A louse ova and nit loosening composition comprises an aqueous gel containing at least 5% by weight of a cosmetically-acceptable oil, a thickener and water. The cosmetically-acceptable oil may comprise any of isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isononyl isononanoate, or mixtures thereof. The thickener may be selected from the group consisting of sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, xanthan gum and polyacrylic acid. Preferably, the aqueous gel comprises at least 20% by weight of the cosmetically-acceptable oil, which is advantageously either isononyl isononanoate or isopropyl palmitate or a mixture thereof, and at least 6o% by weight of water. The thickener preferably comprises a sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer and isononyl isononanoate. The composition preferably has a pH between 6 and 8 and advantageously is pH neutral. The composition facilitates the removal of louse ova and nits from the hair by loosening them so that they can be combed out.
