Can head lice live on pillows and sheets?

Lice feed on human blood and are, therefore, not considered environmental pests. So, there's no purpose in using pesticide sprays or treatments on bedding or furniture. That said, if you want to remove dead lice or hairs that have shed that have nits on them, vacuuming is your best option—whether that be on cushions, stuffed animals, rugs, or in your car.

Can my child sleep in my bed if they have lice?

Tempting as it may be to help soothe your little one, it's best not to share a bed with them until their lice have been fully treated. This is because lice spread by jumping from head to head, so if you sleep with your kid while those little buggers are still alive and well, it's likely that you'll become a target, too.

What keeps lice away from hair?

Some small clinical studies have looked at ingredients that may deter lice, such as certain plant oils. But since these are natural substances, they have not been tested by the FDA. To best prevent lice, try to keep a distance between a child with lice and others, and advise them not to share personal belongings—especially hats, scarves, combs, brushes, hair accessories, or headphones. It's also a good idea to speak to your child about avoiding common areas where headgear from multiple children or people is kept in close proximity.

The 7 Best Lice Shampoos of 2023

If your kid gets head lice, know that you're far from alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between six and 12 million children ages 3 to 11 get them in the U.S. each year. And those itchy little buggers can be quite the nuisance—not to mention highly contagious for everyone in your household. Having the right lice shampoo on hand will help your family weather an outbreak.

Look for active ingredients like permethrin or natural ingredients like mineral oil and tea tree oil, which can effectively treat head lice. Many lice shampoos are sold as full kits and include combs and helpful applicators as well. We carefully considered ingredients, application methods, age recommendations, and value when reviewing products. Here are the best lice shampoos to get rid of those pesky insects in a flash.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

NIX Lice Killing Crème Rinse at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Mata Piojos Lice Shampoo at Amazon

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Best Single-Application:

Sklice Sklice at Sklice.com

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Best for Toddlers:

Schooltime Lice and Nit Shampoo for Kids at Amazon

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Best Preventive:

Fairy Tales Lice Shampoo & Conditioner at Amazon

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Best Natural:

Head Hunters Complete Pro Lice Kit at Amazon

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Best Pesticide Free:

Lice Clinics of America Lice Treatment Kit at Amazon

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Best Lice Comb:

Nit Free Terminator Lice Comb at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ

Courtesy of Amazon

The NIX Lice Killing Creme Rinse is our top pick because this brand is the biggest name in the lice-treating business, and it has permethrin, an FDA-approved ingredient for treating head lice. Permethrin, one of the active ingredients in this NIX shampoo, is a substance known to be extremely effective for killing lice and other mites (although for treatment-resistant super lice, you may need a prescription product). It’s safe for kids as long as your little one is over 2 months old. The kit comes with lice creme rinse and a comb to help comb out eggs and nits.

Price at time of publication: $19

^{Key Specs:
Active Ingredient: Permethrin | Recommended Ages: 2 months old and up | What's Included: Two 2-ounce creme bottles and 2 nit combs}

Courtesy of Amazon

Dealing with lice is bad enough without having to pay a lot for treatment. If you’re hoping to save a few bucks, check out Mata Piojos, which literally means kill lice in Spanish. Many who have tried this shampoo say it works just as well—and in some cases even better—than the leading brands.

Similar to other lice treatments, the active ingredient in Mata Piojos is pyrethrum, which kills active bugs. To ensure complete elimination, you’ll have to apply a second treatment of Mata Piojos after seven to 10 days since this formula doesn’t kill eggs.

Price at time of publication: $30 (pack of three)

^{Key Specs:
Active Ingredients: Piperonyl butoxide and Pyrethrum extract | Recommended Ages: 2 years old and up | What's Included: 2-ounce bottle and lice comb}

Courtesy of Sklice

When it comes to head lice, it’s understandable to want a one-and-done solution. After all, who wants to deal with lice longer than absolutely necessary? Eliminate adult lice and nits on the double with Sklice, a prescription-strength lice shampoo made with ivermectin. It’s the only lice shampoo available with the ability to kill lice in all stages of their life cycle without having to reapply after a week or so.

Sklice is now available over the counter in select pharmacies and is approved for use in children as young as 6 months old. The treatment is super effective, with no nit combing required—lice are dead on contact when you use Sklice.

Price at Time of Publication: $49

^{Key Specs:
Active Ingredient: Ivermectin | Recommended Ages: 6 months and up | What's Included: One 4-ounce tube}

Courtesy of Amazon

If your toddler comes home with a case of head lice, you’ll probably want to look for a lice treatment that’s gentle and without harsh smells or chemicals. Enter Schooltime Shampoo: a chemical-free alternative to some of the most popular brands of lice treatments available today. SchoolTime’s natural formula is scent-free and tear-free, so you won’t have to worry about it stinging your little one’s eyes. If your kiddo is under 2 years of age, the manufacturer recommends that you talk to your pediatrician before using the shampoo, as the formula may need to be diluted beforehand.

