Discarded hair ‘headed’ for Gulf Coast

Joplin Metro

Related Photos

Hairstylist Liz Huskey gives customer Adrianne White a trim Thursday at Hairbenders in Joplin, and at the same time hopefully helps battle the oil spill in the Gulf. Hairbenders is donating hair clippings for use in oil-adhering hair booms along the Gulf Coast. White, of Olathe, Kan., applauded the salon’s participation in the effort. Globe/T. Rob Brown

Discussion

May 6, 2010

By Wally Kennedy Globe Staff Writer The Joplin Globe Thu May 06, 2010, 09:52 PM CDT

JOPLIN, Mo. — It makes sense.

You wash your hair when it gets oily. So why not use your hair to collect oil?

That premise is behind a nationwide movement to collect human and animal hair clippings, and stuff them in old nylons to create oil-adhering hair booms to fight the oil spill on the Gulf Coast.

Hair that was clipped Thursday from the heads of patrons at Hairbenders, 2201 S. Main St., is headed for the Gulf Coast.

As her hair fell to the floor, Adrianne White, of Olathe, Kan., said: “I think it’s a good idea for the salon to be involved in this project. It’s a nice gesture.”

White’s hair clippings and those of other patrons are being shipped by the salon to a Gulf Coast warehouse operated by Matter of Trust, a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco.

According to the group’s website at www.matteroftrust.org: “Thousands of pounds of hair and nylons are coming in by UPS and FedEx from every state in the United States, and from Canada, Brazil, France and the United Kingdom. Booms are being made all along the Gulf Coast near beaches and marshes.”

Kevin Lane, with Hairbenders, said: “They have found that if you collect hair clippings and stuff it in old nylons, it’s highly effective in removing oil from water.

“We first heard about it yesterday (Wednesday), and we started yesterday. I think we are going to need a lot of hair. This is generating a lot of excitement. Everyone is jumping on board. It’s spring. It’s time for a good shearing.”

To promote the effort, Hairbenders has reduced the price of a haircut by $5.

The concept for the boom was developed by Phil McCrory, a hair stylist in Alabama, who realized that hair is an abundant and efficient material for sopping up spilled oil. The booms are placed on beaches, and wave action causes the oil to interact with the hair. The oil is reclaimed by squeezing it out of the boom, which is reused to collect more spilled oil.

The effort got a big boost Thursday when Hanesbrands Inc., based in Winston-Salem, N.C., said it was donating 50,000 pairs of pantyhose to make the booms. Matter of Trust will get 37,500 pairs of pantyhose from Hanesbrands.

Get clipped

There are more than 370,000 hair salons in the United States. Each collects about a pound of sheared hair per day, according to the website www.matteroftrust.org.

Text Only

Joplin Metro

Longtime Democrat dies at 81
Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.

August 9, 2010 1 Photo
Motivational speaker offers free marriage course
Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief.

January 12, 2012
District sends faculty, administrators on site visits
With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.

January 11, 2012
Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated
A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.

January 10, 2012 4 Photos
Carl Junction chamber creating new committees
The Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce is kicking off three new committees this week with meetings scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.

January 9, 2012
Body of missing Joplin man found
The body of a missing Joplin man was discovered this afternoon inside his home in the Royal Heights neighborhood of Joplin.

January 3, 2012
Wildcat Glades nature center receives $50,000 grant
The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center has received a $50,000 TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, which is being provided through an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota.

October 21, 2011
Joplin shooting victim’s name released
The Joplin Police Department today released the name of a woman fatally shot in her home early Thursday and acknowledged that the shooting was reported as a suicide attempt.

October 21, 2011
Barry Manilow to deliver donated instruments
Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments to replace those lost during the May 22 tornado.

October 21, 2011
Extreme Makeover releases names of families
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has released more details about the build in the 2400 block of Connor Avenue, including the names of the seven families. They are:

October 19, 2011
More Joplin Metro Headlines

Water company cites reconnections

Joplin Metro

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Discarded hair ‘headed’ for Gulf Coast

Eliminating the state income tax and increasing sales tax was debated during a press day on Thursday at the Missouri Capitol. Do you favor that proposal?

Eliminating the state income tax and increasing sales tax was debated during a press day on Thursday at the Missouri Capitol. Do you favor that proposal?

Site Map

Contact Us