Has the dreaded happened? The head lice have come home from nursery or school, and now you’re staring down a comb wondering where to start. You’re not alone — every parent goes through this at some point, and the good news is there’s a whole community of parents who’ve been there and found what works for them.
Getting rid of head lice is a bit of a slog. It takes patience, because you need to clear both the lice and their eggs (nits), and because lice reproduce quickly, new ones can hatch every few days. If there’s an outbreak in your house, the general rule is to comb and treat daily until you’re finding nothing at all.
Below, real Mykidstime parents share the routines, products and habits that have worked for their own families. These are shared experiences rather than medical advice — if you want guidance on medicated treatments or your child’s specific situation, your pharmacist or GP is the best first call.
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In This Article
- Check every week
- Use tea tree shampoo
- Use aloe vera
- Spray some tea tree oil
- Comb regularly
- Keep long hair up
- Try vinegar and olive oil
- Other recommended products
Best Ways of Getting Rid of Hair Lice
Check Every Week
“My best advice is check every week regardless and comb, comb and then comb some more. A bit of hairspray seems to help too.” – Anna
Use Tea Tree Shampoo
“I always use tea tree shampoo and conditioner.” – Martina
“Tea tree shampoo is the way to go!” – Karin
“Tea tree conditioner is very good.” – Mary Teresa
Use Aloe Vera
“Use shampoo with aloe vera and jojoba – head lice hate the smell (you don’t smell it but the lice do!). If the lice do get in to the hair, smother the scalp with aloe vera gel and suffocate the lice. We’ve been using this shampoo for over two years and none of the kids (we have 3) have been affected by head lice, even though there have been a few outbreaks in school and summer camps. I wouldn’t be without the aloe!” – Marian
Spray Some Tea Tree Oil
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“Add a few drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle. A quick squirt every morning before school has always kept blighters away for me!” – Sally Ann
“I put a couple of drops of tea tree oil on the hair brush and tie up their hair.” – Mandie
“Tea tree oil rubbed at back of ears and neck is a good deterrent. Also was told lately that mayonnaise rubbed onto hair is the preferred treatment now.” – Siobhan
“After having lice in my home for the first time ever last year, I honestly wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy! I kept my kids out of school until I was 100% sure they were clear, but when they went back I was tempted to put shower caps on them such was the stress I had been through (and them) – even our babysitter and grandparents got them! Tea tree oil is a wonder product to have in your house and a couple of drops behind the ear works great. Also tie the hair up (if long enough, wrap into a bun). I also use tea tree shampoo.” – Lynda
“The head lice slip off the tea tree. I think it’s the best solution, coming from a parent and a Montessori teacher that has had to treat her own hair too! Use a fine tooth comb after treating onto white paper and you will see them fall off.” – Hilda
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 6 Top Tips on Preventing Head Lice When Kids Go Back to School
Comb Regularly
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“I believe people need to go back to the old days of checking kids’ hair every week, regardless of what potions they use. Also remember if one child has them, everyone in the house, including Mammy & Daddy, needs to be checked.” – Bridgette
“My mum always told us to keep your hair tied up in school, and I’ve done it with my girls and so far they haven’t gotten them. But if you do, the combs are fab, you can get big ones in Boots that are brilliant.” – Caron
“I recommend the Nitty Gritty comb available in Boots, it’s got ridges on the comb that help catch the eggs.” – Jill
Keep Long Hair Up
“I never understand when the notes come home and some of the kids go into school with their hair down. I have three girls and had years of the eldest one catching them off the girl sitting beside her who never got her hair treated.” – Sharon
“Hair up always helps.” – Margaret
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Try Vinegar & Olive Oil
“We use a vinegar and olive oil package. Sit with 20 min of vinegar and 20 min olive oil on top. Wash out 3-4 times with shampoo and then comb out all the dead eggs and lice.” – Margit
“Use vinegar as it dissolves the gummy stuff that holds the eggs on the hair shaft.” – Ann
Other Recommended Products
“I am very, very lucky. My now 13-year-old has never gotten them, and for years I’ve used a leave-in cream product I got in my local pharmacy. It’s called ‘Nice ‘n Clear’ by a Welsh company called Natural Science, and the active ingredient is something called neem oil.” – Jenny
“Ogam have a tea tree conditioner that you put in after washing the hair and leave in. It is great for the scalp and preventing lice, I have used it for 13 years and never had an infestation. Best money I’ve spent, and the bottle lasts for nearly the year.” – Margaret
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Here’s What Pharmacists Advise for How to Get Rid of Head Lice
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Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best home remedy for getting rid of head lice?
There’s no single remedy that works for every family — Mykidstime parents recommend tea tree shampoo and oil, aloe vera products, and vinegar-and-olive-oil treatments as things that have worked well for them. Whatever you try, regular combing with a fine-tooth or nit comb is the step most parents agree makes the real difference.
Does tea tree oil actually keep head lice away?
Many parents swear by it as a deterrent — a few drops on the hairbrush, behind the ears, or in a spray bottle before school. It’s one of the most commonly recommended tips in our community, though results can vary from child to child.
How often should I check my child’s hair for lice?
Parents recommend checking weekly as a matter of routine, not just when a note comes home from school. Regular checks mean you catch an infestation early, before it has a chance to spread through the whole family.
Should I keep my child home from school if they have head lice?
This comes down to family and school policy — some parents keep children home until they’re confident the lice are gone, while others treat and send children in as normal. If you’re unsure, your school or GP can advise on what’s expected.
Does tying up long hair really help prevent lice?
Many parents believe so. Keeping hair tied back or in a bun reduces head-to-head contact, which is how lice usually spread, so it’s a simple habit worth building into the school routine.
You Might Also Like
- 6 Head Lice Treatment Products and Tools Parents Recommend
- 6 Top Tips on Preventing Head Lice When Kids Go Back to School
- Handy Hairstyles to Prevent Lice and Nits Taking Hold
- Here’s What Pharmacists Advise for How to Get Rid of Head Lice
Save This for Later
Head lice have a habit of turning up when you least expect it. Bookmark this page or share it with another parent so it’s handy the next time that note comes home from school.
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