How to Remove Lice If You Wear Hair Extensions

Even people with hair extensions can contract lice.

Lice are extremely small parasites that infect the scalp and hair and often lay eggs or nits. They can survive up to a month on a scalp and lay up to eight eggs a day. While having lice doesn't hurt, it can irritate and cause the scalp to be itchy. Lice are spread when an infected person touches her head and then another person or an item such as a hairbrush or pillowcase with lice on it gets used by someone else. Lice can occur to anyone with any hairstyle, including hair extensions, and require a few steps to get rid of them.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup peroxide
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
• Plastic shower cap
• Shampoo

Instructions

1. Mix together 1 cup of peroxide, 1 cup of vinegar and 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol. Pour over the scalp and work gently into the hair until the scalp and extensions are thoroughly wet.

2. Cover the hair and scalp with a plastic shower cap, available at most grocery stores, drug stores or beauty-supply stores.

3. Leave the mixture on the hair for up to eight hours. Throw away the cap and then wash hair with warm water and shampoo, scrubbing the scalp with your finger tips. Rinse and wash the hair extensions as well. Make sure to wash the extensions thoroughly to prevent the peroxide in the mixture from remaining in the extensions and lightening the color.

4. Repeat the process again in four to six days to get rid of any remaining lice or nits that may have grown or hatched, respectively, since the first treatment.

5. Try an over-the-counter lice treatment, available at most grocery stores or drug stores, if the homemade treatment does not work. Consider removing the hair extensions and getting new ones once the lice have finally been removed to remove any possibility of remaining lice. Remember that loose, long hair is more likely to come into contact with lice, so inspect extensions for lice on a regular basis.

References

• Kids Health: Lice Aren't So Nice
• Beauty and the Bath: Dreadlocks Care
• Unl.edu: Head Lice-Frequently Asked Questions