After the flu season there’s the lice season… it’s getting warmer and all sorts of animals are waking up from hibernation and multiplying. And if you or your child ever has had lice, you know that these little things are banging good at it (no pun intended 🙂 ). A few of my friends whose children go to school or kindergarten have already posted some teary notes about it.

My little one hasn’t caught them yet, but seeing how little kids, once they learn to walk and run, really rub the elbows (and heads) at the park and the sand pit, I wouldn’t be surprised that one day instead of the old ladies oohing and aahing over Aditya’s hair, it would be an alpha louse: “Oh, look at all that hair! What a jungle gym! That would be a great place to raise a family!”

So before a lousy louse catches a ride, here is a recipe for a preventative spray:

• 10 drops Tea Tree essential oil (a.k.a. Melaleuca Alternifolia)
• 10 drops Lavender essential oil 
• 8 oz spray bottle, filled up with filtered water.

Shake before application. Apply a few sprays after washing. Lice are deterred by the smell, your kids will on the other hand love it.

But we don’t live in an ideal world, so let’s not pretend that any “whatever”-proof spray is 100% effective… sigh… I know, the lice made it! Well, don’t hang your head down yet (oops, another pun???) and make this LICE REMOVING TREATMENT!!! (Yes, I’m screaming it)

Combine:

• 1 table spoon of jojoba or olive oil
• 5 drops Thyme essential oil
• 5 drops Rosemary essential oil 
• 5 drops Lavender essential oil 

Massage the mixture into the hair and scalp before bedtime (nap might be too short for this to work completely, but do it if you must at first sighting of lice). Wrap head in towel and leave it on overnight or as long as possible during the day. Repeat until you are sure there is no more sign on the little freeloaders.

Lice are killed by the essential oils and the carrier oil will suffocate the eggs, but all ingredients are excellent as a scalp nourishing mask. Keep brushing lice out daily and you will get rid of them naturally knowing your child’s skin will not suffer (or your own, lice are actually quite non-judgmental when it comes to age).

And where to get essential oils? I prefer and recommend Young Living Essential Oils, especially around children, because of their wonderful guarantees. You can get the oils here.

Oh and one more thing. Don’t reuse that towel…. (and treat your bedding with some heat in your dryer).

Happy lice hunting!