. I think the leave-in conditioner might do the trick!

My sister got head lice as a child and I got just the eggs, never had lice. All I remember is that the first product my parents tried with me was useless. They had not wanted to use Rid because from what I remember it was messy. However, Rid is what worked for both my sister and me.

I don't think shampoo matters, unless you are constantly using the lice killing shampoo, which I would not recommend. I would give your house a thorough cleaning and all of your children's cloths to try to get rid of any hangers on that could reinfest your children's heads.

Hi, T. - Head lice do not like Melaleuca oil; "tea tree" oil. I believe it may be in Paul Mitchell shampoo. Melaleuca: The Wellness Company is the largest importer of Melaleuca oil in the world. They keep the top two grades of the oil for their customers and sell off the lesser grades to Paul Mitchell, Body Shop, etc. - other manufacturers who want the medicinal properties of M. oil in their products. Certainly, it is worth a try on the Paul Mitchell shampoo. If you want to get exceptional products at reasonable prices, please try Melaleuca! The laundry products contain Melaleuca oil as well. I believe you need to treat your clothing & bedding as well when head lice is an issue. If you'd like more info, please let me know. Good luck! N.
melaleuca.com
saferforyourhome.com
http://www.thewhycircle.com/nkboecker

I got this tip from a couple of kindergarten teachers when lice were going around my sons class. Tea tree oil or rosemary will keep them from getting lice. Any shampoo or conditioner that you buy with one of these listed as an ingredient should do the trick. If you shop somewhere like Trader Joes it should be an easy thing to find. I have also found products at Walmart that work too.

T.,
I know exactly how you feel!! My now 6 yr old had head lice when she was in preschool for almost 10 months, everyone in the house got it once and everyone and everything was treated but she kept getting it. We tried everything, mayo in the hair for hours, this is supposed to smother them, over the counter treatments, prescription treatments and she would still get it. We even cut her hair short to see if this would help. We were told to use shampoo with rosemary in it, they dont like the rosemary, keep their hair in braids and use hair spray, we did all of this and my daughter still got it. This is going to sound crazy I am sure but this is what we found work and knock on wood we have not delt with it in a year, I pulled her hair in a pony tail except I left down in the back the section that is the underneath, from like just above the bottom of the ear to the the base of her neck and I shaved this section as close as I could. The second time she got it from someone in her kindergarten class I actually shaved alittle more just be be safe, I ran my fingers from the top of her ear around to the back of her head, I pulled all of this up and shaved the bottom. Belive it or not it worked and has been completely successful, knock on wood. I had a hair dresser tell me it worked because most of the time the eggs are in the bootm of the hair line because it is thick and warm and when the hair is wet it takes the longest time to dry. IF this had you completely confused as to what I shaved, I dont know if you were in high school when it was popular for the girls basketball team to shave the back of their head for when they played a game and pulled their hair into pony tail they did not have to worry about hair being to short to stay in, well if you were this is what I shaved, I think they also shaved their numbers in the area as well! I hope this helps it is so frustrating and can get very expensive to treat and retreat! I also had my ped. tell me to freexe the bug out of your house.... one a cool/cold day open all of your windows and air out your house, I am not sure if this worked or not but it may be worth a try!

It doesn't matter what regular shampoo you use. Sometimes you have to use the lice treatment twice. The most important thing you have to do in addition to treating the children is to clean the house! This means wash everything! This is the bedding (pillows too), all the clothes, linens, and stuffed animals. Use HOT water and a HOT dryer or have things dry cleaned. Boil your combs and brushes for at least 10 minutes or pitch and buy new. Spray the mattresses and other soft furniture and clean the carpets. Don't let the neighbor kids in for a while. How do you know the neighbors don't have lice? Have you checked them? If you get another infestation after not having them over for a while, you know where it's coming from.

Go to fairytaleshaircare.com - I haven't used these products but know mom's who swear by them!

Try putting Cetaphil cleanser on the hair and blow-drying it completely. Leave it on overnight. There's more info here: http://www.freewebs.com/longevitycoffee/Merrill/homework/...
You do need to wash everything regularly or put stuff (pillowcases, blankets, stuffed animals, etc) in the dryer on high heat. I've heard tea tree oil shampoos are good for maintenance, but I don't know.

Hi T., you have had some really good advise given. This is a really hard thing to deal with..just remember that lice loves clean hair..Always put some type of styling aid in your daughters hair before they go to school..mousse, hair spray,or gel. Just make sure and use a good product that doesn't have a lot of alcohol in it, you don't want to damage their hair. After the first treatment you must re-treat the head again in 7-10 days..After you treat the hair it will need to be conditioned, the treatment for lice will really dry the hair. Make sure that everything is clean (washed in very hot water). even stuffed animals and comforters..if they are to big, you can tie them up tight in a big garbage bag for four weeks and that will take care of it also. And make sure that the school knows..It want do you any good if someone in the class is re-infesting after you get rid of them.. Good luck!!