If lice prevention wasn’t on your back-to-school to-do list already, it’s time to add it. A new study from researchers at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville reports that lice in 48 states are showing mutations that cause them to be increasingly resistant to treatments containing pyrethroids, the most common chemical in over-the-counter treatments. It’s not that the treatments don’t work anymore, but it takes a stronger, longer dose to get the same results, and that means more stress for parents and more chemicals on our children.

Which leads us to a favorite topic: LICE PREVENTION. Most parents are still surprised to learn that lice—even super-strains of them—can be prevented in easy, natural, practical ways. So, while lice does happen, it doesn’t have to happen to you!

Without further ado, here is your 1-2-3 back-to-school lice prevention primer:

1. Educate your kids about sharing. All lice (even these mutated super lice) do not have the ability to jump or fly, so they hitch a ride from head to head using hairbrushes, combs, hats, scarves, helmets, and pillows—anything hair touches. So while it’s great to encourage your child to share toys and books, it’s a bad idea to share any of these lice vehicles. We have a simple rhyme that does the trick: If it touches hair, we don’t share. This goes for siblings too, since most lice are spread at home.

2. Don’t over-wash hair. Squeaky-clean hair is a louse’s dream come true because it’s easier to attach their eggs (called nits) to it. The oil that builds up on hair shafts in between washes is a natural repellent because it causes a slippery surface that isn’t a safe place for fragile eggs. We recommend allowing 2-3 days between washings for a healthy scalp. And when you wash, use clinically proven, completely safe BOO! Shampoo made with Nature’s own repellents: tea tree oil, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender.

3. Use prevention spray. Because sealing your children in an airtight bubble to prevent lice is not an option, you can help create a bubble of natural prevention around them with BOO! Lice Scaring Spray. Using the same tea tree oil, peppermint, rosemary and lavender formula, this all-natural spray can be spritzed daily behind ears and at the nape of the neck (where lice tend to enter the scalp) and even on items like hats, scarves, car seats and pillows. We’ve heard of some parents donating BOO! Lice Scaring Spray to classrooms to help keep reading nooks and dress-up bins safe and lice-free. Plus, Lice Prevention on-the-go just became easier with our NEW Boo! Lice Scaring To-Go Leave- In Spray! This mini is the perfect size to toss in backpacks, dance bags, or your purse for touch-ups throughout the day – a fright for lice, a big relief for you!

See? All it takes to fight a super-bug are a few super smart tips!

Learn more about lice, prevention, treatment and our products too!