Does Shampoo and Conditioner Kill Lice & Nits?

Can I use shampoo to get rid of head lice and nits from my hair? Yes, there are effective head lice shampoos out there to help you get rid of these stubborn bugs.

This article reviews the common best head lice shampoo brands. I will also briefly explain how to use them on nits. Finally, I will inform you where to buy the best shampoo for head lice removal.

What is Anti-lice Shampoo?

Anti-lice shampoo is a remedy or an agent used to prevent and treat head lice. The common anti-lice shampoos have repellent and suffocating effects on lice.

Since head lice are attracted to the human smell, anti-lice shampoos with repellents characteristics work by masking the smell to make us unattractive to head lice.

Head lice are known to move at a faster rate between the hairs, and smothering shampoos work by stunning the parasites to slow down their movement for easy detection and combing out.

There are a variety of anti-lice shampoos in the market today that can effectively eliminate these disgusting creatures from your hair.

Common examples of ice-killing agents are pyrethrin, lindane, malathion, and permethrin shampoos which can be purchased over the counter in most drugstores.

Unfortunately, not all treatments in the market are effective. In fact, a good number of over-the-counter treatments have become ineffective mainly due to the immunity of the parasite as a result of repeated exposure.

For those that work, always follow instructions on the label and prescriptions for positive results.

How to Use Nit Shampoo

If applied properly, lice shampoo is likely to produce positive results. This means the need to follow instructions on product labels among other general and specific guidelines such as shaking the bottle before use.

  • Checking for ingredients is critical in ascertaining the active ingredients within the products such as pyrethrin and permethrin.
  • For wet hair shampoos, dripping should be avoided- it should be damp but not dripping.
  • Always desist from applying conditioner and regular creams beforehand as this could reduce the effectiveness of the shampoo.

On how to use nit shampoo, the procedure could vary depending on the type of shampoo. However, general guidelines on how to apply over the counter pyrethrin and permethrin shampoo products are as shown here below:

Step 1: Start by wrapping the towel around the shoulders or anything to protect your body from getting wet or stained.

Step 2: Hold the towel over your face to protect your eyes from any harmful effects of the shampoo

Step 3: Put on rubber gloves if you have any scratches and cuts on your hands to protect against the infiltration and effects of shampoo chemicals.

Step 4: Apply shampoo on the hair- massage from hair roots to the ends until your entire hair and scalp are fully saturated in shampoo. The focus should be on the hairlines situated behind the ears and back of the neck where these parasites concentrate.

Step 5: Leave shampoos on your hair for about ten minutes

Step 6: Wash and rinse your hair according to instructions on the product.

Step 7: Repeat the process after some days as stated on the product label- Most products recommend repeat application after ten days, but nine days is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Note: You may comb your hair after treatments and change clothes after combing out and. To tell whether treatment is working, you may try a thorough comb-out a few hours after the initial treatment. Treatment is working if you notice slow-moving live head lice.

However, if the lice appear to be active, then shampoo may not be working. If instructions were correctly followed yet there is no positive results, probably the lice have developed resistance to the applied treatment.

Consult your doctor to suggest appropriate treatment. Note that lice shampoo only kills between 70-80 percent of nits, and the rest can be removed through proper comb-outs.

Side Effects of Head Lice Treatment Shampoo

The lice treatment shampoo has a few short-term side effects that people may be aware of. They can range from more minor things like itching and dry skin to major consequences like scalp irritation and chemical burns on the head.

The most common cause of these problems is by using too much shampoo, which strips the natural oils from the scalp and damages hair follicles with time.

An unhealthy application can also contribute to lasting damage such as hair loss or thinning due to breakage.

Other serious side effects like hormone resistance seem to arise for people who use products (such as head lice shampoos) with harsh chemicals in them regularly.

Lice treatment shampoos may have ingredients that irritate eyes and mucous membranes when they come in contact with them.

Where to Buy Head Lice Shampoo

Looking for where to buy head lice shampoo? Well, there are many places you can get these anti-lice products. Below are just some of the stores and online portals where one can purchase the brand they like.

Head Lice Shampoo Amazon

Amazon is a major stockist of lice treatment products, which means you cannot miss finding shampoo brands that work best for head lice.

With a highly diversified supplier base, Amazon is definitely the leading seller of lice removal shampoo brands such as:

You can check and find the best-selling head lice shampoo brands on Amazon here.

Head Lice Shampoo CVS

CV pharmacies have a wide range of lice-killing shapoos among other lice prevention and treatment remedies. You can also shop online for a range of lice shampoos at CVS.com for use at home.

Key products include Rid shampoo, CVS lice killing shampoo with maximum strength, lice-free spray for instant lice head treatment, lice cure maximum strength for killing and removing lice.

You will also find products like Nitty Gritty shampoo, Lyclear shampoo, Full mark spray shampoo, Hedrin shampoo, and Derbac shampoo for killing live lice.

These varieties have different ingredients suitable for different conditions including long and short hair, kids and adult, healthy and ailing persons, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers among allergic and other conditions.

Buyers have also the opportunity to get instructions on how to use these products properly from doctors at CVs pharmacy.

Head Lice Shampoo Walmart

Head lice shampoo Walmart comprise a variety of lice treatment shampoo product and lice complete kits at affordable price.

