At first, Salon de la Vie owner Douglas Bullman and his wife and partner Angie were confused when clients began asking if they were saving hair to send to the Gulf Coast to help clean up the oil spill.

“I began researching on the Internet and found out that a group in California that is collecting hair to send to the coast,” Bullman said. “We have hair we throw in the trash everyday, so this is a great way that we can do our part to help out.”

The salon is saving all hair clippings and using them to stuff pantyhose donated by its clients, which will then be shipped to the coast, where they can support restoration efforts.

Hair is a powerful absorbent for crude oil and petroleum byproducts. Each hair-and-pantyhose combination will be shipped to cleanup organizations, where it will be used to remove the petrochemicals polluting the coastline.

“Think of what happens to your hair when you don’t wash it for a few days,” Bullman said. “Hair is a natural oil sponge, and it’s free of chemicals.”

To help with the effort started by the group Matter of Trust, the salon is inviting every barber shop, hair salon and pet groomer in the Atlanta area to donate hair. They are also accepting donations of pantyhose.

“Living here, we all take vacations to the Gulf, so it’s important to preserve them,” Bullman said. “What will we do if our beaches are destroyed?”

Salon de la Vie is at 1217 Canton Street in Roswell.

Information: (678) 461-2212.