When someone in the family gets head lice, it’s a normal response to want to reach for the fastest and easiest solution. But, not all head lice treatments are created equal, especially when it comes to over-the-counter hacks like shampoo, conditioner and vegetable oil. Experimenting with these products can get messy and expensive and do nothing to take care of the infestation.
Today, we are going to talk about shampoo and why it’s not an effective way to get rid of head lice. Save yourself the time and money and skip washing your hair as an effective head lice treatment. You’ll be glad you did.
Why Shampoo Won’t Get Rid of Head Lice
One of the most common misconceptions people have about head lice is that they are attracted to dirty hair. Therefore, some people assume that by washing their hair, they can get rid of the infestation. This is not true. Head lice can affect anyone with hair – these pests have no preference for clean or dirty locks. And unfortunately, shampoo of any kind is not going to get rid of the infestation.
The reason for this is because shampoo doesn’t contain any of the necessary ingredients to kill lice and nits (eggs). Furthermore, lice do not drown easily, so scrubbing your child’s head and rinsing it multiple times probably won’t do much to control the infestation. It’s been shown that lice can survive two consecutive shampooings, even when the hair not rinsed for an hour.
What About Medicated Shampoos? Do They Work?
Lice killing shampoos are certainly more effective at killing lice and nits than regular shampoo, but they’re not a guarantee. Furthermore, some of the more effective products contain harmful ingredients like permethrin, an insecticide and neurotoxin that is highly toxic to animals. And, even these products don’t always work, which means you can expose your child to unnecessary chemicals. In fact, lice are becoming increasingly resistant to many of these ingredients.
Are Dandruff Shampoos Effective?
Dandruff shampoo is safe to use, but it only works against dandruff, not head lice. Head lice are living organisms that lay small eggs, whereas dandruff is a yeast-like fungus that lives on the head. Dandruff shampoo is designed to treat the symptoms of itchiness, white flakes and irritation, but it will not kill lice and nits.
Why Combing is the Best Defense You Have
Believe it or not, combing is one of the best defenses you have against head lice. When an infestation has been confirmed, we recommend purchasing the Family Size Head Lice Treatment Kit from My Hair Helpers. This kit contains everything you need to get rid of head lice, including a nit comb. Once you complete the treatment, you should comb through your child’s hair at bath time to remove any casings, lice or eggs. When the comb comes out clean, you can decrease the number of lice checks you do. However, we still recommend doing this once a week to stay on top of any new infestations.
If you have questions about any of My Hair Helpers’ products or procedures, contact us today or schedule an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you!
