How to Get Rid of Lice Naturally in One Day

How can you get rid of lice in one day? There are several options and home remedies for treating lice that can help you get rid of head lice. To be sure that you get rid of all of the nits may take longer if there are any that are in the hair that is microscopic as they were laid that day. These treatments can be safely used on children and are generally easy to perform at home. Many of these remedies incorporate safer ingredients, making them a safe and effective alternative to chemical treatments for lice and nits.

Can You Really Get Rid of Lice in One Day?

Eliminating an infestation and returning to school in a single day is possible, but necessitates a comprehensive procedure with a proven success record. How can you get rid of lice naturally in one day? LiceDoctors' one-day, fast, and natural lice treatment uses oils to suffocate the bugs, coupled with using a fine-toothed comb to pick out any nits from wet hair.

However, all treatments, from the harshest to the gentlest, require some aftercare to ensure complete elimination. Our aftercare plan focuses on keeping the hair protected afterward, which prevents reinfestation better than spending time dealing with laundry, pesticides, or housecleaning.

Dangers and Limitations of Chemical Lice Treatments

Pesticide treatments can potentially help, but they may also be risky. These products contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin, trigger allergic reactions, or even cause toxicity when improperly used.

Worst, they often just don't work. The repeated use of over-the-counter pediculicides can also lead to bugs developing resistance, reducing the intended effect on the insect's nervous system. Over-the-counter pesticides don't get nits eliminated, and prescription ones are expensive and inaccessible to some.

We don't recommend these products. Our service will help your family avoid these risks, including for pregnant moms and young children. LiceDoctors' safe treatments work at every stage of the louse life cycle.

Are Natural Lice Treatment Options Effective to Get Rid of Lice Fast?

Natural products can be more effective in eliminating lice from a child's head for good. Natural products such as essential oils, vinegar, baking soda, and other oils have insecticidal or suffocating properties that can kill lice and their eggs, also called nits, however, as you will see below we do not endorse the use of most of them.

Keep in mind, though, that it is essential to combine natural treatments with mechanical removal methods such as nitpicking to ensure complete eradication. Natural treatments are safer than pesticide treatments, particularly for children, as they are less harmful to the scalp and hair. Multiple applications may be required, but natural treatments can be an effective and functional alternative to pesticide treatments.

Top 7 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Lice

Classic home remedies such as essential oil, vinegar, and mayonnaise can help in getting rid of lice. These remedies are not substitutes for manual removal with a lice comb. Rather, they may aid in making the process easier by breaking the louse life cycle and facilitating nit removal. 

1. Vinegar

Vinegar, whether white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, is mainly diluted acetic acid. The acidity of apple cider vinegar may begin to dissolve the exoskeletons of adult lice, making them slower and easier to comb out.

How to kill lice naturally fast using vinegar:

• Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and warm water;
• Comb into hair, saturating scalp;
• Cover with a shower cap or airtight plastic bag;
• Let sit for half an hour;
• Rinse and dry hair;
• Add oil and proceed with wet combing and picking.

While vinegar may also help loosen the eggs, it will not be able to penetrate them. Vinegar may also cause itching and irritation which is why we do not recommend this medium.

2. Essential Oils

Essential oils are distilled from plants which may have anti-bacterial and insecticidal properties. They are volatile at room temperature, producing intense scents that can repel bugs.

Certain oils may harm insects in various ways, by mechanical suffocation or through vapors. Pure essential oils are not without risk and often require a carrier oil mix.

Lavender Oil‍

Lavender essential oil scent repels bugs, but lavender oil alone isn't what gets rid of head lice fast. Use it with carrier oil, such as coconut oil or almond oil, to help with suffocation and removal.

Tea Tree Oil‍

Tea tree essential oil has insecticidal properties that may help as a natural lice remedy and repellant. Tea tree oil is expensive and may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Tea tree oil will not efficiently kill the eggs on the hair shaft, so additional treatment is needed.

Mint Oil‍

Like lavender and tea tree oil, strong vapors of spearmint and peppermint oil repel head lice. They are less likely to cause allergic reactions than some other essential oils but should not be used on people who are allergic to mint.

Coconut Oil‍

One of the safer quick and easy ways to get rid of lice, coconut oil does not cause harm to humans as a pesticide process can. Unfortunately, it solidifies below 76°F (24°C), making it challenging to comb out.

How to get rid of lice super fast using coconut oil:

• Liquefy in the microwave, testing the temperature on the inside of your wrist;
• Apply to hair and scalp with a fine-toothed comb;
• Nit comb all hair in very small sections;
• A shower cap can protect furniture;
• Leave the oil on for several hours before combing out smothered bugs;
• Wash and dry hair;
• Handpick nits.

Coconut oil absorbs into the hair shaft, so you may have to apply more coconut oil frequently to keep the hair coated, which may be costly.

Olive Oil‍

Wondering how to get rid of lice fast in one day? Olive oil is highly effective at treating head lice and helping ease removal. It is one of the best natural ways to get rid of lice and this is our preferred medium.

