DIY: Head lice prevention

Hello everyone!

It's back to school time again! Back to school can be an exciting time for both children and parents. Starting a new school year requires plenty of preparations, such as shopping for stationery, a new bag, shoes and clothes/uniform. One thing most parents do not prepare for when sending their little ones back to school is head lice.

As any reader of this blog will know, I believe in the power of natural ingredients, particularly essential oils. When you do a simple Google search, you quickly find out what essential oils are good at repelling lice, but the question is, what to do with that information? How can you use essential oils to repel head lice?

The following essential oils have been shown to effectively repel lice:

• Lavender oil
• Tea tree oil
• Clove oil
• Rosemary oil
• Geranium oil
• Lemongrass oil

These are other essential oils that can repel head lice but are not recommended for children under six (6) years:

• Peppermint oil  
• Anise seed oil
• Eucalyptus oil 

You can use these essential oils to make a DIY lice prevention spray or shampoo. Just follow the recipe below!

For the spray, you will need:

Image by Freepik

For children under 6 years of age-

• 1/2 cup of distilled water
• 2 tsp of fractionated coconut oil
• 10 drops of tea tree oil
• 10 drops of lavender oil
• 5 drops of geranium oil
• 5 drops of lemongrass oil

For anyone over 6 years of age-

• 1/2 cup of distilled water
• 2 tsp of fractionated coconut oil
• 10 drops of tea tree oil
• 10 drops of rosemary oil
• 5 drops of geranium oil
• 5 drops of peppermint oil
• 10 drops of lemongrass oil
• 10 drops of lavender oil

How to use:

1. Mix all the ingredients in a glass spray bottle.
2. Shake well before use. 
3. Generously spray on scalp and hair. 
4. Brush through and style as usual.

For the shampoo -

Add the essential oils directly to a shampoo bottle and shake well. This way, you will have a DIY lice prevention shampoo! You do not need to add the coconut oil and the distilled water. 

A few head lice prevention tips:

1. Keep long hair tied up.
2. Remind children not to share brushes, hats, scarves, etc.
3. Use the prevention spray on brushes, combs and even backpacks!

I wish you and your kids a happy, productive and lice-free school year! 

Talk to you soon!