Does Hair Dye Kill Lice?
Lice usually affect children. This doesn’t mean that adults are safely out of the critter’s sight. If you’re an adult currently suffering from a head lice takeover, don’t panic. There are around 6 to 12 million people who go through the same thing annually.
Let’s be clear, there is little scientific evidence that hair dye kills lice or their nits. However, many claim that this alternative removal method has helped them out a little in their struggle.
Most synthetic hair dyes contain a number of potent chemicals that might not negatively impact our scalp but may affect small parasites like lice and nits.
These tiny pests have difficulty withstanding such powerful chemical substances and once removed from the habitat they thrive in simply wouldn’t be able to live long on your scalp.
While it may be possible to kill off some of the lice infesting your scalp using hair color treatments, only a professional lice removal clinic can guarantee 100% lice eradication.
Here is all you need to know about the impact of hair dyes on head lice.
Let’s Break It Down
The two main components of hair dye considered to be responsible for reducing the life span of a neurological organism like head louse are: Hydrogen Peroxide: The chemical which forms the color on your hair also makes your hair loose sulfur—making the texture of your locks drier and rougher. When your hair shafts aren’t as soft and smooth as before, lice and nits find it harder to lodge firmly onto the scalp. Ammonia: Typically used to lighten the hair, it creates a pungent smell to the hair dye. Lice exposed to certain levels of ammonia become unable to withstand the highly alkaline environment of the scalp. Eventually these little critters die off after prolonged exposure to hair dye-ammonia. NOTE: Given the toxic nature of hair dye, getting rid of head lice via hair colorants is strictly not recommended for children.Does Hair Dye Affect Nits?
The eggs that lice lay are called nits. Simply getting rid of the head lice isn’t going to help you remain lice-free. It’s just as crucial to effectively remove nits from your scalp too. Hair dye chemicals that affect adult lice may help in killing their eggs too. However, nits that are less than three days old might not get affected as their neurological system is still under-developed.
