I don't think there is a word in the modern family lexicon that is more likely to strike terror into the heart of a parent than this: HEADLICE.
Shudder.
I literally shivered with horror when the now familiar WARNING! note appeared at the doorway to my kids' classrooms. I had nits once as a child and I can still smell that pungent chemical shampoo that we had to be de-loused with. Grim. But there's only one thing worse than having headlice, and that's being the adult responsible for delousing the heads of your children.
As mothers we seem to have a particular thing about our babies' bonces. All being well, they're the first part of a person to enter the world, and most parents will freely confess to being totally intoxicated by the sweet scent of their baby's head. So the thought of your little one's crowning glory being infested with creepy crawlies is enough to make you contemplate shaving their heads altogether and leaving the little blighters homeless. The nits, that is, not the children, obviously.
So imagine my delight upon discovering that Vosene have brought out a new range for kids, with magic headlice-repellant properties. According to independent consumer research conducted by Vosene, 8 out of 10 children were protected against head lice while using Vosene Kids Shampoo and 9 out of 10 parents would recommend Vosene Kids to another parent.
Specially formulated with natural head lice repellents (Tea Tree Oil and Lemon Eucalyptus), Vosene's new 3 in 1 Conditioning Shampoo gently cleanses and conditions your kids' hair and scalp for naturally healthy, headlice-free hair.
The theory is that replacing your kids' usual shampoo with Vosene's 3 in 1 Conditioning Shampoo can help keep headlice at bay. Of course, if the dreaded creatures do attack, you'll need to invest in a suitable treatment, and I must stress that these products are not intended to treat nits or headlice, but to help as a preventative measure. It also goes without saying that kids should continue to have their hair checked on a regular basis to ensure that any unwanted visitors are caught early.
And because headlice warfare is worth waging properly, Vosene have also come up with a headlice-repellant 3-in-1 leave-in conditioning spray. It also contains natural ingredients that are known to deter headlice. By spraying it liberally on to washed hair while it's still damp, and massaging it into the scalp you should ensure that your child's hair is way too slippery for a lousy louse to want to call it home. Simply leave the spray on the hair and dry gently. You can use it at least once a day and even on dry hair between washes for added protection.
If you do suspect lice may be present, you can use this spray along with a suitable fine-toothed nit comb to remove any lice and eggs. Leave on hair and dry gently.
So do these products really work, or are they just a clever gimmick marketed to mums like me who will do almost anything to avoid being confronted by the sight of something with legs and eyes crawling in her childrens' hair?
Well, after more than three months of use, and despite those horror-inducing posters being up at school throughout that time, I am happy to report that we've seen no evidence 
of nits or lice. It's impossible to say whether that's down to these products or not but since both my beach boys fancy themselves as surf dudes and so have longish hair, I'm willing to wager that this range has played a part in keeping their locks intruder-free. I'll definitely be stocking up when our sample runs out.
I have to admit that my boys are less keen on these products than some of the other, milder shampoo products for children but I suspect that's more to do with the fact that the teatree tingles on their scalp and if the shampoo drips in their eyes it is a little bit stingy. I still reckon the occasional watery eye is a small price to pay for a bug-free head, so this range is set to become a permanent fixture in our bathroom.
Vosene Kids Head Lice Repellant range is available from selected Boots, Tesco, Asda and independent chemists. Vosene Kids 3 in 1 Conditioning Shampoo 250ml is RRP £2.49 and Vosene Kids 3 in 1 Leave-in Spray Detangler 150ml is RRP £2.49. For stockist information please visit www.vosenekids.co.uk or call 01276 674 000.
Comments