A common question is whether hair dye can eradicate lice. Although hair dye is frequently used to alter hair color, some people think it could also be useful in treating lice infestations. Anyone searching for simple and quick fixes may find it helpful to understand how hair dye affects lice.
Ammonia and peroxide, two substances found in hair dye, are damaging to the hair and scalp. Although these substances appear capable of eliminating lice, it remains to be seen if they can also efficiently target the lice’s eggs, or nits.
This article will discuss hair dye’s interactions with lice, its drawbacks, and whether or not it’s a dependable way to eradicate these parasites.
| Hair Dye Effect on Lice | Description |
| Chemical Components | Some hair dyes contain chemicals like ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, which may harm lice. |
| Suffocation | The thick consistency of the dye can potentially block the breathing holes of lice, leading to suffocation. |
| Eggs (Nits) | Hair dye may not affect lice eggs, so additional treatments might be necessary. |
| Effectiveness | Hair dye is not a reliable or recommended lice treatment compared to specialized products. |
Is it possible to remove lice by dyeing
People frequently think that using hair dye will cure lice and nits, saving them money on pricey pharmacy products. There is a belief that dying your hair can help get rid of parasites. Women find this method intriguing. Change your reputation and rid yourself of bloodsuckers at the same time.
Hair color addresses these problems. It smells distinctively and contains ingredients that are toxic to bloodsuckers. Naturally, not all members of the fair half of humanity will choose to drastically alter the color of their hair. Furthermore, it’s common knowledge that hair color severely damages the structure of hair. But this method kills lice quickly and mercilessly, and you can choose a color that’s as close to the natural shade as possible.
While not all parasites will perish as a result of hair coloring, the majority will. The lice that are still present will be greatly diminished, and when combing, the nits will separate from the hair shaft and come out with ease. Eggs and insects that are weaker can be easily removed with a special comb that can be bought from a pharmacy.
Important! When combing is not done, new lice develop from the nits, the weakened ones will soon recover and begin to reproduce further. You can completely get rid of pediculosis only with a comprehensive approach.
Because hair dye contains chemicals that may suffocate or harm lice, it can affect them; however, it is not a foolproof or reliable way to get rid of lice. Although some people think that coloring hair can help get rid of lice, professional treatments made especially for lice are far more successful.
The effect of hair dye on lice
Another way to get rid of lice is by coloring your hair. The two parts of any coloring preparation are as follows:
Only the color shift of the hair is impacted by the first ingredient. Insects are unaffected by the dye. An oxidizing agent is a chemical that engages in active reactions. It penetrates the parasite’s body and obliterates its chitinous covering.
Among the elements that affect lice are:
- hydrogen peroxide, which is highly aggressive. It is a strong oxidizer that has a detrimental effect on the surface tissues of the insect. Thereby destroying their structure. This leads to the death of the pest. If some lice manage to avoid this contact, they die from poisoning with toxins. Their spiracles are burned out, the oral organs with which the parasite pierces the skin are damaged. Lice die due to the inability to continue breathing and feeding;
- paint, which consists of the active component ammonia, also has a detrimental effect on lice. Its chemical properties have an effect similar to hydrogen peroxide. Ammonia also affects the respiratory system, destroys chitin and oral organs.
To inform you, basma paints, which are based on henna, have no effect on lice.
The question of whether lice can appear on dyed hair is one that piques the interest of many people. It is feasible, yes. Naturally, lice will avoid contact with the hair right after coloring because of the overpowering odor. But after a few days, this might be the case. since the overpowering ammonia smell has faded.
Furthermore, if prompt action is not taken and some parasites manage to survive after coloring, they may continue to thrive and spread throughout the hair. It turns out that pediculosis cannot be prevented by dying.
How does an oxidizer affect nits
Nits react differently to even potent oxidizers. They are lice egg-filled capsules. They are shielded from the damaging effects of the environment by a robust shell.
The extremely durable shell cannot be harmed by the coloring agent. Nevertheless, it may cause the gluey substance that holds the eggs to human hair to dissolve. The nit falls out during combing and is easily cleaned off with running water after it is destroyed.
