Hair today, oil tomorrow

COEUR d'ALENE - A salon in Coeur d'Alene is hoping to help clean up the Gulf of Mexico oil leak - with hair.

Lots and lots of hair.

"We'll see how many pounds of hair we can cut," said Kelli Cordon, co-owner of Fratelli Salon at 601 Front St.

Fratelli is joining a nationwide program called "Boom B Qs" to create floating booms from hair to soak up the oil gushing from the floor of the Gulf.

According to Excess Access, described as an "online system that matches business and household items with nearby nonprofits and recyclers," 400,000 pounds of hair is already on its way to the Gulf Coast.

Hair, along with fur and nylons is being collected with the goal of creating oil booms as well as jobs.

"We dream that this will bring the textile industry back to the U.S. so we can make our mats here," a press release said.

Cordon said Fratellis stylists are emptying hair clippings and shavings into bags, and once they have enough, they'll ship the bags back east to be turned into mats before the trip to the Gulf.

She believes small businesses can get involved and make a difference for the environment, and is hoping other salons will join in.

"We think it's a great idea," Cordon said. "This was right up our alley. We're excited."

Fratelli Salon recently donated $500 in recognition of Earth Day to support Western Resource Advocates, a nonprofit environmental law and policy organization.