You will definitely come across lice-killing brands like lice shield, lice-free sprayBayer RID, equate maximum strength and lice MD as well as Nix Familly pack for lice killing, Vamousse lice treatment, and Vamousse lice protection.

Many varieties with different ingredients will provide you with the freedom to chose suitable and best shampoo for your condition.

Head Lice Shampoo Walgreens

You can find a variety of lice-killing shampoos products in Walgreen stores at affordable prices.

You will find brands like RID, Walgreens stop lice, lice shield retailing, Vamousse lice shampoo, So Cozy Boo lice prevention, and lice free Gel and shampoo for head lice treatment.

These products have a price range of $6.99-25 and come with associated lice conditioner, lice treatment kits, and lice combs.

Besides lice-killing products, you can also find a variety of lice remedies including lice spray and shampoos with repelling effects for lice prevention.

There is also an electronic louse comb for the safe killing of lice on contact and without using any chemicals.

Head Lice Shampoo ASDA

ASDA Groceries do sell head lice treatment shampoos. This means you can always walk into the nearest ASDA Grocery store and buy the brand you like.

Some of the common head lice treatment shampoo brands you can find at ASDA include:

  • Lyclear Head Lice Shampoo Treatment
  • Vosene Kids 3 in 1 Head Lice Repellent Conditioning Shampoo

Head Lice Shampoo Boots

Boots stores sell head lice treatment shampoos you can use to kill stubborn lice with. It is worth noting here that the store has an in-house branded shampoo known as the Boots Pharmaceuticals Head Lice Solution.

The Boots Pharmaceuticals Head Lice Solution is reported to be very effective and highly efficient because it reportedly can kill lice and nits within 15 minutes. This brand is not only sold at the Boots stores but also in other competing retailers such as Amazon.

Other brands of shampoos sol at the Boots stores include:

  • Lyclear Extra Strong Shampoo 200ml
  • Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Oil Hair Rinse Shampoo Lice Treatment 500ml

Best Head Lice Treatment Shampoos

There are many lice shampoo brands on the market today. Here below, I review some of the common brands you can find in the store nearest to you. What are the best shampoos to get rid of head lice?

Derbac Lice Shampoo Review

Online reviews reveal several parents reporting that Derbac has produced positive results in head lice treatment in their children. The rating is 5/5 stars.

Derbac is a liquid shampoo for killing live head lice, but cannot kill nits because it cannot penetrate its harder shell.

This head lice-killing shampoo is effective when it is applied to dry hair until it is wet and treatment should be repeated one week after the initial application.

However, lice treatment and preventing future lice attacks require treating the entire household members. In this regard, a larger bottle is recommended by most users for saving costs.

Full Marks Lice Shampoo

Full marks solution has also been hailed by several parents as one of the most effective lice-killing and preventing agents in the market today.

Full Marks comes with a variety of products from spray shampoo to detector comb which is essential for lice treatment.

The solution has suffocating properties which slow down the movement of lice in the hair for easier catching through the lice comb. The product is cost-effective- 5ml lotion of Full mask is enough for one treatment.

While the spray format is the most convenient, it is also the most costly option among these products considering the price per ml.

Hendrin Lice Shampoo

Hendrin provides a range of treatments for head lice hailed by several people. Hendrin comes with a range of lotions that are applied to the hair and rinsed after about eight hours.

This is then followed with shampoo treatment using the gel and mousse then dried and left to work as you go about your daily activities.

According to reviews, the physical properties suffocate and dehydrate the parasite to death. The Protect & Go product by Hendrin is also an effective spray for preventing and killing lice infestation.

This spray works by dissolving the wax coat of the lice ultimately dehydrating them to death.

Using this product twice a week after your normal hair washing could help eliminate head lice. Furthermore, the prices are also affordable to many people- they cost as low as $5.10 for 50ml lotion- enough to be applied twice a week.

It also saves money, particularly Treats & Go, and 250ml liquid Hedrin Once are the cheapest formats based on price per ml.

Even though convenient and easier to use, Mousse and Treat & Go spray are the most costly formats. For the whole family treatment, the 150ml lotion is the cheapest to go with.

Lyclear Lice Shampoo

Lyclear brand comes with a broad range of products from spray, creme rinse, shampoo, and lotion for various types of skin.

The physical action of Lyclear kills lice and eggs through suffocation and dehydrating action. These products have a high rating from customer reviews- 4/5 stars.

The prices are also affordable- ranging from as low as $5 for 56ml creme rinse- enough for a one-minute treatment. However, ten-minute shampoo used on dry hair is priced at about $13.

However, the 200ml shampoo is cost-effective based on RRP – it is close to half the price per ml compared to the cost of spray.

Nitty Gritty Brands Lice Shampoo

Nitty Gritty Brands head lice shampoo is hailed for its nit comb and also lice treatment and is free from pesticides. It comes in kits comprising a nit comb, solution, and defense spray.

These brands are effective – with a rating of 4/5 stars. Defense spray has the capacity to mask the aroma of your hair to make it unattractive to the head lice.

READ MORE: Mayonnaise lice treatment instructions.

Featured image credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, bugwood.org | slight edits were applied | licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

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