How can I get lice out of the head with vinegar? - briefly
Apply a 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water to the hair, leave it on for 20‑30 minutes, then use a fine‑toothed lice comb to remove lice and nits. Repeat the process after 7‑10 days to eliminate any newly hatched insects.
How can I get lice out of the head with vinegar? - in detail
Vinegar’s acidity loosens the glue that attaches lice eggs to hair shafts, allowing them to be removed more easily.
Materials needed
- White distilled vinegar (5 % acetic acid) or apple‑cider vinegar
- Fine‑toothed lice comb
- Plastic shower cap or towel
- Warm water
- Mild shampoo
Procedure
- Mix equal parts vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle or bowl.
- Saturate the scalp and hair with the solution, ensuring every strand is wet.
- Cover the head with a shower cap or wrap a towel around it; leave for 10–15 minutes. The exposure time lets the acid break down the egg’s attachment.
- Remove the cover and rinse hair with warm water.
- While hair remains damp, use a fine-toothed comb to slide from the scalp outward, pulling each strand through the teeth. After each pass, wipe the comb on a paper towel or rinse it in the vinegar‑water mixture to prevent re‑depositing lice.
- Repeat combing until no live insects or eggs are visible.
- Wash the hair with a mild shampoo to eliminate residual vinegar odor.
Repeat schedule
Perform the entire routine every 2–3 days for two weeks. This timing matches the lice life cycle and eliminates newly hatched nymphs before they mature.
Precautions
- Test the solution on a small skin area to check for irritation.
- Avoid application on broken skin or open wounds.
- Do not use undiluted vinegar directly on the scalp; it may cause burning.
- Keep treated individuals separate from untreated persons during the treatment period to prevent re‑infestation.
When professional help is required
- Persistent infestation after three treatment cycles.
- Signs of secondary infection (redness, swelling, pus).
- Allergic reaction to vinegar (itching, rash).
Vinegar, when applied correctly and combined with thorough combing, provides an effective, low‑cost method for eliminating head lice and their eggs.