How To Use Tea Tree Oil To Get Rid Of Head Lice Fast

Head Lice Treatment

Are the head lice bothering you since a long time? You are not alone. Millions of people especially children are affected by head lice every year.

What Causes Head Lice?

Head lice are contagious. You can become infected with head lice when the insects crawl onto your head. The main causes of head lice include:

Head to head contact. Touching your head to an infected person’s head.
sharing the personal items (e.g., comb) of someone with head lice. Using things of an infected person are the main reasons of head lice spreading from one person to another.
using a fabric item after an infected person.
Lice can be transferred by brushes, combs, barrettes, headbands, headphones, and hats. They can also live for a time on upholstered furniture, bedding, towels, or clothing.

What Are The Symptoms Of Head Lice?

Symptoms of head lice include:

extreme scalp itchiness
feeling like something is crawling on your scalp
sores and scabs on your scalp from scratching

How To Get Rid Of Head Lice?

As they reproduce and mature very quickly it is impossible to get rid of them in a single sitting. They can survive in wet hair and don’t get washed out as they stick tightly to hair strands.

And the worst part is – head lice have become resistant to most of the chemical head lice treatment available in the market. And chemicals present in them can damage your hair and hurt your scalp.

But don’t worry we do have a simple solution that provides effective results without any side effects. And that is – Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil For Lice

Well, let’s first learn what makes tea tree oil good enough to treat head lice infestation?

1. Tea Tree Oil For Lice

Tea tree oil contains two major elements – 1,8-cineole and terpinen-4-ol. These two elements have insecticidal properties which help in killing head lice.

2. For Nits or Lice Eggs

The nits are strongly attached to the hair shaft by the mother head lice. The gummy texture that connects nits and hair shaft is very strong. This gummy texture will be dissolved by the application of tea tree oil which makes it easy to remove while combing.

3. For Re-Infestation

The strong smell of tea tree repels the head lice from transferring from one to another. This is very helpful in preventing the infestation when a person or child in your house or class is already affected by head lice.

How to Use Tea Tree Oil For Head Lice?

There are different ways of using tea tree oil for treating head lice. We have listed them below with a detailed description. You can choose any one among them as per your preference. As we already mentioned treating head lice in one sitting is not possible you have try the process regularly until you get rid of them completely.

Home Remedies For Head Lice

Below are 9 effective home remedies to get rid of head lice:

1. Tea Tree Oil

This is the most effective ones in the treating head lice. As the tea tree oil alone without diluting is very strong, please make sure to patch test before using.

Apply few drops of tea tree oil on the scalp and along the hair before going to sleep.
Leave the application overnight. (Place a towel on the pillow)
The next morning, comb your hair to remove the dead lice.
Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner which contain tea tree oil.
Repeat 2 – 3 times in a week depending on the severity of head lice infestation.

2. Tea Tree Oil Spray

This process is very easy to do, safe for even sensitive skin and effective as well. For people who cannot withstand the strong nature of tea tree oil, this process is safe for them.

Fill an empty spray bottle with water.
Add 3 – 4 drops of tea tree oil into it.
Close the lid and shake well to let the ingredients combined together.
Spray the solution onto the scalp and along the hair.
Leave it until you next hair wash.
Comb your hair thoroughly before rinsing your hair.
Repeat the process regularly until you don’t find any head lice.

Note: Spray the diluted tea tree oil on the furniture, stuffed toys, clothing and carpets to eliminate any head lice residing on them.

3. Tea Tree Oil with Coconut Oil and Natural Shampoo

The viscosity of this combination suffocates the head lice to breathe, feed and reproduce. This makes them impossible to live and eventually die.

Combine 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil, 1 ounce of natural shampoo, and 3 tablespoons of coconut oil.
Apply the solution to the scalp and hair.
Cover your hair with either a towel or shower cap.
Leave it on for 30 minutes.
Comb your hair thoroughly to remove the dead lice.
Wash your hair normally with shampoo and conditioner.
Repeat 2 – 3 times a week.

4. Tea Tree Oil with Lavender Oil

Lavender oil contains insecticidal properties which kills head lice. The combination of lavender oil and tea tree oil act as suffocation agent, which makes it hard for head lice to breathe.

Combine 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil and ½ teaspoon of lavender oil.
Apply the solution onto the scalp and hair.
Leave the application for an hour or overnight.
Comb your hair thoroughly to remove head lice and wash your hair normally.
Repeat the process 2 – 3 times a week.

