Head Lice: Conditioner & Hair Comb Method

Head lice can be persistent and hard to get rid of, and many people are hesitant to repeatedly use pesticide-based commercial preparations. The conditioner-and-comb approach was designed for those who want to avoid using commercial preparations, and a British study from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has shown that it is four times more effective than using pesticides.

How It Works

According to the Department of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in Australia, common hair conditioners stun lice, slowing their movement for about 20 minutes. Conditioner also makes it harder for the lice to grab the hair shaft, making it easier to comb them out.

Benefits

Since most head lice cases involve children, using the conditioner-and-comb approach avoids the worry of using pesticides on your child's head. Hair conditioner is non-toxic and can be used as often as necessary.

Method

Place a towel around the shoulders and have tissues handy. Apply conditioner liberally to dry hair, making sure to fully soak the hair from scalp to ends. Comb through with a regular comb to untangle the hair, then immediately comb hair with a nit (egg) comb.

Comb through the hair in very small sections, starting at the roots. As each section is combed, pin it up, and move on to the next section. Keep the nit comb clean by wiping it with tissues. After all the hair has been combed, unpin it, and comb through the entire head again in small sections. Rinse hair and dry as usual. Dispose of all tissues in a sealed bag, as the stunned lice will begin moving again. Wash the towel in hot water and dry in a dryer--the heat will kill any lice that dropped onto the towel.

Continuing Treatment

Repeat this process every three days for two weeks. That way, any nits that were missed and have since hatched will be removed before they can lay eggs again.

Misconceptions

It is often said that lice spread by jumping from one head to another. In fact, lice cannot jump or fly; they only walk. Lice spread by head-to-head contact, or the sharing of hats, cellphones or sleeping areas. Head lice are not the result of dirty hair; they actually prefer clean hair.