Head lice are not just a problem but an annoying one. They are the unwanted parasites that make a home in your head and feed on your blood. They are also very contagious and spread mostly among children.
Lice are not dangerous, but their bites cause itching and irritation. A louse lays out around ten eggs (nits) per day and survives for about four weeks in a person’s head.
Various medical and home treatments are used to treat lice effectively, including mayonnaise. Mayonnaise, apart from bringing taste to your sandwich, can also help in suffocating lice when applied on the head.
Mayonnaise consists of egg yolk, vegetable oils, and vinegar. Mayonnaise for lice is useful as these ingredients are believed to act similarly as OTC formulas, and are comparatively a safe way to get rid of lice.
Did You Know?
- The most prevalence of head lice is seen among school children in all parts of the world.
- Around 367 US dollars are spent on head lice infestations every year in United States.
Methods for Using Mayonnaise for Lice
1. Using Mayonnaise Alone
Mayonnaise(1) for head lice proves to be effective as it suffocates the lice with the help of its oil content.
How to Use?
- Start by applying mayonnaise on hair and coating the neck and behind the area too thoroughly.
- Leave it on for 8 hours at least or overnight.
- It is not recommended to leave mayonnaise overnight for children as they might eat it in their sleep.
- Shampoo your hair and comb out the nits.
How Much to Use?
You can repeat this treatment after a week for any left out lice or nits.
2. Mayonnaise with Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a natural anti-microbial ingredient used to treat various conditions. Using mayonnaise on hair for lice along with coconut oil might prove very effective.
How to Use?
- Mix a small amount of mayonnaise with coconut oil in a bowl.
- Apply the mixture from roots to tips properly.
- Put a shower cap and sleep.
- In the morning, dry your hair and apply shampoo. Leave it on for around 30 minutes.
- Now comb the dead head lice out and wash your hair.
How Much to Use?
You can use this remedy three times a week to get results.
[Also Read: Benefits of Coconut Oil For Lice Treatment]
3. Mayonnaise with Vinegar and Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is very nourishing for hair, and when used with mayonnaise for hair lice is helps treat the condition.
How to Use?
- Take a small amount of mayonnaise and add ten drops of tea tree oil in it.
- To this mixture, add some vinegar.
- Mix these ingredients and apply on your hair from roots to the ends.
- Leave it on for 2 hours and wash your hair usually.
- Comb out the dead lice from your wet hair.
How Much to Use?
Use this treatment twice a week for best results.
[Also Read: Tea Tree Oil for Lice Treatment]
Why Use Mayonnaise for Lice?
There is a variation in the results found on the use of mayonnaise for head lice(2). A study done in Israel says that mayonnaise work for head lice only when applied for over 12 hours.
Mayonnaise is believed to suffocate head lice and create an uncomfortable environment for them. It helps in depriving lice and nits of air, which suffocates and kills them.
But whoever used the method suggested the use of full-fat mayonnaise as low-fat mayo doesn’t suffocate the lice.
Risk Factor Associated with Using Mayonnaise for Lice
- Mayonnaise might not prove useful for some people but have very few risks associated with its usage.
- As mayonnaise gets rancid after being out of the refrigerator for a few hours, it should not be used on small children as they might put the hair strands in their mouth.
- It might also prove dangerous for people with egg allergies.
- Although head lice are not a dangerous condition, it is quite irritating and considered unhygienic, especially for children. Using chemical treatments might have some side effects and are not effective sometimes as well. Using mayonnaise for lice is useful as it suffocates the lice and has no possible side effects or dangers.
- Also, you should keep in mind to use it overnight or at least for 8 hours to get possible results.
- It is also recommended that it should not be used on small children as they might eat it.
FAQs
1. Is Mayo Good for Your Hair? Is Mayonnaise Good for Lice?
Mayonnaise is a naturally made product containing egg yolk, vegetable oils, and vinegar. The natural ingredients make it safe as well as nutritious for use on the hair.
The fat content in mayonnaise suffocates lice by depriving it of air.
2. How to Get Rid of Lice Using Mayonnaise?
Applying mayonnaise on hair thoroughly is effective in treating head lice. It can also be used with tea tree oil, vinegar, and coconut oil for better results.
3. Does Mayonnaise Kill Lice?
Yes, mayonnaise is effective in suffocating lice and kills them if left for over 8 hours. The ingredients in mayonnaise, including vinegar, egg yolk, and vegetable oil, prove effective in treating the problem.
