If you purchase over-the-counter shampoos and hair conditioners that treat head lice, it is important to remember that you will only want to treat infested person. Lice killing shampoos and treatments contain pesticides so don't treat the rest of the family unless they are infested as well.

For using a medicine or chemical treatment you'll apply a medicine called pediculicide. Now, be sure to follow label directions carefully. If the person you are treating has longer hair, you may need to apply a second round of treatment. Once the pediculicide has been used to treat the hair, do not shampoo for two or three days.

Once treated, look at the hair and scalp. If you still see some lice that are alive but are moving slowly do not re-treat. Comb out the dead adult lice and the nits with a special comb (many times the nit comb will come with the packaged treatment).

It may take a bit longer for the medicine to effectively kill the adult lice. If the lice are not dead and are still actively moving around, this could indicate that this particular treatment is not working. If this is the case, contact your local health department or your doctor for a different type of chemical treatment.

Check the hair every one to two days and go through it with a nit comb while checking for any sign of live lice. Re-treat the hair in ten days if necessary. It's best to continue to check for several weeks until you are sure that all lice are gone.

Treating the entire household is a bit tougher, but extremely important. Machine all washable clothing and bed linens and use the hot water wash cycle. The temperature should be at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

The clothes should be dried on the hot cycle of the clothes dryer as well for at least 20 minutes. If the object is not washable, you should take it to the dry cleaners. Alternatively, you can effectively rid non-washable items of nits and lice by placing them in a plastic bag for two weeks. This removes their air and their food source.

Combs and brushes can be soaked in rubbing alcohol (lice have no immunity to alcohol) or soaked in very hot water.

The use of sprays or 'bug bombs' is not advisable as they can be toxic if they are inhaled, not only by your family but possibly even more dangerous for your pets. If any family members have allergies, asthma or any other condition be certain to consult with your doctor before using any type of chemical/medicine to kill lice.