A hair raising question

[Keroin]

I’m about due for a haircut. My plan was, as usual, just a trim & tidy sort of deal however while reading the local paper I noticed that some of the local hair salons are collecting hair and donating it to Matters of Trust. This organization is making “hair booms” – nylon stockings filled with human and pet hair – to help clean up the oil in the Gulf of Mexico spill. They absorb oil very well, can be re-used up to 100 times and when they are done they can be organically composted.

So then I thought maybe I would buzz it all off, to do my part to help with the clean up.

But I’m Torn. I believe this disaster falls on the shoulders of BP and their partners and the clean up and cost thereof should be entirely their responsibility. Why should I do anything to help clean up a mess made by a corporation that has made tons of money and has shown no real concern for the environment?

But then I think about the wetlands being destroyed and the sea life and…my heart hurts.

I’m undecided and I’m curious, what would you do?

 

[OzoneRed]

I would donate. Or rather, I'd encourage my hair salon to donate. You're helping the birds, the fish, and the out-of-work families, not BP.

I'd also print out the info from the Matters of Trust website and give it to the salon owner, so they know where and how to donate.

Would I buzz it all off? No, but in my case, most of it fell out years ago.

 

[Keroin]

I would donate. Or rather, I'd encourage my hair salon to donate. You're helping the birds, the fish, and the out-of-work families, not BP.

I'd also print out the info from the Matters of Trust website and give it to the salon owner, so they know where and how to donate.

Would I buzz it all off? No, but in my case, most of it fell out years ago.

Thanks for the input. Good points.

The salons already know about the Matters of Trust Program, they were actually the ones who made the announcement to the public.

I guess I am thinking of buzzing it off because my hair is very thin and the amount I normally have taken off is minimal. It wouldn't feel as if I were doing much to help out that way.

 

[Homburg]

You don't have to buzz it off to donate. Buzzing it off is not just 'helping', it is making a statement. Not saying this is a bad thing at all, but the difference between a buzz and a regular cut is not going to amount to much overall. Thus the difference lies in whether or not you wish to make a statement of support along with your support.

 

[Netzach]

Shit, I just had a cut I wonder if they know. I too have baby fine.

What H said - the amount of YOUR hair per se isn't really the point - it's the collective sweep-up from a salon day in and out - if someone just knows to donate that.

You could go short without buzzing. I've done that in the past just for shits and giggles.

 

[Keroin]

You don't have to buzz it off to donate. Buzzing it off is not just 'helping', it is making a statement. Not saying this is a bad thing at all, but the difference between a buzz and a regular cut is not going to amount to much overall. Thus the difference lies in whether or not you wish to make a statement of support along with your support.

Hm...

Not sure how much of a statement I could make that way. Good point.

 

[Homburg]

Tough to say. You would get questions from some people as to why you buzzed it, and that would give you the opening to share the idea. Not sure how many people you'd reach that way, as many would not ask about the hair out of politeness.

 

[Keroin]

Shit, I just had a cut I wonder if they know. I too have baby fine.

What H said - the amount of YOUR hair per se isn't really the point - it's the collective sweep-up from a salon day in and out - if someone just knows to donate that.

You could go short without buzzing. I've done that in the past just for shits and giggles.

I used to always be buzzed a la Annie Lennox, (and Mohawked and pink and blue and blah blah blah), but I had to grow my hair out for the biz. Then I found it was just easier - from a maintenance standpoint - to keep it in a short bob-ish cut. (Baby fine, dead straight). Style is not a huge issue for me.

But yeah, hair so fine it nearly evaporates into the atmosphere when cut, lol.

Thanks for weighing in Netz!

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

I've been having a similar moral tussle: Should I shave off your hair to help mitigate the oil spill?

I agree with Homburg about the symbolism: if you'll do it, you'll have a lot of chances to evangelize and raise awareness. Also, you get to feel better about having done something personal. And OzoneRed makes a good point: if they're not willing to get directly involved, maybe they could save a garbage bag of hair and you could ship it.

Sigh. A few years ago I tried to figure out which oil company was the least bad. Since I buy gas, I wanted to know which was the best of the worst. Turns out it was Sunoco (which there aren't too many of where I live) and BP. D'oh!

 

[Keroin]

Tough to say. You would get questions from some people as to why you buzzed it, and that would give you the opening to share the idea. Not sure how many people you'd reach that way, as many would not ask about the hair out of politeness.

And in a town full of artsy eccentrics it's nigh on impossible to get noticed for something like that.

 

[Homburg]

And in a town full of artsy eccentrics it's nigh on impossible to get noticed for something like that.

That was another thing I was thinking. Around there, it would just be a fashion choice. That said, they would likely be more receptive tot he idea if you did share it.

 

[WriterDom]

Your hair won't make much difference. However, you could print out the site information and take it to every hair cutting place within a 20 mile radius, it might help. Some you could email, but if you showed up with something in your hand, they might listen more.

