Be warned that I am about to share what is quite likely the worst case of a head lice infestation you will EVER see. It is horrifying. If you are eating or drinking something at the moment STOP and finish before you proceed because you will gag.
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This video isn't even new. It was uploaded to YouTube about a year ago, but is making the rounds again because OMG!!! That poor child. As far as I am concerned this reflects incredibly bad on the parents and caregivers of this child. How the heck do you not notice and do something about your kid having lice BEFORE it gets to this point?
The video shows the child's hair being combed with a nit comb and the lice and nits on the comb are so thick it's astounding. I never knew a person could have so many piojos. A close up of the critters moving around on the comb is more terrifying than anything I've ever seen in a horror film. Check it out, if you think you can handle it.
Embedded content: http://youtu.be/oOnTF4CNEAA?list=UU9COF5WfYE8CJmRKqDb-gFg
Now you know I can't just leave you with that horrendousness and not give you tips on how to get rid of lice if and when the time comes and, if you have kids, you know the time is coming sooner or later.
You can of course use over the counter medicine or see your doctor for a prescription, but if you would rather take a more naturalistic approach, click through this gallery of 10 home remedies that will help you get rid of lice. AND please whatever you do, NEVER let it get as bad as the case in the video above. That's absurd!*
Image vía Corbis Images*
Wet-combing
This is how my abuela used to do it. Wet the hair and cover it with conditioner or something oily. Comb from the scalp all the way through the hair removing lice and nits along the way. Do the entire head twice. Wash hair.
Repeat the process daily until no nits or lice are found.
Garlic
Mash up about 10 cloves of garlic and mix with the juice of 1 lime. Rub the mixture throughout the scalp. Let sit for half and hour and then rinse with warm water.
Baby oil
For this method you will need baby oil, laundry detergent and white vinegar. You put baby oil on your scalp and hair and use a nit comb to get the lice and nits out. When you are done, wash your hair with a bit of laundry detergent and hot water. At night before going to bed pour some white vinegar on your hair, leave it in and sleep with your head covered in a shower cap. The next morning shampoo and condition as you normally would.
Olive oil
Olive oil seems to work on the smothering principal. Cover your scalp and hair in olive oil. Wrap it up overnight and sleep on it. The next morning wash as usual.
Butter
Butter applied to your hair and scalp will deprive nits and lice of oxygen as well. You would apply the butter to hair and sleep with it overnight.
Mayonnaise
You want to use the real mayonnaise in this case, not some light version. You cover the scalp and hair in mayonnaise and wrap it up in a shower cap or towel and sleep with it overnight that way. The next morning you shampoo your hair as usual. The theory is that all that fatty oils in mayo suffocate the critters.
Petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly is a staple in many Latino households and can be used to get rid of lice just like all of the other smothering agents discussed. Put a thick coat of it on the scalp before going to bed and wrap in a shower cap. The next morning you wash it out. Use baby oil to help you get the petroleum jelly off before shampooing.
White wine vinegar
The acid in vinegar helps get rid of lice. Cover your hair and scalp in white wine vinegar, then wrap it up in a shower cap for a couple of hours. Follow up by combing through hair from scalp to tips to remove lice and nits. Shampoo as usual and you can follow up with another rinse of vinegar after shampooing.
Mouthwash
Okay, so I've been told and I've read that Listerine Antiseptic Mouthrinse is a great tool for removing lice. Cover head and scalp with it, be careful not to get it in eyes, wrap hair up in a shower cap for two hours, wash hair when done.
Salt
Mix together 1/4 of salt with 1/4 cup of white wine vinegar and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the solution all through hair and scalp. Wrap hair in a shower cap for two hours. Then wash your hair as you normally would.
