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Lice are blood parasites that live in human hair. Lice are high contagious; it is imperative to know how to kill lice so that you can prevent them from multiplying and spreading.
Recognize that you have lice. The symptoms of lice are crazy itchiness, swollen glands, foul-smelling hair and small white spots. The white spots in your hair are lice nits, or lice eggs. You may also be able to see lice themselves, which are a small red-brown insect.
Cleanse your surroundings. Lice nits can stick to fabric spread easily. Wash all linens and clothes with hot water. Throw pillows and stuffed animals in the dryer and run on high for 15-20 minutes. Vacuum and wash your carpets. Boil anything else in hot water. If it can't be cleaned, throw it away - lice nits can stick to anything!
Suffocate the lice. Cover your entire scalp with a thick layer of olive oil, vinegar or shortening. If you have long hair, string the previously mentioned substance of choice through your hair and pile it on top of your head. Make sure every inch of scalp and hair is covered. Put a shower cap or wrap plastic wrap around your head, then wrap a towel around your head like a turban. Let this sit for 4 hours in order to make sure all the lice have been killed. You scalp will itch, but you must tolerate the itching if you want to be rid of lice.
Wash your hair and scalp. First rinse your hair. Then use lice (or "pediculicide") shampoo in your hair. You can either use over-the-counter or prescription shampoo designed to kill lice and nits. Make sure the shampoo does not contain lindane, which has been found to cause seizures and cancer. Lather the shampoo and leave it on your scalp and in your hair for the allotted minutes stated on the shampoo directions. Rinse thoroughly, make sure not to leave any shampoo residue on your scalp.
Comb through your hair. Go through your wet hair with a fine-tooth comb, section by section, under a bright light. Look for any dead lice or nits, and pick them out with your fingers or a tweezers. It is best to have someone else to this for you, as they can see around your head and through your hair better. This could potentially take hours, so pick a few good movies and a comfortable position. The time spent is worth getting rid of lice!
Blow dry your hair. Use the hottest air you can stand (be careful not to burn yourself) and blow dry your hair. The heat will kill any lice or nits that may still survive.
Examine your hair daily. Go through your hair and search for any lice or nits for the next few days. If you see any, repeat the above process. The parasites will eventually be eliminated!
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