There are two words that strike fear into every parent’s heart like no other: head lice.
You can rest assured that as soon as your little ones start nursery or school, you’ll be forced to deal with those itchy critters sooner than you’d like to. This is doubly painful if your child happens to have long thick hair, with plenty of places for eggs and lice to hide.
Luckily, there are plenty of products out there that can take the hassle out of treating head lice, making the process a breeze for the whole family.
How do you choose the right head lice treatment for you?
First, it’s important to decide whether or not you’re happy to use a product with chemicals in it. If you’d rather not, there are several great options that use natural ingredients and essential oils, which make a brilliant chemical-free alternative. That being said, if you’re looking for a more potent treatment that will kill them off in one go, it’s more than likely this will be an option that uses chemicals.
It’s also worth figuring out which comb will work best on your child’s hair type – many now have innovative new designs to make combing out eggs and lice easier than ever.
Lastly, if you’re suffering from regular bouts of head lice, it might be worth investing in a spray that can help prevent head lice altogether.
Here we’ve rounded up the best head lice treatments for long thick hair to buy now.
NitNOT Eco Head Lice Treatment
Dragons’ Den fans might remember this product from the show, as it made an impression on the dragons back in May 2021. Now it’s one of the most popular head lice products on the market, which prides itself on being the first-ever certified eco-friendly head lice, egg and nit treatment on the market. Its planet-conscious credentials don’t stop there – the packaging is also sustainable, being made from 100 per cent recycled and recyclable plastic.
The hypoallergenic head lice treatment has been specially formulated to kill all head lice and eggs without damaging the scalp and works on all life cycle stages of the nits, even preventing the eggs from developing – great if you’re looking for an effective treatment that’s free from chemicals.
It’s very easy to put on, and should be left on for a minimum of 20 minutes – but if it’s a particularly heavy infestation you may have to leave it on for up to two hours. Then you’ll need to comb the hair through to remove any lice and eggs, and a second treatment must be applied seven to nine days later, making this a fairly labour-intensive process. However, if you’re looking for something that’s kind to both skin and the planet, this is the product for you.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
Nitty Gritty NitFree Comb
In my local mum group, this is by far the most recommended nit comb on the market. Designed by mums, Nitty Gritty’s unique micro-spiral comb promises to remove not only the smallest head lice and the nits (the empty egg cases) but also the unhatched ‘live’ head louse eggs, which are the main cause of any ongoing infestation.
The NitFree comb has been designed to be used without the need for harmful chemicals, and our tester used it with nothing more than a healthy dollop of regular conditioner, combed through from root to tip. While it can be painstaking work going through each strand of hair with the comb – particularly if your child has thick or curly hair – it’s worth it to know they’re totally nit-free.
As well as the comb, NittyGritty also sells an Aromatherapy Head Lice Solution, which is made with a blend of essential oils to help with the detection and removal of head lice, as well as a Conditioning Defence Spray, which helps keep lice at bay. One mum, whose six-year-old daughter has waist-length hair, swears by it and says her daughter has never had nits thanks to daily spritzes of the defence spray.
Buy now £12.99, Amazon
Hedrin Once
Many parents swear by this potent head lice treatment, which promises to kill both eggs and lice in just 15 minutes. Our tester had been using a variety of different combs and shampoos for months, but found this to be the only product that actually worked. Those who are strapped for time particularly love the fact that the liquid gel can be used with just one application and with no need to comb – a real-life saver for those with long thick hair.
It’s very easy to use and can be put straight on dry hair and used on those aged 6+ months. Simply shake the bottle and apply it to the head, working it through with a comb or fingers so it covers the hair from root to tip. Then leave for 15 minutes and shampoo out, applying the shampoo first before wetting the hair. While it’s pesticide-free and doesn’t have any of the nasty odours so often associated with head lice treatments, it does use active ingredients dimethicone and penetrol to psychically smother the head lice and eggs.
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
Vamousse Treatment Mousse
This lice treatment mousse is clinically proven to kill lice and eggs – including resistant super lice – in just one use, making it one of the most effective treatments on the market. The mousse consistency makes it particularly easy to apply to the hair, which you need to do section by section. Once the hair is fully covered, leave it on for 15 minutes before getting to work with the comb – the mousse combs with a professional steel comb which is much better for long thick hair than the usual plastic ones. Simply wash with shampoo and you’re good to go.
