Using Mayonnaise to Treat Head Lice

Many people use mayonnaise to treat head lice instead of using commercial lice shampoos because they feel it is gentler on their scalp and better for the environment. Some doctors question the effectiveness of this treatment, but other doctors swear by it. Until scientific studies are done evaluating the effectiveness of this treatment, it's something you may want to try with one eye still on the shelf of your local drug. In other words, make sure it really works. If you still have itching and find nits or lice after you use this treatment, you may want to try an over-the-counter lice removal shampoo.

How Mayonnaise Lice Treatment Works
This is a rather simple treatment. You'll want to coat your hair with a liberal amount of mayonnaise, working the mayonnaise into your hair thoroughly so every hair shaft is completely coated with this stuff. Cover you head with a shower cap or swim cap and let the mayonnaise sit in your hair for eight full hours. Some people use petroleum jelly instead of mayonnaise; in both cases, the hope is to smother the lice and the nits. The oil in the mayonnaise or petroleum jelly will also help to loosen the nits attached to the hair shafts, making them easier to remove.

You'll need to wash your hair three or four times with a degreasing solution, like dishwashing soap, to remove the mayonnaise. If you choose to use the petroleum jelly, it may take washing several times to get all the Vaseline out of your hair. Next you'll need to ask someone to comb through your hair using a metal, fine-toothed comb intended for lice removal as they scrape every single nit from every single strand of hair. It is essential with this treatment that you remove every single nit because the lice do not die, but rather become dormant with this treatment. You must remove all the nits and lice or you'll have a re-infestation in a matter of days or weeks.