Making Headlice Treatment Safe and Fun For Kids...

Hi. :D

If you've been reading my blog the past few days, you already know that just days before my sister in law's baby was born, my brother and his wife were blessed to discover that head lice had crept into their home. There were several other blessings as well; one of which being... having me around (he he! :D Aren't I modest?!)  

The day after the baby was born I took a plane over to help out for the next couple of weeks. BTW - I must again make it clear to those of you who know of my prior experience with head lice (You can read about my first experience here if you want to. :O), that we haven't seen this family since BEFORE we ever had experience with it! Just saying! :) I just don't want anyone getting paranoid to be around me... I cherish my social life, ya know? :O

At the moment, I am in the mood to write about something heart warming and "touchy-feely" (I miss you, friends). But for today, I will first share one little "head lice extinguishing" experience, as it may be helpful for anyone out there who may battle head lice, and it is a good little memory for me; and besides, I already wrote it! ;)

Chat with you again soon! :D

It was time to do hair treatment again, so I displayed excitement as I told the kids…

“We are going to do something REALLY funny, and REALLY silly" (I pointed to a kitchen chair) "in this chair!” Of course, I said this with a big smile in an attitude of excitement and celebration. Then I added, “Who would like to go first?” The kids all got excited and ran to the chair…

The oldest three (ages 5, 4 and 2.5) all eagerly began shouting with excitement, “Me! Me! I want to go first!”

After a bit of debate, big sister won and sat in the chair anxiously awaiting the big silly surprise.

It was now time to explain the silly activity in my best delighted voice imaginable. “We are going to COVER our heads with mayonnaise,” I paused to laugh and then continued, “and then we will MAKE HATS to wear on top of the mayonnaise out of saran wrap!”  (FYI - It's all part of the lice suffocation process... you wrap it tightly against head over the ears and all for a oxygen free environment! :)

Their previously delighted expressions were now coupled with a bit of confusion. For a moment, the kids looked disgusted.

I ignored the expressions of disgust.

I laughed. :D

And then I continued to spread... enthusiasm! :D 

“The mayonnaise kills bugs in our hair. And it is going to be SO SILLY, and SO FUNNY!”

 I laughed again.

And then the kids started to laugh.

I think their desire to NOT have head lice munching on their heads helped… coupled of course with their desire to be funny. ;)

I was pleased.

The treatment was administered.

We all looked at the new hats being worn and of course,... we laughed some more. :D

Then I sat them down on the couch (which was draped in sheets) for a “Mario Brothers” party... complete with hats! ;D

Classic entertainment at its best… kids are AWESOME! :D

PPS For those who want to know how to get rid of head lice - NATURALLY... Mayonnaise was only one of the home treatments we used. We used two kinds of treatments... just to be sure (one as soon as the lice was discovered, and then another no later than 7 days later, and another 10 days later. I think we may have even snuck another in earlier on... again, just to be sure!). The other was a mixture of Selson Blue and Dawn dish soap. Both were applied to the head DRY then wrapped in saran wrap. The mayo was on for 3 hours, the shampoo and soap for only 6 minutes. After the treatment was rinsed out, we sprayed the kids heads with vinegar then toweled the head so it wouldn't drip, then left it to dry. On adults, the vinegar was poured onto the heads as a rinse (after the initial treatment was washed out). The head was wrapped in saran wrap with the vinegar as well, and left on for another 6 minutes before being rinsed out. On non-treatment days, the vinegar was gently sprayed into the hair near the scalp wet enough to treat, but not enough to create drips... and left in after daily shampooing. The intense treatment wraps were done as soon as lice was noticed, as well as 7-10 days later. We did it a couple more times to be on the safe side. :O

Other actions taken include either tossing, or placing all hair products (brushes, combs, hair ties, barrettes etc) into boiling water for 30 or more seconds; vacuuming the furniture; bagging up all stuffed animals and other items with cloth that you don't want to wash then throwing the bags in the garage for the next couple of weeks; washing in hot water (with 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar in the wash load) all cloth items you want to access within the next couple of weeks... clothing, coats, gloves, hats, scarves, bedding, and curtains if you have them (thankfully, they had blinds); and then daily for two weeks... vacuum the floors and the mattresses first thing each morning; run the bedding in the dryer for 30 minutes on high each morning upon arising; do an apple cider vinegar rinse after shampooing hair each day; wash combs after each use (I like to also spray them with alcohol after each use); do not share towels or combs so as to prevent spreading. Not at all complicated... but very busy!

It is extensive... but it works! Many people have head lice come back over and over again. If everyone ridded their homes of lice (not just their heads), they wouldn't find themselves reinfected (with exception to when friends spend the night... who have the lice :O).

Any  questions? Feel free to ask.

PS I have used a natural oil treatment too, which makes the hair really feel healthy, but does cost more than the others do. If anyone wants the formula... here it is! BTY... it is also put onto the hair dry (esp near the scalp and first two inches of hair) then the head is wrapped in saran wrap. We left the oil wrap on our heads for at least three hours.

A vinegar wrap follows all treatments and is very important for breaking down the skeletal systems of the lice as well as for loosening the lice and eggs for removal.

I hope you never need to know this, but if you do, I hope you remember it! ;)

Corine :D

PS... More photos of these little dears to come soon. :)