It is neither safe nor necessary to use pesticide shampoos or lotions to exterminate lice. With some patience and the proper technique, a combination of safe shampooing and lice combing will eradicate head lice problems without exposing your child to the hazards of pesticides. If you can't find a shampoo, use a bar soap with a coconut or olive oil base or pure coconut or olive oil. Both of these oils are safe, but demonstrate effective, natural insecticidal properties. Rather than poisoning the insects, olive oil kills active lice by smothering them-and action they can't develop resistance to.
Parents also report that olive oil makes nit removal easier, and remoisturizes the scalp.
Scrub hair and rinse thoroughly. Wrap a towel around your child's lathered head for 15-20 minutes, and another around shoulders. Separate a 1 inch hank of hair in one hand. With the other, position a special lice comb at a 45 degree angle, with the curved side of the teeth toward the head. Lice combs have specially tooled metal teeth to remove nits.