Although fleas prefer dogs and cats, they are in no way impartial to sucking the blood of humans. In fact, the ankles, waist, armpits, and inside the knees and elbows are favorite human feasting areas for fleas, according to MedlinePlus. Fleas do not have wings to fly, but they do a fine job of getting around by jumping. Fleas that have made their way into your hair may find the areas behind your ears and at the nape of your neck a fine place to snack. Getting rid of fleas in human hair requires a warm water soak.
Step 1
Fill your bathtub with warm water. Try to use the warmest water that you can tolerate. Add 1 cup of dish soap to the bath water.
Step 2
Pour 1 cup of lemon extract into the tub water. Swish the water around with your hand to disperse the lemon extract.
Step 3
Lie in the bath with your hair in the water for 30 minutes. Sit up after the 30-minute waiting period and wash your hair with your favorite shampoo.
Step 4
Massage a quarter-sized amount of shampoo into your hair and scalp. Leave the shampoo on your head for 15 minutes.
Step 5
Empty the water from the tub after the 15-minute waiting period. Stand and turn on the shower. Rinse the shampoo from your hair with a warm water rinse.
Step 6
Fill a small bowl with warm water and a squirt of dish soap. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb after bathing.
Step 7
Remove any live fleas from the comb and place them in the bowl of dish soap. Pour the dish soap and fleas down the drain when you are through combing. Repeat the process twice a week or until no more fleas are sighted.
Tips and Warnings
- Combine the hair soaking and washing with a few other measures that will help relieve you of the flea problem. For instance, wash your bedding in the washing machine using hot water to kill and suffocate the fleas. Apply flea powder to your carpeting and furniture for the recommended amount of time before vacuuming. Have your pets groomed by a professional, and bomb the house for fleas while your pets are away.
- Do not use any products for use on pets on your hair. The chemicals in these products may cause severe irritation or illness when used in humans. Use lemon extract, not lemon juice, in your bathwater. Limonene in lemon extract is what kills the fleas, according to Texas A&M.
Things You'll Need
- Dish soap
- Lemon extract
- Shampoo
- Small bowl
- Wide-toothed comb
