Lice are tiny insects that can live on your scalp and cause itching and an intense desire to cut off all your hair. They’re known for getting into dreadlocks and can be difficult to get rid of.
Avoiding lice is important to keep your locks healthy and clean if you have dreadlocks.
This post will give tips on keeping lice out of your dreads and keeping your hair healthy and free from frizzing.
How To Prevent Lice In Dreads
Here are some tips for preventing lice in dreadlocks:
- Don’t Share Combs or Brushes
When you’re out with friends, don’t share combs or brushes. Lice are spread from person to person through direct contact with hair, so if you share a comb or brush with someone who has lice, there’s a good chance you’ll get them too. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching hair or combs that belong to other people and make sure you always use separate brushes and combs when styling your own hair.
- Use Lice Shampoo
A common misconception is that lice-killing shampoos will kill off the lice eggs (nits). While these products do work well at killing adult lice, they do not kill nits.
To kill both adults and nits, it is necessary to use a combination of treatments such as sprays, creams, ointments, and lotions, along with shampoos and conditioners containing pyrethrin or neem oil.
The shampoo can still be used even if you cannot use the lice comb. It will destroy the live lice when you wash your hair with special shampoo. You must repeat the process every three days because you will be left with the nits and unhatched eggs.
This will guarantee that you get rid of newly hatched lice before they can develop and lay their own eggs. Till you are securely outside the danger zone, keep doing it.
- Olive and Tea Tree Oil for Head Lice in Dreadlocks
Here is a simple homemade dish that you can try whenever you like. Put olive and tea tree oil on your scalp and dreads. Due to the tea tree’s potency and potential for injury, the ratio should be a few spoons of olive oil to a few drops of tea tree oil. Keep it running all night.
Wash your dreads the following morning. After that, soak them in a vinegar and water solution and blow-dry them. People who have used this method say you must continue using it for two weeks to ensure complete lice removal. It will also make your dreads feel a little greasy.
- Apple Cider Vinegar and Coconut Oil
This theory is based on the notion that the eggs and nits are attached to your hair strands to prevent them from falling off. You require a special comb because of this. The nits will be much easier to remove if you use apple cider vinegar instead because it will help break down and unglue them from your hair.
When you shampoo your hair, the coconut oil will help the live adult head lice in your dreadlocks fall out of your hair by smothering them.
- Straightening Irons
Others have used straightening irons to kill lice instantly, as well as their eggs and nits. Technically, the intense heat should kill the insects, though not enough people have tested it to be sure it works.
Don’t pull on the straightening iron like someone with conventional hair would if you try this method. Simply apply it to your dreads and wait a few seconds for the heat to kill the lice.
You should always remember that cleaning your scalp and dreads is insufficient. Your clothes, pillows, and bed linens are all favorites of lice. Therefore, spray them with a chemical solution before washing them in your washing machine at a very high temperature.
If you have lice, avoid hand washing your clothing and mattress. The high temperature of the water, not the ingredients themselves, will get them off of pillowcases and other items.
Are Lice Common In Dreads?
Yes, dreadlocks are a breeding ground for lice because of the tight nature of the hair follicles, making it difficult for them to move around freely.
If there are any nits on your head when you start growing your locks, then there is always the chance that they will be trapped inside your dreadlocks at some point during their growth cycle.
However, most cases of lice in dreadlocks are caused by someone else picking up the bugs from somewhere else and then transferring them onto your head without realizing what they have done!
What Are The Signs Of Lice In Dreads?
If you’re noticing lice or nits in your dreadlocks, it’s time to take action. Here are some common signs that you’ve got them:
- Itching, especially when you touch your scalp;
- Soreness and redness around affected areas;
- Fatigue;
- Irritability;
- Stressful situations make it worse.
- Bumps on top of your head or neck area where you can see nits (louse eggs) attached to hair shafts
- Scalp sores if you scratch so much that tissue is broken down
Conclusion
If you dread the idea of lice, it is best to be diligent about prevention. This does not mean that you need to employ harsh chemicals in your dreads, nor does it mean you have to check your children’s heads for bugs each night.
As long as you are scrupulously clean and aware of your surroundings (and a few other precautions), there is little chance of lice infestation.
