People do it every month, some twice a month.  Some go for the buzz, others just a trim. Getting a haircut is a matter of trust.  But what happens to those mounds of hair that falls to the ground after your haircut is complete?  At most salons it gets swept up and thrown away.  But not at Mark William Studio.

Last week studio owner Bill Possidento noticed a small reader ad posted in the newspaper that said hair trimmings could be reused to help clean up oil spills. The idea intrigued him so he shared it with his stylists, Sherri Mischio and Dennis Nobili.  Both agreed that it is a great idea and they would "do anything we can to help," said Possidento.

The non-profit organization Matter of Trust has been turning hair clippings into super-soakers for over 10 years, although Possidento just found out about it this week.  The organization takes hair clippings and nylon donations and turns them into sponges they call "booms" to soak up the oil.  These booms are helping to clean up the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico that is releasing 5,000 barrels of oil per day, according to news reports. 

The hair booms were invented by stylist Phil McCrory of Smartgrow. On his website McCrory said, "You shampoo your hair because hair collects oil. Hair is very efficient at gathering oil out of the air, off surfaces like your skin and out of the water. Hair is absorbent."  

The hair booms being used for cleaning up the oil are made from recycled nylons stuffed with hair and fur.  They can be rinsed and reused up to 100 times.

The practice of using human hair to help soak up oil spills started in 1989 after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.

Hair is sent by the salon to Matter of Trust, who is coordinating the effort. They collect the hair and send it to Smartgrow, a company that manufactures the booms.

The group is also calling for dog groomers to send out fur clippings because they too can be turned into oil-absorbing mats and booms that help clean up oil spills.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that over 300,000 pounds of hair clippings and fur are thrown away every day across the country.

Thousands of salons across the Unites States have jumped on board to participate in the program.  Possidento said they just signed up last week and have not sent in any hair yet, but he is spreading the word by telling all of his clients who "think it's great."  

His salon has participated with a fundraising event for Regional Hospice for the last 25 years and they are glad to be helping out the environment with this clean-up effort.

Mark William Studio client Kathy Sullivan, of Brookfield, said "it's a wonderful, great idea."  She added "they're helping the environment, which is terrific."

For more information about the Mark William Studio call 203-775-1411.