The recent oil tragedy in (Guimaras island) Philippines has sent Filipinos to get new hairdos, or for those bold enough, some even going so far as getting their heads shaved clean. According to Greenpeace, hair has natural absorbing properties and can help in the oil-spill clean up. CNN reports that “oil clings to hair as the tiny scales on hair snag and hold the oil. Chicken feathers, wool, and straw may also be used, but human hair is found to be more absorptive.” President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has asked help from Filipinos to contribute a chop of their mane in drop-off centers. Aside from human hair, chicken feathers can also be used to help soak up the spill. “This is a national calamity that demands the cooperation and solidarity of all Filipinos,” said Arroyo.

To date, more than 200 kilometers of coastline and hectares of mangrove and seaweed plantations have already been affected. Now, parlors are teeming with people who are volunteering to have their hair cut off in support of Guimaras.

An owner of a chain of hair salons, Les Reyes of Reyes Haircutters, has started to collect hair samples from customers and will be teaming up with the Philippine Hairdressers Association to engage parlors all around the country to follow suit. Hair samples would be forwarded to the Philippine Coast Guard and Greenpeace. But hair or no hair, it seems that strands are not enough to circumvent the repercussions of the accident. It is reported that it would take three years to clean up this mess. The most tragic oil-spill incident to hit the Philippines, the livelihood of 40,000 fishermen has been snipped and snapped.

-Tuesday Gutierrez