Home truths
Home truths
Head lice can spread from person to person in a matter of seconds, and customers will want to get rid of them just as quickly. Unfortunately, this has given rise to many urban myths.
Here are just some of the home remedy suggestions that have been circulating at school gates and on social media - some stranger than others!
Mayonnaise
- Urban myth
- Suffocates head lice and kills them
- Why it doesn't work
- Mayonnaise does not contain any active ingredients that could suffocate or kill head lice
- What you should recommend
- A clinically-proven head lice treatment, such as an insecticide-free treatment, together with wet combing
Hair straighteners
- Urban myth
- Kills head lice with high temperatures
- Why it doesn't work
- Head lice have a natural defence mechanism against heat6
- What you should recommend
- A clinically proven head lice treatment, such as an insecticide-free treatment, together with wet combing
Essential oils (e.g. tea tree oil)
- Urban myth
- Repels head lice
- Why it doesn't work
- There is a lack of evidence that essential oils repel head lice. Plus, there are safety concerns because essential oils can be harmful when used undiluted7
- What you should recommend
- A scientifically-proven head lice repellent spray designed for daily use
Coconut oil
- Urban myth
- Suffocates head lice and kills them
- Why it doesn't work
- There is a lack of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of using coconut oil
- What you should recommend
- A clinically-proven head lice treatment, such as an insecticide-free treatment, together with wet combing
Hair conditioner
- Urban myth
- Suffocates head lice and kills them
- Why it doesn't work
- There is no active ingredient in regular hair conditioner that could suffocate head lice
- What you should recommend
- Conditioner will not kill head lice, but it can be applied to the hair to make wet combing easier, following treatment with a clinically proven head lice treatment
Treating the whole household
- Urban myth
- Stops head lice spreading to everyone in the house
- Why it doesn't work
- Treating people who don't have head lice is unnecessary and can encourage resistance to insecticide-based treatments
- What you should recommend
- Only people with confirmed head lice should be treated, and they should all be treated on the same day