How to remove lice naturally with olive oil:

• Apply a thick layer to hair and scalp with a fine-toothed comb to immobilize adult lice and loosen nits.
• Comb through the hair in small sections with a professional nit comb.
• Leave the oil on for several hours (sleeping on old towels) before shampooing out smothered bugs.
• Dry hair and handpick nits.

3. Garlic

In many cultures, garlic is a traditional home remedy for various ailments.

How to get rid of hair lice fast using garlic home remedies:

• Grind fresh garlic cloves into a paste;
• Apply to the scalp for half an hour;
• Comb through the hair in small sections with a professional nit comb;
• Rinse and dry hair and handpick nits.

There is scant scientific evidence that garlic can effectively treat head lice. While garlic is not very dangerous, applying garlic paste to the scalp may cause symptoms such as scalp irritation.

4. Mayonnaise 

When wondering how to treat lice without chemicals, many people resort to mayonnaise. The concept is to suffocate lice by smothering them with a thick oil.

How to get rid of lice naturally in one day with mayonnaise:

• Apply a thick layer to the scalp and hair;
• Comb through the hair in small sections with a professional nit comb;
• Cover with an air-tight plastic bag or cap to prevent drying out;
• Wash and dry hair and handpick nits.

But mayo can be difficult to comb through and is hard to wash out of the hair once it has dried. If kept warm for too long, it will turn rancid and stink.

5. Petroleum Jelly

Some studies suggest petroleum jelly, dimethicone, or hair gel may be effective in killing lice by suffocation. Lice eggs coated in these insoluble oils may be less likely to hatch.

How to get rid of lice in one day using petroleum jelly:

• Apply to the scalp, saturating the roots of the hair;
• Wash and dry hair and remove nits.

However, petroleum jelly is thick and sticky, making nit combing nearly impossible. Even after washing, the hair will look greasy. And these fossil-fuel-based chemicals are FAR from "natural".

6. Dryer or Hair Straightener

What can kill lice instantly? Extreme heat is very effective, but can also be very dangerous for humans. 

Theoretically, a flat iron may cook the lice and eggs. However, the high temperature required can easily cause scalp injuries, such as severe burns and blisters. Secondly, hair straighteners may not effectively cook eggs on hair shafts before burning the hair itself from repeat passes.

7. Heat

While extreme hot water may harm your scalp or hair, it is a great way to clean inanimate objects. While head lice can't survive long off a human host, there is a short window after treatment with a small risk of re-infestation from bugs on clothing or treatment tools. Soaking brushes in very hot water or drying them on high will eliminate any stragglers within 10 minutes.

If you're worried about damaging your belongings, rest easy knowing LiceDoctors' method prevents re-infestation without the need for heat or laundry.

Is Wet Combing the Best Method to Get Rid of Lice Fast and Naturally?

So how do you get rid of lice super fast? Wet combing is how to remove lice from hair permanently in one day most effectively. An electric lice comb is unnecessary if the insects are immobilized in oil.

How to get rid of lice naturally the best way:

• Apply a generous amount of liquid oil or conditioner to the hair;
• Separate hair into sections with clips;
• Use a lice comb to comb through each section of hair several times, from the scalp to the ends;
• After each pass-through, wipe the comb clean to avoid re-depositing onto the scalp;
• Repeat on each section of hair;
• Wash and dry hair and handpick remaining lice eggs.

This process can be time-consuming, but it's a safe and effective way to address the problem without pesticides. This is the safe process LiceDoctors' technicians will use as part of our guaranteed lice removal service.

Can I Get Rid of Lice Without Treatment?

Can lice go away on their own sometimes? All cases of head lice require proper treatment since head lice are resilient. They never go away on their own and will worsen every day and spread when left unchecked. The professionals know how to naturally get rid of lice, even severe or repeat infestations without chemicals and ensure they stay away. Our plan is safe and avoids hours of washing and no need to vacuum floors.

How to Prevent Lice Infestation Naturally 

Preventing an infestation is always better than dealing with it. Instead of worrying about how to get rid of lice in your house, focus on not bringing them home in the first place.

To reduce your odds, put your kid's hair in a bun or braid, or keep it short. This makes it harder for a louse to move from one person to another in close contact. Spray the hair or backpack with a natural lice-repellant spray daily. You can also use our LiceDoctors Lice Repellent Spray which is an effective deterrent as lice are repulsed by the scent of peppermint.

While a louse will almost always spread through direct head-to-head contact, sharing personal items can also spread them. Remind children not to share items like hair brushes, hair bands, hair accessories, hats, and clothes.

Contact LiceDoctors for an In-Home Natural Lice Treatment & Removal Service

Have patience when treating lice naturally, knowing it's a safer option that avoids risky chemicals. If you're struggling with home remedies for lice treatment, help from a reputable and experienced provider like LiceDoctors can offer a convenient and proven option to get rid of head lice infestations, with major benefits like no laundry to wash and guaranteed success. We've helped over 600,000 clients put an end to head lice, and you can book an appointment today.