Advantages of the method
When compared to other approaches, hair dye offers the following benefits in the fight against pediculosis:
- high degree of effectiveness, 80% of lice die after the first procedure;
- complete safety for the human body, subject to all dyeing rules and contraindications;
- cheapness of the method. Usually dyes containing ammonia and hydrogen peroxide are inexpensive;
- instantaneousness of the method. More than half of the lice die immediately after the end of the procedure;
- easy to use. To dye your hair, you do not need any special knowledge and skills.
Take note! In a brief amount of time, hair dye can handle pediculosis without endangering human health.
Disadvantages of the method
Like any other method, the use of dyes has disadvantages in addition to benefits. The following uncomfortable situations that come up when coloring hair are highlighted:
- the possibility of an allergic reaction to the coloring agent;
- a complete change in color, for which some women are not ready. Especially those who have not previously used hair coloring;
- damage to the hair structure;
- the possibility of problems with the scalp, such as itching, dryness;
- increased hypersensitivity of the skin, which leads to an increase in the number of nits.
Make sure the person does not have an allergic reaction to any of the components before applying the coloring agent. You must test the skin’s sensitivity on the back of your hand in order to accomplish this. If after 5 minutes, a burning sensation occurs, redness, a rash appears, then another method should be chosen to combat parasites, for example, shampoos for pediculosis, which can be purchased at any pharmacy.
How to dye your hair
The first step in using hair coloring to combat pediculosis is determining the product’s required composition. You must closely read the instructions to determine whether the paint contains ammonia or hydrogen peroxide. Blond tones will work best for reaching the intended outcome.
Next, you need to see if any of the components are causing hypersensitivity. You can begin dying if there is no redness or itching. The following process ought to be followed:
- it is forbidden to use an expired product;
- it is necessary to prepare the dyeing mixture in strict compliance with the dosages indicated in the instructions;
- before starting the procedure, you should wash your hair, dry it and remove dead insects with a comb;
- next, you need to distribute the hair into strands and treat each of them with the prepared paint;
- put on a cap. If you don"t have one, you can use a plastic bag;
- wrap a towel on top. This is necessary to create a greenhouse effect, which helps kill lice;
- leave the dye on for half an hour;
- then wash off the dye with detergent and warm water;
- rinse your hair with a lemon solution. To do this, dilute the juice of 1 lemon in 1.5 liters of warm water;
- dry your hair with a hair dryer;
- comb out nits and dead lice.
Crucial! Hair coloring should only be done twice a month. As the dye can seriously harm your hair, you will need to try other methods if you haven’t been able to eradicate pediculosis after the first dyeing.
Contraindications
In the following situations, using hair coloring to treat pediculosis is prohibited:
- children under 16 years of age. Since the dye can cause a burn to sensitive skin;
- during pregnancy. Since the oxidizer penetrates the placental barrier and harms the fetus;
- if there are scratches and wounds on the head, which often occur with insect bites;
- when breastfeeding, since the toxic components of the paint corrode the damaged epithelium and penetrate into breast milk.
You should be selective about the drug’s composition and adhere to the directions when using hair dye to treat pediculosis.
- vodka, alcohol;
- vinegar;
- tar soap for the treatment of pediculosis;
- kerosene;
- effective recipes with cranberries;
- how to use laundry soap for lice and nits.
Although using hair dye to get rid of lice might seem convenient, it’s not a foolproof method. Although certain dye ingredients, such as ammonia or peroxide, have the potential to kill lice, they are not a reliable method of getting rid of all lice or their eggs. Lice are hardy creatures, and destroying their nits—eggs—with hair dye alone is particularly difficult.
It is very likely that some lice will survive and hatch later, even if some are killed during the dyeing process. This implies that if the infestation is not adequately treated using more dependable techniques, such as medicated shampoos made especially to target lice, it may recur.
It’s critical to use tried-and-true treatments to eradicate lice if you have an infestation that includes both the larvae and the eggs. Using hair color alone may make the infestation more difficult to eradicate and require more time to deal with.
