A Greener Shade of Gray 133
hair dye waiting to be recycled that includes “all chemicals that in the past we would have dumped it down the drain. And it would have gone into our water systems,” said Wave Salon’s co-owner. Foil used in salons typically goes into landfills, where it will stay until it finally breaks down—four hundred years later. While only 1 percent of salons recycle foil because it’s difficult to clean off the dye, Green Circle Salons are able to separate the materials, allowing foil to be recycled. Even the cut hair is sent to a women’s correctional facility, where it is turned into recycled “hair booms” that can be used to help clean up oil spills. While all these efforts might seem expensive, it’s pretty easy to offset the costs. At Wave Salon, customers pay a $2 “Sustainable Stewardship Fee,” which seems like a small price for knowing that you’re helping to protect the planet. Clients interested in voting with their pocketbooks can support salons that support healthy communities. Seems like a win-win to me. Green Circle Salons provides an online green directory that makes it easy to find participating salons. I put my address into the directory and ten salons came up within one hundred miles. Even if there are no Green Circle Salons near you or you prefer to dye your hair at home, you can adopt some of the salons’ sustainable practices. Rather than pouring waste dye down the drain, consolidate all the liquid into one bottle. That way, only one bottled chemical cocktail is making its way to the local landfill. If you’re not ready to break up with your hair color, flirting with less toxic henna or Hairprint might be worth a