How can vinegar be used to remove lice and nits from long hair at home? - briefly
Apply warm diluted «vinegar» to the scalp, leave for several minutes, then run a fine-toothed nit comb through the hair to detach lice and nits. Rinse thoroughly and repeat after 24–48 hours to eliminate any newly hatched insects.
How can vinegar be used to remove lice and nits from long hair at home? - in detail
Vinegar, when applied correctly, can loosen the adhesive that binds lice eggs (nits) to hair shafts, facilitating their removal from long hair. The process requires preparation, application, mechanical removal, and thorough rinsing.
Preparation
- Choose a white distilled vinegar with 5 % acidity; other varieties may contain additives that reduce effectiveness.
- Dilute vinegar with warm water in a 1:1 ratio to prevent scalp irritation while preserving the acidic environment needed to break the nit glue.
- Comb hair with a wide-tooth comb to detangle and reduce breakage before treatment.
Application
- Saturate the hair from scalp to ends with the vinegar solution, ensuring complete coverage.
- Allow the mixture to remain on the scalp for 10–15 minutes; the acid penetrates the nit cement, softening it.
- For increased efficacy, repeat the soaking step after a short rinse, especially for dense or heavily infested hair.
Mechanical removal
- Use a fine-toothed nit comb, preferably stainless steel, to slide through the hair in small sections (2–3 cm).
- Begin at the scalp, pulling the comb forward to capture loosened nits; repeat each section three times to maximize extraction.
- After each pass, wipe the comb on a clean cloth or rinse it in a bowl of hot water to prevent re‑depositing lice.
Rinsing and post‑treatment care
- Rinse hair thoroughly with lukewarm water, followed by a mild shampoo to remove residual vinegar and debris.
- Dry hair with a clean towel; avoid heat styling for several hours to prevent re‑infestation.
- Repeat the entire procedure after 7–10 days, the typical hatching period for lice eggs, to eliminate any newly emerged insects.
Precautions
- Conduct a patch test on a small scalp area before full application to identify potential allergic reactions.
- Avoid use on broken skin or open wounds; irritation may occur if vinegar contacts damaged tissue.
- Store the vinegar solution in a sealed container, away from children and pets.
By following these steps, vinegar serves as an inexpensive, readily available agent that disrupts nit adhesion, allowing systematic removal of lice and their eggs from long hair without professional intervention.