Photo: Cinnamon Twist is helping protect the inland waterways from the BP oil spill with the collection and donation of human hair
-Andrea Nicholl Photo
By Andrea Nicholl
A local salon is helping contribute relief to the crisis in the Gulf of Mexico with the simple recycle and donation of human hair.
Cinnamon Twist Hair Tanning & Esthetics has signed on with American conservation group A Matter of Trust, to help contain the BP oil spill through the collection of hair and creation of booms.
“All we have to do is sweep up the hair after a cut and once our collection bag is full we ship it down to the United States,” said Cinnamon Twist manager Chrissy Davison. “It absorbs the oil, so it’s not going to stop the spill, but it’s going to help clean it up and manage it a bit.”
The nylon-hair booms will absorb and block some of the oil before it reaches inland waterways and will slow further contamination of the four affected Gulf states - Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Officials estimate that between 12,000 to 25,000 barrels (four million litres) of crude oil have been spewing into the Gulf daily since BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20.
“Something like this could happen here - it just wouldn’t be in an open ocean,” said Davison, adding with no solution in sight, the smallest efforts matter most.
“One of the girls heard about it and mentioned something to me. Right away I thought it was a good idea, I looked it up on the Internet and had us signed up within a day of hearing about it.”
Cinnamon Twist began collecting hair a few weeks ago, and is nearly ready to send its first bag of many.
Davison encourages local salons to join in the efforts, and says even groomers are encouraged to send fur, feathers and fleece - especially that of alpacas and llamas.
Those interested in joining Cinnamon Twist’s efforts can contact Davison at 780-875-2811 or to sign up independently at www.matteroftrust.org.