The disclosure provides a pediculicidal composition comprising a metal chelating agent; a carrier vehicle comprising water and an activating solvent system comprising an alcohol and a hydrocarbon. The carrier vehicle may be in the form of a solution, a cream, an ointment, a foam, a spray, an emulsion or a gel. The disclosure also provides method for use of a pediculicidal composition to treat human head lice and their eggs and methods for controlling head lice infestation.