Best Head Lice Removal Product

We get daily calls from parents asking “what is the best lice shampoo or best lice removal product I can use?” We don’t endorse any chemical lice-killing products on the market, because we wouldn’t use them on our families, plus we’ve been successfully doing professional lice treatment without any chemical lice-killing products for decades. 

The panic induced by spotting insects living on your child is enough for most parents to immediately run out and buy the first lice product they can find. We get it! Almost all parents take this approach first, so if you did, you’re not alone. That means by now, you also probably have witnessed first hand how these products aren’t as effective as they may have been when you were a child. With the ongoing overuse of the same basic chemicals - permethrin and pyrethrin - almost all lice in America today have mutated into “super lice,” so these pesticides have far less effect on the bugs. LiceDoctors - What Is Super Lice

Nix Lice Killing Cream Rinse

This is a permethrin based cream rinse that is applied to the hair. Nix is a pesticide treatment that claims to prevent re-infestation of lice for 14 days. After the treatment is washed out of the hair all of the nits will need to be combed out as it does not penetrate the shell of the lice egg. We find that because the bugs are resistant and the nits have an impenetrable shell, this product can be ineffective.

Mata Piojos

Another lice treatment is Mata Piojos lice shampoo. The treatment is another pesticide treatment with the active ingredients being piperonyl butoxide and pyrethrum extract. The treatment is applied to the hair and then all of the eggs and bugs will need to be combed or physically removed from the hair - with longer hair taking 1-2 hours to complete the treatment. Mata Piojos (translation Kill Lice) does not always work for the same reasons as stipulated above.

Schooltime Shampoo

Schooltime Shampoo is a non-pesticide lice treatment. It claims to be able to penetrate the shell of the lice egg, but lice and nit removal is still part of this treatment option. The instructions recommend applying the solution to dry hair and letting it sit for 15 minutes and then follow up with a comb through and another treatment 5-7 days later. Our experience has shown us that you can not count on products that claim to seep through the shell.

Nit Free Terminator Comb

LiceDoctors Lice Comb (Nit Free Terminator Comb) is the ultimate lice and nit fighter. It is made of stainless steel and will not break or rust when used as directed. Laser technology welding makes the comb highly sturdy and long-lasting. This is the best lice comb, since its long metal micro-grooved teeth are gentle on the scalp, but close enough together to ensure that the comb will grab most nits, even on fine hair. Beware of imposters; we’ve had parents say they ordered a Terminator comb online, only to receive a knock-off with smooth, flimsy teeth. Of course, with any combing procedure, the remaining nits must be manually extracted, and that is where our expertise can really come in handy.

Rid Lice Killing Shampoo

Almost exactly like Matas Piojos, this is another lice killing shampoo with the same active ingredients - piperonyl butoxide and pyrethrum extract. Also a pesticide lice treatment, after the application of the shampoo all of the nits and bugs should be removed from the hair which can take 1-2 hours per head.

LiceMD Head Lice Treatment

This treatment claims to be non-toxic and effective. The active ingredient is dimethicone and advertisements mention that the treatment can be repeated. The only 100% effective claim to this product is the lice comb that comes along with it - so all lice and eggs still need to be removed from the hair.

LiceFree Spray! Instant Head Lice Treatment

Another pesticidal pediculicide, the active ingredient is natrum muriaticum with other ingredients including benzoyl alcohol. It is recommended to let the product dry on the hair for best results and that all of the lice and eggs are removed after.

LiceDoctors in Home Lice Treatment

How can we possibly eliminate super lice without lice killing shampoo? Our process is simple on the surface, but took years of medical study and experience to perfect. 

In a nutshell, we: 

1. Immobilize the lice (we use harmless, painless, and odorless oil).
2. Remove all of the lice and nits from the hair with combing and handpicking. 
3. Protect the hair so lice can’t recur (again, a specific method of applying oil as a follow-up).
4. Optionally, use natural repellents to avoid catching lice again (keep reading for details).

LiceDoctors, having treated hundreds of thousands of clients successfully, has an arsenal of tools, all of which are chemical-free and are components of getting rid of head lice and keeping them away. 

LiceDoctors Lice Repellent Spray, Shampoo, and Conditioner

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Speaking of keeping lice away, the leader of the gang of lice treatment products is the LiceDoctors Lice Repellent Spray. Before this great product, we recommended to clients that to prevent head lice, they regularly spray their hair with hairspray or add mousse or gel to the hair. The reasoning behind this is that when there is a coating over the hair, it is harder for the lice to use their claws to grab onto the hair. Lice prefer clean hair that dangles loose because it is more accessible for them to grab on to.

Although companies approached us to sell their products, we never found a product that met our quality standards until we found what has become LiceDoctors Peppermint Repellent Spray. This product has the same hair-coating properties as gel and hairspray, but it has the additional benefit of having a natural peppermint scent which naturally wards off head lice. Think of it like wearing (chemical free) bug spray in the woods (but far less stinky). It is best used in tandem with LiceDoctors Shampoo and Conditioner. While nothing can guarantee that your child will be 100% protected from lice, this is the best lice prevention product out there.