Compiled from many web sites, my sister in law, and my friends…ok mostly from my sister in law. Anyway, after research, here is what I am doing:
(I’m writing this down so that I know what to do in the future.)
1. Use the OTC cancer in a box. You have a variety of brands…NIX or RID are the most common. We used RID because it was a little less toxic than NIX, but RID does not kill the eggs. I’m starting to wish that we would have used the NIX. Oh well…live and learn. Make sure you put the shampoo on dry hair. Water will water down the potency and the lice probably won’t die. The shampoo will suffocate the live lice. Leave on for 10 minutes. If you leave it on longer, it is too toxic for the skull. Some people say to leave it on longer for good measure. Whatever. That’s too dangerous. Anyway, then add some water, lather it up and rinse it out.
2. Put on some sort of gel, oil, or conditioner and comb through the hair to get rid of the snarls. The first time, I used the RID stuff. I’m not going to do that anymore. I’m just going to use the TTO conditioner. It’s not so toxic.
3. Use one of the lice combs and comb through each strand of hair. Wipe off the comb often. You need to remove every last egg. Some of the lice won’t be dead, but will come off with the comb. They will die soon..they are just resistant to the shampoo. If the hair starts to dry, put more gel or conditioner on. That will help comb through each strand.
4. Clean your house..wash everything on high heat and vacuum everything. Stuffed animals, dress up clothes, dolls with fake hair have to be frozen or put in the dryer on high heat for 20 minutes. If either of these aren’t possible, seal it up in a bag for a couple of weeks. (We are washing bedding daily on high heat.)
6. Go to your health food store. Buy apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil conditioner and tea tree oil.
7. Put a couple of table spoons of TTO into a spray bottle with water. You can spray your furniture, mattresses, pillows with this. (This repels fleas also.)
Daily until you are sure the eggs and lice are gone:
Sleep with TTO conditioner on the hair. Ellie is sleeping with a shower cap on too. In the morning, rinse with warm water. Then, rinse the hair with a mixture of equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water. Leave on for five minutes then rinse with warm water. The vinegar helps to loosen the eggs. Then, once again, comb hair with the nit comb. You can dip the comb in the cider/water mixture as you comb also. Spray the hair with TTO/water mixture and then you may leave the house.
The first few nights that you sleep without the TTO conditioner, you may want to spray the hair with TTO/water mixture.
If you don’t have lice, but want to prevent it:
Use TTO conditioner at least once a week. You can also put a tsp. of TTO into your regular shampoo. Spray your hair, car, furniture with TTO/water regulary. Rinse your hair with apple cider once a week and leave in for 5 minutes. (We will be doing this to Ellie and Thomas every week during the school year, I think.)
If none of this works:
I read that some of the medicated dandruff shampoos can help. Neem oil can be added to the TTO mixture. Go on vacation for a few days. (If there are no heads in your house, the lice can’t live).
We can’t go on vacation. But, we are going to try every other option before using the prescription stuff. I may be obsessing about this. But, I want these critters gone. Ugh.
One last thing..
I ordered a product called Neon Nits. Apparently, that turns the eggs pink by spraying it on the hair.
Ellie ate corn, a roll and drank Pilgrim’s punch. After the feast, Ellie played with her classmate’s little sister. In this little pool, the children practice their ripping and cutting skills.
Thomas mastered the drinking fountain. “Here’s how you take a drink, Ellie.”
