How to make vinegar to fight lice? - briefly
Combine equal parts white distilled vinegar and water, warm the mixture until the vinegar dissolves, let it cool, then pour onto the hair and scalp and leave for several minutes to loosen nits. Rinse and comb the hair with a fine-toothed lice comb to remove the detached eggs.
How to make vinegar to fight lice? - in detail
Preparing a vinegar solution for lice control requires precise selection of ingredients, controlled preparation, and careful application.
Begin with a high‑acidity vinegar, such as 5 % white distilled or apple‑cider vinegar, which provides the necessary pH to disrupt the lice exoskeleton. Measure 250 ml of the liquid and combine it with 250 ml of distilled water to reduce the acidity to a tolerable level for the scalp while maintaining efficacy. Add 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap; the surfactant lowers surface tension, allowing the mixture to penetrate the egg (nit) coating. Stir the blend thoroughly until the soap is fully incorporated.
Transfer the solution to a clean, airtight bottle equipped with a spray nozzle. Label the container with the preparation date and store it in a cool, dark place. The mixture remains stable for up to three weeks; discard any portion that develops an off‑odor or visible sediment.
Application proceeds as follows:
- Separate hair into manageable sections using a fine‑tooth comb.
- Saturate each section with the spray, ensuring the liquid reaches the scalp and covers the entire hair shaft.
- Allow the solution to remain on the hair for 10–15 minutes. The acidic environment weakens lice attachment and loosens nits.
- Comb through the wet hair with a nit comb, removing dead insects and eggs.
- Rinse hair with lukewarm water; avoid hot water, which may cause scalp irritation.
Repeat the treatment after 7 days, as newly hatched lice can emerge from surviving eggs. Conduct a second combing session 24 hours after the repeat application to verify eradication.
Safety considerations include performing a patch test on a small scalp area before full application to detect potential allergic reactions. Do not use the solution on broken skin or irritated scalps. Keep the preparation out of reach of children and pets.
By adhering to these steps, the vinegar‑based preparation can serve as an effective, low‑cost adjunct to conventional lice management.