Jean
Killing lice is not an easy task. It takes a huge amount of time and perserverence. The first task at hand is eliminating the live bugs. I have used many products from over the counter brands to homeopathic treatments. I am convinced the best treatments are natural products. Saturate the hair and scalp with olive oil. Massage the scalp for a few minutes, place a shower cap on your childs head for about 3 hours. The oil suffocates the lice and they die. It is as important to use a metal comb (I used a licemeister comb which can now be purchased at walgreens drug store for about 14.00) and while the oil is still on the head comb the hair by sections. By dividing the hair into sections, you know you have combed every inch of their hair. The oil treatment should be done one week later to insure all lice have died. It is equally as important to comb the hair everyday with the metal comb for atleast one week. You must also remove the nits (eggs). This is achieved by either combing or actually picking or cutting the nits off of the hair strands. The second week I combed their hair every other day and the third week every third day. Once a week I am still combing through their hair to make sure they're lice and nit free. At the same time you must wash the bedding and their clothing daily for atleast one week after infestation. Throughly vaccum all carpeting and fabric furniture (do not forget the car). I did this for a week as well. Make sure you also vaccum their room and mattress area. Everything that can be put in the dryer should be dried for atleast 20 minutes on a very high heat. Things that cannot be washed and dried should either be bagged for two weeks or sent to the dry cleaners. This sounds overwhelming and very time consuming and it is but if you do not do this they will reocccur. My girls developed head lice at the beginning of March and I have just put their original bedding back on their beds. I wanted to be sure they were bug free because this is the 3rd infestation since September. I also put sheets on the family room furniture and and dried them nightly. By using the sheets, I did not have to vaccum the furniture everyday. I chose to cut my girls hair. It made the combing process so much easier and their hair will grow. I hope I have helped you a little bit. I know it sounds like a huge amount of work but it is worth it if they do not come back. I am being more careful this time. I will comb their hair once a week until we pass the 3 month period when my girls seem to have reoccurences. If it sounds like a bit obessive, I am. I do not want to deal with this nusiance again!!! Good Luck!