Tampa, FL Joining forces to help prevent a looming ecological disaster, Michael Angelo Hair Studio located in Tampa, Florida has joined Matter of Trust, an ecological public charity that assists in oil spill cleanup by promoting environmental sustainability. Together with the help of local South Tampa community members and salon clients, Michael Angelo Hair Studio is collecting hair waste fibers which will then be donated to Matter of Trust so that they can be made into oil spill cleanup mats and containment booms.According to oceanography experts, “The oil from the current spill that sank off the coast of Louisiana last Thursday is threatening marshes and beaches across the Gulf Coast. Unless it is contained it could wind up tainting the Florida Keys and perhaps the state’s Atlantic coast.”

Phil McCrory, a hairstylist from Alabama, first discovered how hair could help soak up oil and aid in disaster relief after he noticed the fur on Alaskan otters was completely soaked with oil due to the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill. He began testing how much oil he could collect with the hair clippings from his salon and from here he invented the “hairmat” to help clean up oil contaminated waters. From this point on, Matter of Trust has been collecting hair clippings, sorting them and shipping the fibers off to nonwoven needlepunch factories to make batches of hairmats used in oil spill relief. Matter of Trust also creates booms from loose hair that is stuffed into nylon stockings which are then doubled up and tied together to surround and soak up oil.

Matter of Trust is currently fundraising for their own needlepunch machine to make hairmats in their California based headquarters. Not only will this help provide jobs and training for California community members, but it will help assist in producing hairmats and booms at a higher rate.

According to Matter of Trust, “The U.S. has over 300,000 hair salons and each cuts an average of a pound of hair per day. By finding a local salon near you that is participating in our donor program you can help make a difference in the ecosystem and help prevent further damage from oil spills that continue to aggressively destroy coastal water ways.”

According to Michael Angelo Hair Studio owners, Michael Angelo and Anthony Bellapigna, “We are helping with hair. All excess hair clippings from our studio clients are being stored to help aid in disaster relief similar to the current spill that is threatening our local waters.” Michael Angelo Hair Studio is a proud member of Matter of Trust and has been nationally featured in Tampa Tribune, Tampa Bay Illustrated, Accent of Tampa, Elle Décor Magazine and many other national publications.

For more information on hairmats and oil spill relief please visit www.MatterofTrust.org. To schedule your next hair appointment and to find out how you can become a part of oil spill recovery in Southern Florida please contact Michael Angelo Haircolor Studio at 813-832-6650, email info@MichaelAngeloHairStudio.com or visit online at www.MichaelAngeloHairStudio.com.