FAYETTEVILLE, Ark — Aaron Elam, proprietor of Hairstream Salon on MLK Jr Boulevard in Fayetteville, has embarked on a unique and eco-friendly initiative by repurposing his salon’s customer hair clippings to aid in cleaning up oil spills.
Having been a hairstylist for nearly a decade, Elam returned to Fayetteville after completing his education in California and brought his mother’s concept of Hairstream Salon to life. Housed in a refurbished 1978 Airstream trailer, the salon accommodates an average of six customers daily, operating five days a week. Accumulating hair clippings for over a year, Elam is now ready to make a meaningful contribution.
Elam discovered Matters of Trust, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization, while researching potential uses for cut hair online. The organization specializes in transforming hair clippings into oil-absorbing mats designed to mitigate the impact of oil spills.
“I’ve been saving up clients’ hair clippings for some time now, and instead of discarding them, I’ve been collecting them in bags to donate to an organization that takes the clippings and uses them to create a waste fiber recycling system with the hair,” explained Elam.
The recycled hair is transported to a large warehouse, where it is woven into oil-absorbing mats. These mats are subsequently deployed to oil spills in oceans, lakes, and rivers, where they efficiently absorb the oil, facilitating its containment and proper disposal.
Expressing a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, Elam, despite residing in a landlocked state, emphasizes the importance of contributing to environmental preservation. “I think I should do my part,” he said, highlighting his appreciation for the natural beauty of Northwest Arkansas and his dedication to keeping it pristine.
Elam’s customers are avid supporters of the cause, and he extends an invitation to anyone willing to join the initiative by getting their hair cut and adding to the donation pile. “A lot of my clients care about the environment, so they’re happy to know that the hair is going to a good place,” Elam remarked. “I’ll take everyone, men, women, and children, even the smallest amount.”
Not only does Elam find fulfillment in his work, but he also takes pride in the positive impact his salon’s efforts have on the environment. “It’s not work to me; I like making people feel good and look good,” he affirmed. “I get to do what I love, and at the end of the day, the hair is going to a good place instead of being wasted in a landfill.”