Price at time of publication: $22

^{Key Specs:
Active Ingredient: Not specified | Recommended Ages: 2 years old and up | What's Included: One 12-ounce bottle}

Amazon

Why not handle the lice issue before it even starts? Opt for a lice-repellent shampoo like Fairy Tales. It’s formulated with rosemary, citronella, and tea tree oil, all of which are natural lice repellents, and it’s free of harsh chemicals and sulfates. Parents rave about the pleasant scent that’s not too overpowering, and the shampoo is gentle enough for everyday use to keep the bugs away.

If, however, you find yourself dealing with lice despite your best efforts to avoid them, Fairy Tales also offers a gentle and chemical-free lice treatment kit.

Price at time of publication: $24

^{Key Specs:
Active Ingredients: Rosemary leaf oil, cinnamon bark oil, citronella oil | Recommended Ages: 3 years old and up | What's Included: One 12-ounce shampoo bottle, one 8-ounce conditioner bottle}

Courtesy of Amazon

Most people are under the impression that it takes a heavy dose of insecticides in order to get rid of lice. That’s certainly one way to do it, but if you’re looking for a natural alternative lice treatment, WipeOut by HeadHunters is a great place to start. The company explains that its product is particularly effective because it attacks lice on a physical level instead of using chemicals to kill them. That means it permanently damages or disables the lice rather than exposing them to chemicals known to kill them.

If you’re tired of super smelly lice treatments that reek of chemicals or tea tree oil, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by HeadHunter’s Wipe Out. It’s got a light fruity scent you’ll love.

Price at time of publication: $35

^{Key Specs:
Active Ingredients: Staphysagria, Ledum Palustre | Recommended Ages: Not specified (safe for kids) | What's Included: 12-ounce bottle of head lice treatment, 8-ounce bottle of repellent spray, and professional lice comb}

Courtesy of Amazon

If you’re looking for a lice treatment that’s a complete elimination kit but you’d like to skip the pesticides, look no further than Lice Clinics of America. With dimethicone as the active ingredient, this product is formulated to kill adult lice only, rather than adults and nits. That means you’ll not only have to comb but also be diligent about doing a second application one week later to kill all the lice (to account for all stages of the life cycle). A bonus is that the bottle comes with enough product for both applications, so you don’t have to head back to the store.

Users claim that this highly rated lice treatment is an effective alternative to more popular brands like NIX and RID. Though it may take a bit more time and diligence to completely eradicate head lice, it’s worth it to avoid potentially harmful pesticides.

Price at time of publication: $30

^{Key Specs:
Active Ingredient: Dimethicone | Recommended Ages: 3 years old and up | What's Included: 5.25-ounce bottle of lice remover liquid gel, applicator, head lice comb}

4.6

Amazon

The Nit Free Terminator isn't a lice shampoo, but it is just as essential for the treatment of head lice as any of the other products on this list. After you've applied the shampoo, gel, or creme, you'll want to divide your child's hair into small sections and run the Nit Free Terminator from roots to ends to remove dead lice and nits. After each stroke, be sure to wipe or rinse the tiny insects off the comb.

Made of stainless steel, the Nit Free Terminator features 30 spiral micro-grooved teeth that separate the strands and pull off nits and lice as it slides down the hair. It also has rounded tooth ends to prevent scratching your kiddo's scalp and rubber anti-slip bands to help you maintain your grip as you work through the messy situation.

Price at time of publication: $14

What to Look for in Lice Shampoo

Active Ingredient

The active ingredient is an important factor when choosing a lice shampoo. This is because different ingredients kill lice in different stages: nits (a.k.a. eggs), nymphs (babies), and adults. If the shampoo doesn't target the eggs in addition to the live lice, you may have to do more than one treatment. Also, some lice shampoos contain pyrethrins, compounds found in the chrysanthemum family. So, if your child is allergic to chrysanthemums, there's a good chance they'll be allergic to the shampoo too.

Irritants

When they have lice, your kid's scalp is already irritated. Be sure there's nothing in the lice shampoo formula, like fragrance or alcohol, that could cause further irritation.

Combing or Comb-Free

Depending on your preference, you may want to have a comb-free lice shampoo to help reduce your time investment in getting rid of lice. If you don't want to just kill lice, but also physically remove them, a shampoo that comes with a comb is the better way to go. The choice is up to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can head lice live on pillows and sheets?

Lice feed on human blood and are, therefore, not considered environmental pests. So, there's no purpose in using pesticide sprays or treatments on bedding or furniture. That said, if you want to remove dead lice or hairs that have shed that have nits on them, vacuuming is your best option—whether that be on cushions, stuffed animals, rugs, or in your car.
Can my child sleep in my bed if they have lice?

Tempting as it may be to help soothe your little one, it's best not to share a bed with them until their lice have been fully treated. This is because lice spread by jumping from head to head, so if you sleep with your kid while those little buggers are still alive and well, it's likely that you'll become a target, too.
What keeps lice away from hair?

Some small clinical studies have looked at ingredients that may deter lice, such as certain plant oils. But since these are natural substances, they have not been tested by the FDA. To best prevent lice, try to keep a distance between a child with lice and others, and advise them not to share personal belongings—especially hats, scarves, combs, brushes, hair accessories, or headphones. It's also a good idea to speak to your child about avoiding common areas where headgear from multiple children or people is kept in close proximity.