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Hedrin 4% Head Lice Lotion Spray 120ml

£14.99

Hedrin 4% Lotion Spray 120ml – dimeticone head lice treatment in a pump spray that applies directly to the scalp. From 6 months.

  • Same dimeticone 4% formula as the Hedrin lotion
  • Pump spray reaches the scalp through long or thick hair
  • Kills head lice and eggs; leave on 8 hours or overnight
  • Repeat after 7 days for a full course
  • Dispatched by a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy
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Description

The Hedrin 4% Lotion Spray is the same dimeticone 4% head lice treatment as the classic lotion, in a 120ml pump-spray bottle. The spray puts the product directly onto the scalp, which is the part that actually matters — and the part that is hardest to reach through long or thick hair.

Why the spray, not the bottle?

Head lice live and lay their eggs close to the scalp, not along the length of the hair. So the whole job is getting enough product down to the roots across the entire head. Poured lotion tends to soak into the mid-lengths on the way, which is fine on a short crop and frustrating on hair past the shoulders.

The pump spray lets you part the hair in sections and apply straight onto the scalp, so you use the product where it works. Parents of children with long or thick hair are usually the ones who find the difference worth it. The formulation, contact time and repeat schedule are identical to the 150ml Hedrin 4% Lotion — only the applicator changes.

How Hedrin works

Dimeticone is a silicone oil, not an insecticide. It coats the lice in a film that blocks their breathing and their ability to manage water, so they cannot survive. Because the action is physical rather than chemical, there is no known mechanism for lice to develop resistance to it — unlike the older neurotoxic treatments, which large numbers of UK lice are now resistant to. If a product you used a few years ago has stopped working, that is usually why.

How to use the lotion spray

  • Apply to dry hair. Wet hair dilutes it and stops it coating properly.
  • Part the hair into sections and spray directly onto the scalp, working across the whole head.
  • Comb or work it through with your fingers from roots to tips so every hair is covered.
  • Let the hair dry naturally — no hairdryer.
  • Leave on for at least 8 hours, or overnight, then wash out with normal shampoo.
  • Repeat the full treatment after 7 days.

Don’t be sparing. Under-application is one of the two main reasons treatment fails; the other is skipping the day-7 repeat.

Why the second application matters

Eggs that survive the first treatment hatch within about a week. If you stop after one application, that new generation makes it look as though the lice came back — when in fact they were never fully cleared. The repeat on day 7 is what finishes the job, so book it in when you do the first one.

How much do you need for long hair?

A 120ml bottle covers roughly one application on long, thick hair, or two on shorter hair. Since a proper course is two full applications a week apart, work out what you need before you start rather than running out halfway through the second treatment — a half-dose is close to no dose.

Safety and warnings

  • Suitable from 6 months of age; under 6 months only under medical supervision.
  • Flammable — treated hair burns readily. Keep away from naked flames, cigarettes, gas hobs, straighteners and hairdryers while it is on the hair.
  • Avoid the eyes; rinse with plenty of water if it gets in.
  • Stop if a rash or other sign of sensitivity develops. Scalp flaking or irritation can occur.

Checking whether treatment worked

Detection comb wet, conditioned hair a couple of days after the second application. Empty egg cases stay glued to the hair as it grows and are not evidence of an active infestation — look for live, moving lice. There is no need to wash bedding or bag soft toys: lice spread by prolonged head-to-head contact and do not survive long off a scalp. See the full antiparasitic range, including Ovex for threadworm.

Buy Hedrin Lotion Spray online

Bury Healthcare Online is a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy (registration 1126145). Our pharmacy team can advise on how much you need for your child’s hair length and on what to do if lice persist after a full course.

Always read the instructions for use before applying. If live lice remain after both applications, speak to your pharmacist.

Medically reviewed by Hassan Khan, MPharm, Independent Prescriber — Superintendent Pharmacist, Bury Healthcare Online (GPhC-registered pharmacy 1126145). Last reviewed: July 2026.

Hedrin Lotion Spray FAQs

What is the difference between Hedrin lotion and Hedrin lotion spray?
Nothing in the formulation – both are dimeticone 4%, both are left on for 8 hours or overnight, and both need a repeat after 7 days. The difference is the applicator. The spray pumps product directly onto the scalp, which most people find easier on long or thick hair; the pour bottle suits shorter hair.
Which is best for long, thick hair?
The lotion spray, generally. Lice live at the scalp, and on long hair poured lotion tends to soak into the mid-lengths before it reaches the roots. Parting the hair in sections and spraying onto the scalp puts the product where it needs to be. Budget for enough – long thick hair uses roughly a 120ml bottle per application.
How long do you leave Hedrin spray on?
At least 8 hours, or overnight. Apply to dry hair, let it dry naturally without a hairdryer, then wash out with normal shampoo.
Does it kill eggs?
Yes, dimeticone 4% works over the 8-hour contact period against both lice and eggs. The day-7 repeat is still required, to deal with anything that survived the first application.
How many bottles do I need?
A full course is two applications a week apart. A 120ml bottle covers about one application on long thick hair, or two on shorter hair – so work out what you need before you start rather than running out mid-course.
Can lice become resistant to Hedrin?
There is no known mechanism for resistance. Dimeticone works physically, by coating the lice and blocking their breathing and water balance, rather than as a chemical poison. Resistance to the older insecticide treatments is why those often no longer work.
What age can it be used from?
From 6 months. Below 6 months, use only under medical supervision – ask your pharmacist or health visitor.
Is Hedrin flammable?
Yes, treated hair burns readily while the product is on it. Stay away from naked flames, cigarettes, gas hobs, hair straighteners and hairdryers until it has been washed out.
There are still eggs stuck to the hair after treatment – did it fail?
Probably not. Empty egg cases remain glued to the hair shaft and move outwards as the hair grows; they can stay there for months and are not a sign of active infestation. Look for live, moving lice by detection combing wet, conditioned hair.
Do I need to clean the house, bedding and hats?
No. Head lice spread by prolonged head-to-head contact and cannot survive long away from a scalp. Washing bedding, bagging toys and cleaning furniture makes no difference to whether the infestation clears.

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