Lice. Just the word sends chills down my spine.
Is your head itching yet?
Mine is. The email came from our daycare director less than an hour ago and my first reaction was to send an anguished text to my mama tribe…and then start scratching my scalp.
Ugh. I still have flashbacks to lice after a fourth-grade sleepover. I remember sitting freezing cold in the bath tub while my mom nit-combed my hair for hours. I remember that my little sister had to have her long curls cut into a bob because my mom just couldn’t take any more.
So naturally, I want to do anything I possibly can to prevent my boys from getting lice. But I also don’t want to treat them pre-emptively, because I know those chemicals are beyond harsh.
Since my boys’ curls thankfully appear lice-free at this moment (I may or may not have literally brought out a magnifying glass), I’m making my own natural lice prevention detangler spray to use while the bugs make their round at school.
This spray is a natural deterrent to lice and I use it for preventative purposes only, spraying my kids’ heads liberally each morning before they go to school. I don’t recommend it for treatment of an infestation, however; if my kids end up with lice, I am going straight for the chemicals to make sure those babies don’t live to see another moment. (This is a personal parenting preference, as I do know parents that use natural remedies to kill the bugs as well. I just don’t want to take the chance myself.)
In addition to being safe, natural, and chemical-free the spray gently detangles and smells fresh and clean too. When lice is no longer a threat, I might just continue using it on the days that I don’t wash the boys’ hair!
A note about essential oils: Purity is important to me and I make sure to use only therapeutic-grade oils, especially when it comes to a product I am using on my children. There are many options out there but I choose Young Living because of its seed-to-seal guarantee and commitment to local and sustainable sourcing. I encourage you to do your own research and decide which brand of essential oils is right for you.
I’ve included my exact Young Living recipe that includes specific YL blends, but the Tips section that follows the instructions offers substitutions that work great too.
The Tips section also offers an alternate toddler-friendly recipe if you want to use this gentle detangler and lice deterrent on your toddlers as well.
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Natural Lice Prevention Detangler Spray
Supplies:
- 4 oz glass spray bottle
- Small funnel or eyedropper
- 2.5 oz distilled or bottled water
- 1 oz Thayer’s Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe
- 1 T fractionated (or liquified) coconut oil
- 20 drops lavender oil
- 10 drops tea tree oil
- 10 drops peppermint oil (omit for children under 3)
- 5 drops Melrose oil *
Optional (for use with children 3 and over):
- 5 drops of lemon oil
- 5 drops of Thieves oil *
- 5 drops of Purification oil *
Fill the bottle with 2.5 oz distilled or bottled water.
Add 1 oz witch hazel and 1 tablespoon fractionated coconut oil.
Add your oils and shake to combine. Shake again before each use.
Mist on wet hair after bath or shower and comb through for best results. Mist dry hair daily before sending to school or daycare to help deter lice.
* If opting to use another brand of oils, the spray will still be effective with the omission of Melrose, Purification and Thieves. The powerhouse of lavender and tea tree provides the primary lice deterrent benefits without the addition of these YL proprietary blends. You may also substitute rosemary oil for Melrose if you have it available.
Toddler-Friendly Lice Deterrent Detangler Spray
Note of caution: Some essential oils, including peppermint, are not recommended for use on children under 3. Omit these oils if planning to use the spray on younger children. All “optional” oils are ones that I choose not to use at all on my 2-year-old, so I omitted these in a version to use on his hair. (The toddler-friendly version is just gentle lavender and tea tree oil, diluted in strength)
- 3 oz distilled water
- 0.5 oz witch hazel
- 1/2 T. fractionated coconut oil
- 12 drops lavender essential oil
- 6 drops tea tree essential oil
Follow same instructions as above. When spraying on toddler, take care to shield eyes, nose and mouth during spraying to prevent direct inhalation.
I’ve doused both my boys in these sprays tonight, and I’ll be re-dousing them before we walk out the door tomorrow morning. Wish me luck in the battle of the bugs!
