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Natural solutions to headlice

Headlice comb checking
Fed up of headlice but not keen on using strong chemicals on your child's hair? We round up the best natural treatments.

Dealing with headlice is one of those parts of parenting that we could all live without. They spread like wildfire throughout primary school classrooms, and it's not uncommon for children to keep on getting reinfested, even if you're treating and checking them regularly.

Many parents worry about using strong insecticidal treatments on their child's delicate scalp. In addition, headlice are becoming increasingly resistant to chemical solutions due to their overuse. 

We've rounded up some of the best natural, organic and chemical-free solutions for treating and preventing lice. 

eco.kid Lice Bomb Organic Certified Head Lice Treatment

eco.kid Lice Bomb Organic Certified Head Lice Treatment, £9.99

Containing tea tree oil, clove oil and coconut oil, Lice Bomb is a non-toxic and non-aggressive treatment that helps remove headlice and eggs. It’s free from the chemicals that head lice are becoming resistant to, as well as artificial colours, fragrances and GM ingredients, and it's waterway friendly.

Vosene Kids 3-in-1 Shampoo

Vosene Kids 3-in-1 Shampoo, £2.49

This triple action shampoo cleanses and conditions your child’s hair and scalp, and contains tea tree and eucalyptus to help protect against headlice. For best results, use alongside Vosene Kids Conditioning Defence Spray; both products are readily available in supermarkets and pharmacies.

Puressentiel Anti-Lice Lotion and Comb

Puressentiel Anti-Lice Lotion and Comb, £12.99

A treatment for headlice rather than a preventative measure, Puressential’s Anti-Lice Lotion is 100% natural, with oils including coconut, jojoba and sunflower, which suffocate and kill lice. It’s effective in just 10 minutes, and is suitable for children aged three and over.

What Nits! Organic Tea Tree Shampoo

What Nits! Organic Tea Tree Shampoo, £5.99

Tea tree oil is claimed to help protect against headlice, and is the main active ingredient in this gentle children’s shampoo. It also contains neem oil, a natural insect repellent, and eucalyptus oil, which soothes irritation caused by headlice feeding.

Orgakiddy Anti-Lice Elastics

Orgakiddy Anti-Lice Elastics, £8.50

A genius idea if your child keeps picking up headlice at school, these hair ties are infused with insect repellent and anti-parasite oils which are continuously released to keep nits at bay. Available in a pack of four in green and pink, each band is effective for two months.

Nitview Ledcomb

Nitview Ledcomb, £19.99

This detection comb emits UV light which makes lice, nits and eggs glow under the light, making them easy to find in your child’s hair. The comb can also be removed and the light used to check your child’s bedding, towels, clothes and soft toys.

Kit & Coco Headlice and Eggs Complete Treatment

Kit & Coco Headlice and Eggs Complete Treatment, £15.75

This kit contains four single-dose tubes of treatment shampoo, making it ideal for keeping on hand in case of a headlice infestation. It contains natural oils that will help you remove lice and eggs.

Nitty Gritty Comb

Nitty Gritty Comb, £10.39

Loved by two million families in the UK, the Nitty Gritty Comb has unique MicroSpiral grooves on the teeth that ‘pop’ lice, eggs and nits off strands of hair. Use with Nitty Gritty Aromatherapy Head Lice Solution or any ordinary conditioner.

Original Sprout Natural Shampoo

Original Sprout Natural Shampoo, from £13.99

This family-friendly shampoo contains organic rosemary, which is claimed to repel headlice and other insects. It’s extra gentle on eyes, and also has conditioning and detangling properties, making it ideal for children.

Nitty Gritty Conditioning Defence Spray

Nitty Gritty Conditioning Defence Spray, £13.63

Headlice rely on their sense of smell to find new heads to colonise. Nitty Gritty Conditioning Defence Spray messes up their ‘radar’ by masking the scent of your hair, meaning they’re less likely to move in. It has a delicate lavender fragrance and also helps to condition and detangle hair. It’s suitable for daily use on children aged two and over.

Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Conditioning Spray

Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Conditioning Spray, £10.77

Designed to be used daily before school, this gentle but effective spray contains rosemary, citronella and tea tree to repel headlice. It also detangles and conditions and helps to tame frizzy hair.

Babo Botanicals Lice Repel & Prevention Shampoo

Babo Botanicals Lice Repel & Prevention Shampoo, £9.85

A bestseller in the USA, this hypoallergenic shampoo contains rosemary, tea tree and mint to help repel headlice. It’s designed to be used daily whenever there’s an outbreak of lice at your child’s school: leave on for three to five minutes for best results.

Licetec V-Comb

Licetec V-Comb, £49.98

The V-Comb combines combing and vacuuming to help get rid of as many lice and nits as possible from your child’s hair and scalp. As you comb their hair, the V-Comb sucks headlice and nits into its capture filter, which is lit by an LED so you can see what you’ve removed, and is effective against lice that have become resistant to chemical treatments.

Boots Electronic Head Lice Comb

Boots Electronic Head Lice Comb, £19.99

This battery-operated comb detects and kills headlice. It’s designed to be used on dry hair, and is suitable for children aged three and over.

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