How to Treat Hair Lice in Type 4 Hair

Hair lice is one hair problem a lot of people run away from and for good reason. 

Lice are horrible insects; they multiply so quickly, and they infest not just your hair but even your property.

They can be so resilient and persistent that most times, ladies have no choice but to cut their hair. In this article, we'll explore different ways to treat hair lice in type 4 hair. 

Let's begin.

What is Hair Lice?

Hair Lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp and in the hair. 

These ectoparasites are as tiny as sesame seeds, so it can be almost easy to miss their presence in your hair until they've probably laid eggs and multiplied a lot (which usually doesn't take long). 

Hair lice is highly contagious, so if you know someone who has lice, best to avoid. Usually, it's commonly found in kids, but adults can have them too.

Now, a common misconception to clear regarding hair lice, is that: “they are a sign of poor hygiene”.

Hair lice can affect anyone irrespective of their hygiene levels. You can get hair lice directly by close contact with anyone who has it. Or through indirect transmission by sharing combs, hats, pillows, etc.

Symptoms of Hair Lice 

Major symptoms like:

1. Intense itching of your hair
2. Tiny moving specks on your hair shaft (adult lice) or attached eggs (nits) to the root of your hair 
3. Small red bumps or sores on your scalp

It's also important to note that the nit of hair lice, when attached to the hair shaft, might not come off so easily. 

So if you check your hair and notice that what you think is a nit comes off easily, then it's not. It's probably dandruff or product buildup. 

With unrelaxed type 4 hair, the coily and curly patterns, especially at the root, might make it difficult to get rid of these tiny parasites. 

But it's not impossible; here are some things you can try. 

3 Tips to Get Rid of Hair Lice

1. See a doctor to get rid of hair lice

One thing to keep in mind is that most scalp issues share similar symptoms, so before concluding that a symptom means you have a particular issue, make sure to see a doctor. 
The aim of seeing a doctor is to determine whether you have hair lice.

Once you see a doctor, they can run tests and determine what kind of medication is best for you. Please follow the instructions or prescription of your doctor carefully.

2. Clean out your property to get rid of hair lice

Although hair lice can’t survive outside a human host, from indirect transmission, nits may be transferred to clothes, scarves, beddings, hats, hair accessories, and other articles. 

So, to eradicate all lice, whether dead or alive, you need to clean out every possible item they might have come in contact with. The items should be washed in hot water at a temperature over 140°F or 60°C in order to kill the lice.

For items that can’t be washed or boiled, tie them up in airtight bags for weeks, which will kill any nits or lice.

3. Disinfect your combs and brushes

Soak your combs and brushes in hot, soapy water to kill any nits or lice. Make sure to remove the hair strands in your brush to prevent reintroduction.  

Repeat tips 2 and 3 every 9 days until the hair lice is completely gone. Remember to stick with your doctor’s prescription. 

5 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Hair Lice 

For home remedies, scientific research is still ongoing regarding their effectiveness and safety, so you might want to have that in mind as you try. 

1. Remove hair  lice with a nit comb

People recommend using a lice or nit comb to remove the lice from hair. 

1. Section your hair clearly into small sections that will be easy to comb and see through. 
2. Spray water and conditioner specifically for life treatment on the hair section and comb through thoroughly. 
3. As you do, you'd notice the insects moving; you can pick them out little by little.

Lice feed on blood in the scalp, so focus on it as well as your hair strands. 

2. Use an essential oil mixture to get rid of lice

The second step is to apply a mixture of essential oils directly on your scalp and hair, put a hair cap on and leave the mixture to work for 20 minutes. 

Ingredients

1. 50 mL of coconut oil
2. 2 to 3 drops of essential tea-tree oil
3. 2 to 3 drops of ylang ylang essential oil
4. 50 mL of apple cider vinegar

Preparation and application method

Mix all the ingredients and apply directly to your hair. Cover and leave it on for 20 minutes, and then wash it out with your usual shampoo. 

3. Olive oil

The given explanation for the use of olive oil as a remedy is that it prevents movement (immobilisation) and suffocates the lice in the head. 

How to use

You can also use this remedy. It is a straightforward home remedy in which you just have to apply olive oil on your head and leave it overnight.  

4. Lavender oil and Tea tree oil

Essential oils are found to be effective in the elimination of head lice.

A clinical trial showed that lavender oil, when mixed with tea tree oil, was effective in killing head lice.

How to use

You can make use of this by simply mixing the two oils and applying them to your scalp. It can be kept overnight or washed away after a few hours. 

  5. Garlic to get rid of hair lice

In Ayurveda, garlic is used in the management of head lice. 

You can utilize this remedy as well.

How to use

1. You can take a few cloves of garlic and make them into a paste. 
2. You have to add a little bit of lemon juice to this paste. Mix it well. 
3. Apply this mixture to the roots of your hair. Leave it for one to two hours, and then rinse it properly with water.
4.  To reap the benefits of this remedy, you have to use it diligently. 

Note that if you are allergic to any of these home remedies, please avoid them. 

Wrapping up

Treating lice can be a stressful journey, but it can be fixed with the suggestions and consistent effort. 

You don’t have to walk the elimination path alone; we’ll be with you every step. Join the community and get the support you need. 

Reference

Feature image from FreePik