 

[Keroin]

I've been having a similar moral tussle: Should I shave off your hair to help mitigate the oil spill?

I agree with Homburg about the symbolism: if you'll do it, you'll have a lot of chances to evangelize and raise awareness. Also, you get to feel better about having done something personal. And OzoneRed makes a good point: if they're not willing to get directly involved, maybe they could save a garbage bag of hair and you could ship it.

Sigh. A few years ago I tried to figure out which oil company was the least bad. Since I buy gas, I wanted to know which was the best of the worst. Turns out it was Sunoco (which there aren't too many of where I live) and BP. D'oh!

Just to clarify the salons are onboard with this. They are also accepting donations of pet fur.

Ah yes, the dilemma of the tree hugger - which is the least bad of the bad. I know it well. I try to pacify myself by acknowledging that I cannot fix everything and also, I have no kids and thus I have enough carbon credits owing that I could go to the grocery store and have each item put in a separate plastic bag.

(JOKING!!!)

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

Just to clarify the salons are onboard with this. They are also accepting donations of pet fur.

Ah yes, the dilemma of the tree hugger - which is the least bad of the bad. I know it well. I try to pacify myself by acknowledging that I cannot fix everything and also, I have no kids and thus I have enough carbon credits owing that I could go to the grocery store and have each item put in a separate plastic bag.

(JOKING!!!)

So you should talk to your salon about participating, and ...just kidding.

Wait! You cannot fix everything??? Well, this is news to me. Thanks for the info. I'm now thoroughly demoralized.

 

[Keroin]

So you should talk to your salon about participating, and ...just kidding.

Wait! You cannot fix everything??? Well, this is news to me. Thanks for the info. I'm now thoroughly demoralized.

I can fix 99.7 percent of things. It is the remaining .3% that keeps me awake at night.

 

[Keroin]

Your hair won't make much difference. However, you could print out the site information and take it to every hair cutting place within a 20 mile radius, it might help. Some you could email, but if you showed up with something in your hand, they might listen more.

This seems to be the general sentiment. Thanks WD.

Maybe we could shave all your kitties and donate their hair?

 

[JMohegan]

I sympathize with this. Regardless of the cause, how much to give is the eternal source of angst for those who would help. Money, supplies, time.... might as well add hair to the list.

Alternatives to the shaved head may be found below. At the moment, the White House link is really only applicable to locals, though.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill/

http://www.ibrrc.org/gulf-oil-spill-how-to-help-2010.html

 

[intothewoods]

I could have sworn I just read or heard somewhere that BP wasn't using the hair. Is the idea that maybe they'll try that next?

 

[Keroin]

I sympathize with this. Regardless of the cause, how much to give is the eternal source of angst for those who would help. Money, supplies, time.... might as well add hair to the list.

Alternatives to the shaved head may be found below. At the moment, the White House link is really only applicable to locals, though.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill/

http://www.ibrrc.org/gulf-oil-spill-how-to-help-2010.html

Thanks for the links, JM.

Locally, I will be adding my voice to the many who are already loudly protesting the proposed off shore oil rigs for the coast of BC.

 

[Keroin]

I could have sworn I just read or heard somewhere that BP wasn't using the hair. Is the idea that maybe they'll try that next?

The booms are used for lots of smaller oil spills as well, (the ones not worthy of media attention), but I haven't heard anything about whether BP will use them or not. On the Matters of Trust website they are saying that all of their current supplies and new donations are to be used in the Gulf.

I would imagine, at some point, you have to consider any option.

 

[YourCaptor]

Fuck BP, your gonna let them stop you?

Just do what you want to do.

And then send us picks of the bald super slave.

 

[BiBunny]

I intend to donate mine when I have the money to get it cut again.

 

[midwestyankee]

I could have sworn I just read or heard somewhere that BP wasn't using the hair. Is the idea that maybe they'll try that next?

Exactly.

I would consider donating mine but there's not enough to mop up a little dab of Brylcreem, much less anything qualifying as an oil spill.

 

[Keroin]

Exactly.

I would consider donating mine but there's not enough to mop up a little dab of Brylcreem, much less anything qualifying as an oil spill.

Hm, interesting.

Kind of make the whole discussion moot.

 

[DVS]

This seems to be the general sentiment. Thanks WD.

Maybe we could shave all your kitties and donate their hair?

One wonders how PETA might respond to that. WD's pictures look like his cats have hair to spare. My cats wouldn't really need their hair this summer. In fact, being indoor cats, I think they would probably feel cooler. And it would grow back enough by the time winter comes. But they are all domestic short hairs and like yourself, have fine hair. Collectively, their contribution wouldn't make much of a difference. Would I need to worry about PETA, or would it balance out that I'm (actually my cats) helping the environment.

Oh, back on topic, I wouldn't shave my head, if I were you. Short is fine and you look good with short hair. And it's not so much the amount you personally contribute, but how many salons can contribute. Instead of tossing hair in the dumpster or where ever it goes, collect it and donate it to the cause.