Summer and That Head Itch

It's a blistering summer and one of the problems of summer is here to plague us.  This is one of those blogs where you say "ew" or "yuck" but this is part of everyday life, and so I have to write about it.  I'm talking about head lice. Embarrassing as it may seem, I have to admit that more than 2 years ago, I got infested (yes, "infested" is the proper word to use here) by head lice. And it's not because I had hygiene problems.  It was because I got too near a person who had head lice.  I will not tell you who the person is or where we met but I will give you vague clues.  This person had long hair and she used to talk to me most of the time because she usually asked me questions.  Actually, before I got infested by head lice, I noticed that this person would scratch her head and hair continuously but I had no clue that it was actually head lice.  So, whenever we talked, I still got into close proximity with her.  And the week after those "close encounters", I also started scratching my head. 

Now, the first question is:  How do head lice spread?  Thankfully, head lice do not fly or jump but they do get transferred from hair to hair (or from head to head) if you got too close to a person who has head lice.  Head lice also spread when personal items like hats, comb, and any hair accessories are being shared.  Sharing a pillow with an infested person is also a cause for the spread of head lice.

The next question is how to treat this head lice infestation.  The first thing to do is to get a nit-removal comb (that kind that has very fine teeth).  There is no need to cut your hair if you have long hair.  Even people with short hair gets infested by head lice.  So, there is no point in getting a haircut - maybe except for the fact that it is easier to comb.  Comb your hair this way at least twice a day for a week.  The purpose of using the nit-removal comb is to actually get rid of the head lice. It is difficult to remove the lice eggs (or nits) with just the comb alone because they stick to the hair.  At this point, it is important to note that none of those anti-head lice shampoo sold in our country actually works.  And don't ask me why.

Image from ehow.co.uk/how_8497730_pick-nits-out-childrens-hair.html

After combing your hair with the nit-removal comb, wet your hair with vinegar.  You can use the commercial vinegar sold in the market (the one with brands like Datu Puti) but I prefer to use the "home-made" vinegar from the "manug tuba".  If you are Filipino, you will know what I mean by "home-made" vinegar.  You can comb the vinegar into your hair, or pour small amounts until your entire hair is wet with vinegar.  The acid in the vinegar kills the head lice.  Let the vinegar stay in your hair for an hour or two.  I've read in some articles that other people let it stay overnight but I don't think that this is a good idea. Two hours is enough.  Wrap your hair in a shower cap or old towel to keep the vinegar from dripping all over you.  After the vinegar treatment, comb your hair again with the nit-removal comb.

Image from filipino-store.com

Now that your hair smells like vinegar, you can take a bath and be sure to use huge amounts of conditioner after shampooing.  Thick shampoo and conditioner with coconut oil also helps kills head lice. After taking a bath and drying your hair, use the nit-removal comb again.  Yes, treatment of head lice is very repetitive but it is for your own good.

You can do this vinegar treatment during your rest day like a Saturday.  Do it in the morning.  Because there is another treatment that you can do in the afternoon or the evening.  Mix mouthwash (Listerine works best but I used Astring-O-Sol) with water and wet your hair with this mixture.  Again, you can comb the mixture into your hair or you can pour small amounts until your hair is completely wet.  Just like the vinegar treatment, let the mouthwash mixture stay in your hair for an hour or two and wrap it in a shower cap or old towel.  Just like vinegar, mouth wash kills lice and removes nit glue (the sticky part of the nit or lice eggs that makes them stick to your hair).  After two hours, you can rinse the mixture.  There is no need to shampoo your hair again because mouthwash smells nice anyway.  But if you want to shampoo your hair again, you can do so.  After drying your hair, comb it again with the nit-removal comb.

Image from facebook.com/people/astringosol

By these series of treatments alone, 90% of the head lice will be gone.  All the nits or lice eggs will be dead.  But the problem is the nits will still be sticking to your hair even though they are already dead.  You have to ask someone to manually remove these dead nits from your hair.  In our dialect, we call "hinguto" or "hingut-an" which means, to remove lice from hair.

You can do these same treatments on the second day but I don't think they are that necessary.  Combing with the nit-removal comb is enough.  But just to be sure, repeat the treatments on the second day.  Obviously, these series of treatments I'm giving here will get rid of your head lice infestation in just a day or two.  And this is tried and tested by me personally.

While the treatment for the head lice is ongoing, be sure to wash and change all your bedding especially your pillowcases.  Wash and change the towel that you are using.  In fact, just wash and/or change everything that you are using especially for your hair or head.  Also, wash your rugs, carpets, and stuff toys as some lice might have transferred there.  If possible, throw away all the old towels you used to wrap your hair in during treatment.

And just so you'll know, in the movie I Don't Know How She Does It, Sarah Jessica Parker's character got infested by head lice. LOL!

Have a great, itch-free summer!