A number of area salons and pet groomers are joining the ranks of those saving

.

But the Deep Water Horizon Response, the unified command for cleaning up

isn’t using these types of booms, said spokesman Mike Lutz, although he couldn’t rule out their use elsewhere.

A Matter of Trust, the California-based non-profit organization spearheading the hair/fur collection, said on its website it is receiving about 500,000 pounds of hair and fur every few days to make booms to soak up the oil. The organization did not respond to several days of telephone calls and e-mails for information on where the booms will be used.

Allison Nyholm of the American Petroleum Institute termed hair booms being used to clean up the gulf “a bit of an urban myth,” and said they would sink.

Still, several area salons say they aren’t dissuaded.

Mark J. Carr, owner of M Coiffure salon in Linglestown, said he’s still willing to save hair and send it to Matter of Trust. “If it can get used in any capacity and helps the environment, that’s good enough,” Carr said.

“I still want to put forth any effort I can to help, and hopefully they’ll find a use for it somewhere,” said Chrissy Hench of Clippers in Newport, who has collected a large box full of hair.