Do you have to cut your dreadlocks if you get lice?

06 Jul Do you have to cut your dreadlocks if you get lice?

The BIG question and the great anguish that runs through all of us who have dreadlocks when we just think about it.

Today we bring you a great tip / recipe / remedy that you should always keep close to you, because you never know when you may have visitors.

First of all, we would like to clarify some of the myths that surround the spread of lice and that can help you take it easy; also to demolish some of the prejudices that people with dreadlocks suffer, as well as to have answers when someone asks you frowning “but you have everything in there, right?”.

• Lice, and other insects, go to the cleanest and healthiest hair. Namely, if you get lice, it isn’t because your hair isn’t clean enough, nor does having dreadlocks predispose you to it more than a hair without dreadlocks. Dreadlocks aren’t dirty per se, they are if you don’t wash them.
• Lice feed on blood (like mosquitoes) and go to the scalp. They don’t stay living inside the dreads because there they have nothing to live on, they have no food. However, they can use the root zone a little further from the skin to lay eggs and breed (the baby louse is called a nit).
• Lice usually go to dense hairs where it’s easier for them to find a hiding place. A dreadhead usually has spaces and the scalp is more exposed, which makes it less appealing when choosing a head in which to live and raise.
• Lice don’t jump (like a flea does), they go from one head to another by direct contact. Head to head.

Once all this is clarified, let’s move on to what to do if we have had the unfortunate visit of these insects.

At the image you can see a package of amargo, bitter-wood or quassia amara, which is our infallible remedy against lice in your dreadlocks.

It can be difficult to find it, but surely one of the herbalists in your neighborhood will be willing to help you get it.

The one at the picture is from a store in Benimaclet (Valencia), called Herbolario Natural Therapy, on Calle Fray Pedro Vives, 16.

And before explaining what to do with the amargo, we would like to thank our client Jessi, who shared with us this recipe and her experience, which has already helped several people. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

And now yes, here is the anti-lice recipe:

1. Mix in a bottle one part of alcohol (that one for the wounds) to three parts of water, and include a good amount of amargo to let it marinate the longer the better (a minimum of between 3 and 6 months is recommended, so the mash worked to its full effect, but Jessi just left it for three days and it worked for her).
2. Once the liquid has acquired a yellowish tone, pour it into a spray bottle to be able to spray easily the scalp.
3. Spray the mash directly onto the scalp in large quantities until the entire head is covered.
4. Let it work, covering your dreadlocks with a plastic wrap or a plastic bag for about 8 hours, and then remove and shake your dreadlocks, wash and dry them.

It worked for Jessi the first time, but in some cases it may not be enough and the process will have to be repeated after 24 or 48 hours.

As you can see, it’s quite sudden, and with a great positive point that is not to mistreat our dreadlocks and our skin with a chemical that dries and spoils them.

We saw Jessi’s dreadhead some time after the “event” and it was perfect, healthy and beautiful as always.

Have you had experiences with lice and dreadlocks? Do you have other remedies? Let us know in the comments so that your experience can help other people.

Important: Although this remedy is very natural, if you have very sensitive skin, dermatitis problems or any other circumstance that you think may be a problem, consult your family doctor or dermatologist before applying this or any treatment to your dreadlocks.

Extra tip: By way of prevention, when you’re going to be in spaces where contagion is possible (especially if you’re in contact with groups of young children, such as mothers and early childhood education workers, dining rooms, camps…) you can prepare a small spray with water, a bit of 96º alcohol and a few drops of tea tree oil. Spray your dreadlocks and repeat as much as you need. It’s always best to prevent than to cure.

Extra tip 2: We recommend that you get the amargo and prepare the infusion, in order to allow it to marinate for the 3 or 6 months that are recommended, so, if during this time you had the misfortune of getting lice, you would already have the mixture quite macerated and ready to use.