Hair dye and lice: an unusual treatment

Website design By BotEap.comHair dye and lice seem to have no connection, but rumor has it in salon circles that this unusual association may work. Pediculosis or infestation by hair lice is an irritating and embarrassing condition. There are a number of treatments for head lice. These include the use of insecticidal shampoos and hair lotions. Some are from natural insecticides like neem oil. Other preparations are more chemically based and require a prescription to be dispensed.

Website design By BotEap.comSome parents understandably stop using these products after a few unsuccessful attempts. Products like malathion and lindane may have harmful cumulative side effects. Manual removal with a lice comb is the most effective way to remove the pests, but it is time consuming and does not completely prevent reinfestation. It also does not provide lasting relief from symptoms.

Website design By BotEap.comTreating head lice with hair dyes stems from the exasperation of some parents over the expense of using over-the-counter formulas. Fed up with spending big bucks on lice treatment lotions and shampoos, they have resorted to hunting for something or anything to relieve the itching, embarrassment, and irritation. Some forums recommend such quaint remedies as mayonnaise, vinegar, and mouthwash. These inexpensive and easily accessible home staples have not been clinically tested, although some mothers swear by them.

Website design By BotEap.comThis is an unusual remedy for killing head lice – the lice hair dye method. Hair lice patients noted that when their hair was dyed in the salon, their hair lice condition improved. Some have even proven that their hair lice have been completely eliminated. What’s in hair dyes or hair coloring materials? Before synthetic coloring materials were invented, natural pigments from plants, flowers, and tree bark were used to change or accentuate hair color. Traditionally, henna, a plant extract, was used to darken hair, while chamomile was used to lighten it. These pigments inevitably fade after a while, so more permanent additives are needed to make the colorants stick to the hair longer. This was where coal tar aniline dyes were used for semi-permanent hair colors and paraphenylenediamine, or PPD, for permanent hair colors. In order for these ingredients to be effective, the hair must be prepped before the color is applied.

Website design By BotEap.comThen the use of chemicals to strip hair was introduced. The hair shaft was opened using chemicals such as ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. Dyes that use these ingredients are called oxidation dyes. Using more of these chemicals made the hair color lighter in less time. It is these same chemicals that are attributed to the effectiveness of hair dyes as anti-lice agents. Hair has a protein called keratin and it is this substance that hair shaft openers work on. When the hair shaft breaks open, the glue that holds the nit to the hair is also disturbed, releasing the nit in the process. No nits, no future adult lice.

Website design By BotEap.comAnother ingredient in hair dyes that can work against hair lice is alcohol. When using home remedies in the kitchen, some women add Listerine, a high-alcohol mouthwash, to boost their home formulas. Lice don’t seem to like things. Hair dyes also have a high alcohol content. Its unpleasant side effect is dry hair, as it removes moisture from the hair. Perhaps it is this quality that prevents the reproduction of lice. If I were a louse, all the other polysyllabic and unpronounceable ingredients would be more than enough to drive anyone out of my head.