5. Tea Tree Oil with Olive Oil

The insecticidal properties of olive oil kill the head lice. The combination of tea tree oil and olive oil makes it hard for head lice to crawl on the scalp.

Mix few drops of tea tree oil into 2 – 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
Apply the solution onto the scalp and hair.
Leave the application for 30 – 60 minutes and rinse with water.
Rinse your hair again with vinegar to further prevent lice.
Comb your hair to remove the dead lice.
Repeat the process for several days until you get rid of head lice completely.

6. Tea Tree Oil with Vodka

The combination of tea tree oil and vodka works effectively in killing the head lice. This process provides immediate relief from the itching.

Combine 15 – 20 drops of tea tree oil and 2 ounces of vodka.
Mix well until the two ingredients combine well.
Using a cotton ball, apply the solution onto the scalp and hair.
Leave it on for 10 – 12 hours.
Wash your hair thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner.
Repeat the process regularly.

7. Tea Tree Oil with Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol contains disinfectant properties. It provides relief from the itching and heals the open sores. It prevents the head lice from sucking your blood.

Combine 20 drops of tea tree oil and 3 – 4 ounces of rubbing alcohol.
Pour onto a spray bottle, close the lid and shake well.
Spray the solution onto the scalp and hair.
Leave the application for 12 hours or overnight.
Next morning, wash your hair normally.
Repeat the process 2 times a week to eliminate the head lice completely.

8. DIY Lice Treatment Solution

In this process we will use sesame oil, neem oil, eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil and tea tree oil. All these oil have the properties of killing the head lice, loosening the nits and reducing the itchiness. It is a natural alternative for commercial lice treatment kits.

Into a mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil, 1/3 cup of neem oil, 1/4 cup of sesame oil, 1 1/2 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil, 5 – 10 drops of lavender oil and 10 drops of rosemary oil.
Mix the ingredients well until they are completely blended.
Apply the solution onto the scalp and along the hair.
Leave the application overnight.
Next morning, wash your hair normally and towel dry.
Repeat the process 2 times a week until the head lice are completely eliminated.

9. Tea Tree Oil with Shampoo

There are different ways of using tea tree oil with your regular shampoo. Choose any one among them and include it in your regular routine to prevent and eliminate head lice.

Method 1:

Mix 10 drops of tea tree oil into your shampoo or conditioner.
Wash your hair normally with this mixture.
Leave the application for 7 – 10 minutes before rinsing off.
Repeat the process regularly.

Method 2: With Apple Cider Vinegar

Into a spray bottle, add 5 ml of tea tree oil, 2 – 3 tablespoons of shampoo and 1 cup of apple cider vinegar.
Close the lid and shake the bottle well to incorporate the ingredients.
Spray the solution onto the scalp and along the hair.
Tie your hair and cover it with a shower cap.
Leave it on for about 20 – 30 minutes.
Wash your hair normally with shampoo and conditioner.
Repeat the process 3 – 4 times a week until the head lice are completely eliminated.

Method 3: with Rosemary or Eucalyptus Oil

Combine 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil and 1 teaspoon of either rosemary or eucalyptus oil.
Pour this solution into your shampoo and conditioner and mix well.
Now you can use them regularly to wash your hair.

Note: Make sure the eucalyptus oil doesn’t enter into your eye or mouth as it causes irritation and pain.

Method 4: Tree Oil Shampoo Treatment

Take any shampoo/conditioner containing tea tree oil.
Apply it on the scalp and along the hair.
Tie and cover your hair with shower cap.
Leave the application overnight.
Comb your hair thoroughly to remove the dead lice.
Rinse your hair with lukewarm water.
Repeat the process regularly.

Tips and Precautions:

Make sure to patch tea tree oil before trying out regular treatments.
Avoid tea tree oil if you are allergic or sensitive to it.
Avoid internal consumption of tea tree oil as it is highly toxic. It can cause side effects like confusion, coma, diarrhea and drowsiness.
Don’t leave any application more than instructed as it can damage the scalp.
Pregnant and lactating women should avoid using tea tree oil.
If one person of the family is infested with head lice then everyone in the family should follow regular head lice treatment to prevent the spreading of head lice.
Wash the bed sheets and pillows in hot water.
Vacuum the floors or carpets regularly.
Avoid head to head contact and sharing hair accessories with infested person.
Clean you combs and hair accessories regularly.