How to dilute vinegar for hair to treat lice? - briefly
Combine one part white vinegar with three parts water (or a 1:4 ratio for milder dilution), soak the hair for 5–10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Use a fine-tooth comb to remove lice after treatment.
How to dilute vinegar for hair to treat lice? - in detail
Vinegar’s acidity can dissolve the glue that lice nits use to attach to hair shafts. To make the solution safe for scalp contact, mix white distilled vinegar with water to achieve a concentration of 5 % acetic acid or less. A practical ratio is one part vinegar to three parts water (approximately 25 % vinegar). If the vinegar is already diluted to 5 % (common household white vinegar), mixing equal parts with water yields a 2.5 % solution, which is also effective.
Preparation steps
- Measure ¼ cup (60 ml) of white vinegar.
- Add ¾ cup (180 ml) of lukewarm tap water.
- Stir thoroughly in a clean container.
- Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle or a cup for pouring.
Application procedure
- Separate hair into sections of 2–3 inches.
- Saturate each section with the solution, ensuring the scalp and hair shaft are fully wet.
- Cover the hair with a plastic cap for 10–15 minutes to allow the acid to act on the nits.
- Remove the cap and comb the hair with a fine-toothed nit comb, starting at the scalp and moving toward the ends.
- Rinse hair with plain water, then wash with a mild shampoo if desired.
Frequency
- Repeat the treatment every 24 hours for three consecutive days to target newly hatched lice.
- Perform a final combing session 7 days after the initial application to confirm eradication.
Safety considerations
- Test the mixture on a small skin area before full application to check for irritation.
- Avoid use on broken skin, open wounds, or children under 2 years old.
- Do not apply hot vinegar; temperature should be close to body temperature to prevent burns.
- Store any remaining solution in a sealed container, refrigerate, and discard after 48 hours.
Following these precise measurements and steps provides an effective, low‑cost method for using diluted vinegar to eliminate lice from hair.