Salons Offer to Aid a Hairy Situation

Despite reports that salons across the country would be able to pitch in to aid the gulf coast oil spill cleanup by donating chopped locks from salon floors, British Petroleum is saying “Thanks, but no thanks.”

The San Francisco based organization Matter of Trust, requested that businesses begin collecting hair clippings to be shipped to warehouses in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida, supposedly, to be stuffed into booms made of nylon casting in an effort to absorb the leaking oil as it washed ashore. Hair, much as it happens on your head when it’s been a few days since your last shampoo, absorbs oil. Despite the huge response the non-profit posted last week on their website that BP will not be using hair collected for booms.

A BP spokesperson let Matter of Trust know that “they have a plentiful supply of ideal boom for their needs and will not be in want of donated boom or renewable fiber.” The petroleum company will be using synthetic “sorbent” booms that they prefer in case of spills.

Matter of Trust has reported that they will continue to collect hair, and that they have been contacting local counties and parishes to see if they are interested in using the boom. The organization is confident that the booms will be put to use, but assert that the question lies in whether or not “responsible parties will take all cleanup materials now and pay for hazardous waste disposal so that cash-strapped communities don’t have to pay out of pocket.” Matter of Trust also states that they will let keep those interested posted as to when officials have accepted the “hair boom.”