While the mousse is pesticide-free, it’s worth noting that it uses an active ingredient, Natrum Muriaticum (sodium chloride), to stop the infestation in its tracks. That means it’s not suitable for those under two years old, and may not be top of your list if you’re trying to avoid chemicals altogether. But for a speedy, fast-acting treatment it definitely delivers results.
Buy now £9.00, Amazon
NitWits All-in-One Head Lice Treatment
This lice treatment is a great way to get rid of nits fast, and the special spray bottle makes it super easy to apply – with its easy-grip spray nozzle, you don’t have to worry about mess or drips as you put it on, which is great when you’re in a hurry or have a wriggly toddler who won’t sit still.
Using the active ingredient dimethicone, the treatment works to kill head lice and their eggs in one go, with no need for laborious combing afterwards. Again, a god’s send for those with younger children who can’t be contained for hours on end.
Despite using an active ingredient, the formula is still gentle on sensitive young skin and comes with a kid-friendly fragrance, rather than the nasty chemical smell so often associated with head lice treatments. Working its magic in just 20 minutes, it’s another great option for time-poor parents.
Buy now £11.00, Amazon
Full Marks Solution Head Lice Treatment
Full Marks is one of the most well-established head lice brands on the market, having been around for over 10 years. They nailed the art of treating the itchy critters in the shortest time possible, promising to kill head lice and eliminate their eggs in just five minutes. It’s particularly good for long thick hair as the solution is an oily liquid rather than a gel, which means it’s easy to comb through the hair without the need to add conditioner (as is the case with so many other products).
Simply apply it to dry hair, making sure the hair and scalp are fully coated, and leave for five minutes before combing through the hair with the metal-toothed comb provided. While it is a bit more labour-intensive than the solutions that don’t require any combing at all, our tester was very happy with the results and particularly liked that the solution only took five minutes of work. It’s also one of the most affordable products on the market, which is worth noting if you’re having to do your whole family in one go.
Buy now £9.00, Amazon
Vosene Kids Lice Repellent
What’s better than treating head lice? Finding a way to avoid getting them altogether. Lots of my mum friends swear by this lice-repellent conditioning spray, which is designed to keep the pesky creatures at bay. Formulated with ingredients that are naturally repellent to lice, including citronella oil that’s been purposely made to smell stronger to ward off head lice, it can be used every day as a way to reduce the chances of catching lice, though it’s worth noting that it’s not recommended for use on children under three.
As well as being formulated to repel head lice, it also acts as a great conditioner and detangler, making it super easy to comb through your child’s hair – particularly if it’s long and thick. With regular spritzes and comb-throughs, it’ll cut down the chances of infestation dramatically.
Buy now £2.49, Nature’s Best
Puressentiel Lice Repellent Spray
Trust the French to make a head lice product that actually smells great. Formulated with lemon eucalyptus oil and free from synthetic fragrances, pesticides and neurotoxic insecticides, it’s been scientifically proven to help prevent head lice. What’s more, in the event of an outbreak at school or nursery, it prevents scalp infestation and offers effective protection for up to 24 hours.
The gentle formula uses 100 per cent natural active ingredients, meaning it can be used daily on little heads without damaging the hair or making it greasy. However, due to the potent nature of the oils used, it’s not recommended for use on children under the age of three.
Buy now £9.73, Amazon
Lyclear Express
This potent treatment has been proven to be up to 100 per cent effective against head lice in just five minutes – as well as being able to treat more resistant ‘super lice’ – so it’s a good one to have up your sleeve for when you need to call in the big guns. Using an insecticide-free mineral oil, the solution dehydrates and suffocates the lice and nits, delivering results in record time.
This product also prides itself on offering up to 72 hours of protection from re-infestation, as the patented Lice Protection Factor technology makes the hair an unpleasant environment for lice, meaning further outbreaks in a short space of time are less likely. The solution also works as a shampoo, meaning there’s no need to wash the hair separately afterwards – another time-saving hack that parents love.
Buy now £9.00, Lyclear
Verdict
For those looking for a chemical-free, eco-friendly solution, my top pick would have to be the NitNOT Eco Head Lice Treatment – while it may be a slightly more laborious process, you can rest assured that you’re only using the finest eco products on your little ones’ heads. In terms of combs, my hands-down winner is the Nitty Gritty NitFree Comb, which every mum I know swears by.
