I’ve come up with two highly effective methods for eradicating a head louse infestation on yourself or someone you love. In my opinion, these are most effective home methods I’ve come across for a DIY parent, without getting prescription level medications or pesticides involved. The methods are comprehensive and aim to disrupt at least two stages of the head louse life cycle simultaneously (targeting and treating to disrupt one stage of the life cycle, only one time, may not fully rid one of a head lice infestation problem).

How did you come up with these treatments?

Simple, I’ve used the products and procedures myself and found that they work very well…also I watched professionals at work 😉

Are these Lice treatment methods non toxic?

Unless you’re allergic to mineral oil, hot air, the plastic used in combs and shower caps, baking soda or Dimethicone, you’re in the clear. There are no pesticides or insecticides, and materials used in my lice treatment methods are generally considered safe.

How and why do these treatments work to get rid of head lice?

Why did God even make these weird creatures? I don’t know, but thank god he made them with a very finite set of parameters for which to keep on living.

The premise of these treatments is to disrupt at least two stages of the head louse life cycle.

By varying the conditions that the louse needs to live, one can kill and stop the head louse infestation. Halt the life cycle, stop the infestation. Kill the living lice, stop the infestation, keep the nit/egg from hatching, stop the life cycle.

A lot of over the counter treatments target just one stage of the life cycle (by killing the live lice) and require at least two treatments, However, I believe that the most effective treatment is one that targets two stages of the life cycle, and the methods I’ve presented do just that.

The more you know…Environment Variables that can be changed to stop the louse life cycle

Temperature – Change the temperature for a long enough time by making it too cold or too hot for the louse live will kill it. Although freezing temperatures can kill head lice and nits, several days may be necessary depending on temperature and humidity. Keeping the head warmer than the louse can withstand is easier than keeping the head colder. A blow dryer running at 130°F works for this.

Oxygen – Preventing the ability of the head louse to breathe will kill it. Mineral oil or any other non-toxic viscous liquid works for this. Bonus points if the liquid/gel has an ovicidal (egg killing) property to it.

Food – Starve the head lice and they will die. Only takes 24 hours from my tests (I took 5 live lice at various stages of development and timed how long they live apart from a human host). It took just shy of 24 hours for the lice to die in my tests. They had plenty of oxygen, and the temperature was around 68-70 degrees F. I assume they succumbed to starvation.

Starving the louse is key in preventing re-infestation of an individual or household. Its important to remove the louse physically from its food source (us!).

Poison/Insecticide – Poison will kill the egg or louse. Most over the counter medications like Rid or Nix try this route, but since most lice are now resistant to the active ingredient contained in the OTC cremes, its a gamble if it will work.

Okay, you’ve bored me to death already and i’ve learned all there is to learn about lice. Lets do this!

Ok, ok! First thing is to choose the method you want to pursue. After that, buy the supplies necessary to complete the treatment. Once you have them you can begin killing lice to your hearts content.

In the things to buy sub-section I’ve listed the various items necessary to treat the lice infestation. The different methods utilize different materials. But first, you’ll need to choose which method to use.

Which one to use… Well, how much time and dedication do you have for this?

There are two methods I’ve outlined with each method more appropriate depending on your  time availability, dedication to carrying out the procedure, and the ease of obtaining the required materials. Both methods can be combined over the course of the head lice removal treatment, but honestly, I think it would be a little overkill. I would just choose one.

If you have a large window of time available and the dedication to finish a 2 hour procedure, choose this one (more intense).

Method 1 (AKA Nuke ’em with everything you got)

Who this applies to: You have a large window of time available and are willing to put in the extra effort at getting rid of head lice once and for all. You don’t want to have to deal with the louse infestation for longer than you have to and want to reduce the chance of having to treat the lice infestation again.

If you have limited windows of time available, and are willing to spread the treatment out over 12 hours, choose this one (less intense)

Method 2 (AKA drown ’em until reinforcements come)

Who this applies to: You have the goods on order and it will take a few days to arrive, but you still want to treat as much as you can since you cant bear the thought of live insects living in your or your loved ones hair. The possibility of a quick re-treatment after 9 days doesn’t bother you as long as it works.