The idea, according to Annette Charles, who owns the salon, is to stuff the hair into recycled nylons and fashion them into booms to soak up the oil from the spill.
The idea started with Matter of Trust, a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco. The organization had been collecting hair from across the country to be used in the booms.
But Graham MacEwen, a spokesman for BP, said while they did consider the idea, it was dismissed after further evaluation.
“Unfortunately, when we assessed it, we found that the absorbent boom we are already using is much more effective,” he said.
Lisa Craig Gautier, president of Matter of Trust, said BP officials had initially expressed interest in the project, but later said the hair booms would not be used.
Even if the hair booms are not used by BP, Gautier said the organization is still collecting hair in case they are eventually needed. She said she was confident they will be needed at some point because of the sheer size of the spill.
Gautier said the organization also planned to shoot video of the hair booms alongside those currently in use for comparison purposes.
In the meantime, Charles said her salon will continue to send hair to the non-profit, regardless of how long it takes to clean the spill.
“We may be collecting hair for years,” Charles said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.
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