Lice are a parent’s nightmare. Tiny, hard to find and frustrating to remove, it would be a lot easier if you just prevent them from infesting your child’s hair in the first place.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying goes, and it’s certainly true when it comes to lice. There are shampoos and treatments you can use to keep lice away from your children or stop an infestation before the head lice can reproduce.
Although our emphasis here is on prevention, some of the shampoos we’ll cover can also be used to eliminate lice if your child winds up with them despite your best efforts (kids do that). That’s a lot to cover, so let’s get going.
In this Pest Strategies product review you can expect to learn:
- What are lice-preventing shampoos?
- How do they work?
- Are they safe?
Top 5 Best Shampoos to Prevent Lice
- Lice Clinics of America Lice Treatment Kit
- Nix Lice Killing Creme Rinse
- Babo Botanicals Lice Repel Shampoo
- Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Daily Kid Shampoo
- Maple Holistics Pure Tea Tree Oil Shampoo
1. Lice Clinics of America Lice Treatment Kit
This lice treatment kit from Lice Clinics of America comes complete with everything you need to treat head lice. Also, it’s safe enough to use for the entire family!
The non-toxic liquid gel formula kills lice on contact, yet there are no harmful chemicals added. It has a pear blossom scent that will sure to please both moms and kids.
The Lice Clinics of America Lice Treatment Kit comes with a potent liquid gel, no-mess applicator, a premium head lice comb, and a 100 percent money-back guarantee.
The Good:
- Effective against lice and super lice
- Non-toxic formula
- Comes with a head lice comb and applicator
- Fresh scent
The Bad:
- Bottle only available in one size
Features:
- Effective against lice and super lice
- Non-toxic formula
- Comes with a head lice comb and applicator
2. Nix Lice Killing Creme Rinse
This is a lice killing shampoo that kills lice because the active ingredient is permethrin, a man-made synthetic pyrethroid. It also kills the lice eggs (nits) and includes two lice combs. It is safe to use on children over two months old.
This lice shampoo has a good residual impact for up to 14 days after each use. This pediculicide has been approved by the FDA as a lice treatment. It will also kill super lice that have built up a pesticide resistance.
After each shampoo, use the nit comb to remove the nits that stick to the individual hairs and can’t be removed with your fingers.
The Good:
- Kills lice and their eggs
- Includes two nit combs
The Bad:
- Contains man-made pesticides
Features:
- Permethrin active ingredient
- 14-day residual impact
- Safe for children over two months old
3. Babo Botanicals Lice Repel Shampoo
This lice prevention shampoo from Babo Botanicals is non-irritating and is gentle enough to use every day. There are no harsh chemicals or pesticides, and this hypoallergenic formula has been thoroughly tested in a clinical lab.
It’s made from the finest essential oils. Its active ingredients include:
- Tea tree oil
- Rosemary
- Mint
- Thyme
- Spearmint
- Lemongrass
Babo Botanicals Lice Repel Shampoo contains no sulfate, soy, or dairy products. It’s completely tear-free and made in the USA.
The Good:
- Non-irritated
- Works well to prevent head lice
- All-natural ingredients
- Made in the USA
The Bad:
- Can leave hair flat and dry with continued use
- Some may be put off by the strong mint fragrance
Features:
- Non-irritated
- Works well to prevent head lice
- All-natural ingredients
4. Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Daily Kid Shampoo
Fairy Tales is a well-known manufacturer of children’s products. Their shampoo contains a blend of rosemary, citronella, peppermint, lavender, tea tree and geranium oils to repel lice. It also contains aloe, chamomile, and jojoba but no harsh chemicals.
This prevention shampoo and conditioner is an effective lice repellent that’s gentle enough to use every day. It’s important to note it doesn’t kill lice. It’s a repellent that keeps them from attaching themselves to your child. It stops the infestation before it happens.
This is a head lice prevention treatment with no side effects from harsh chemicals. Some people may have allergic reactions to the essential oils so test it on a small patch of your child’s skin before washing their hair with it.
The Good:
- All-natural ingredients
- Clean scent
The Bad:
- Not approved for lice removal
Features:
- No harsh chemicals
- Good lice prevention
- Everyday use
5. Maple Holistics Pure Tea Tree Oil Shampoo
Tea tree oil, lavender oil, and rosemary oil are the active ingredients in this dandruff shampoo that controls dandruff and dry, itchy, and flaking scalps in addition to preventing a head lice infestation. It also promotes hair growth on your child’s head.
It will leave your hair feeling clean and rejuvenated, with a clean, fresh scent. It promotes good hair care while preventing a lice outbreak. There aren’t any harsh chemicals or pesticides in it either.
The Good:
- Has a clean scent
- Only uses natural ingredients
The Bad:
- Not approved for lice removal
Features:
- No harsh chemicals
- Safe for everyday use
- Prevents lice infestation
What Are Shampoos to Prevent Lice?
Lice preventing shampoos are products that you use to wash your child’s hair to clean away lice or make your child’s hair an unwelcome place for lice to set up camp. Some are based on essential oils that produce odors lice find offensive and try to avoid.
Others are insecticidal shampoos with chemical pesticides in them for killing lice that have infested your child’s hair. These can be used in a preventative manner if you have reason to suspect your child has been exposed to head lice.
How Do Shampoos to Prevent Lice Work?
Lice prevention shampoos work in one of two different ways; by repelling them or by killing them. Let’s look at each one.
- Repelling:
Researchers in Australia tested three different over-the-counter lice treatments and discovered that a combination of lavender oil and tea tree oil was an effective repellent for head lice, with a success rate of 97.6%.
It didn’t kill the lice, it simply drove them away. There wasn’t any follow-up research done to determine if the lavender oil or tea tree oil was mainly responsible for repelling the lice or if it was the combination of the two.
Other essential oils such as rosemary and coconut oil have shown some repellency properties as well.
- Killing:
Killing head lice is achieved the same way killing any other pest is done, with a pesticide. Small concentrations of pesticides are included in the formula for a shampoo or conditioner and the infected person washes their head with it.
Lice are fond of the occipital region of the head at the back of the skull near the spinal column and behind the ears. They will travel to any section of the skull, but those are their favorite areas.
How Do You Find The Best Shampoos to Prevent Lice?
There is plenty of information on managing or eliminating head lice after they’ve become a problem, but not as much on prevention. This is where Pest Strategies comes in. We’ve researched them for you and the results are presented here for your benefit.
Are Shampoos to Prevent Lice Effective?
Yes. A big part of prevention though starts at the school or daycare your child attends. Lice can’t fly or jump so they have to spread by head-to-head contact. If you’ve ever seen children huddled up whispering to each other, you know how lice could move from one to another.
Since children for not listening to (or ignoring) parental discussions on safety, and the employees at schools and daycare centers are too busy to notice everything, a good lice prevention shampoo is essential for your peace of mind.
Essential oils produce odors that people like but many insects, including lice, can’t stand. Given a choice between an area with essential oils in it and one without, they’ll choose the one without. For this reason, many of the shampoos below are essentials oil-based.
How To Use A Shampoo to Prevent Lice
Wash your child’s hair the same way you normally would with a regular shampoo. Make sure it doesn’t get in their eyes, nose, or mouth, and pay special attention to the base of the skull near the spine and behind their ears.
Are Shampoos to Prevent Lice Safe Around My Pets And Children?
Yes. However, some can be used on children as young as two months old while others can only be used on children who are two years old and older. Check the label before using any of them.
