Midlothian’s eco-friendly hair salon is using customer’s hair to clean up the ocean

Clients flock to the new sustainable hairdresser in Dalkeith ahead of Spring opening.

Salon owner Gemma Hill, who will open her new environmentally conscious salon, Luvely, in April said business is already booming.

The 27-year-old hairdresser, who is opening the salon with business partner and owner of Paterson Sa Elaine Murdoch, hopes to combine expert cuts and styles with a more eco-friendly approach to hairdressing.

After receiving a trim the customer's hair clippings will be collected and “stuffed into” recycled nylon hosiery, covered in mesh and made into booms for soaking up coastal oil spills.

Salon owner Gemma Hill aims: "to do as much for the environment as possible" with new business venture.

“Hair doesn't absorb water but it does absorb oil so it can be used to clean up oil spills,” said Ms Hill. “It can also be cleaned and reused so it can be used over and over again”.

The new salon is part of the UK-wide Green Salon Collective which is aiming to make the hairdressing industry more sustainable.

After stumbling across the collective on social media Ms Hill knew she wanted to get involved and said the aim of her salon is “to do as much for the environment as possible.”

In keeping with the sustainable ethos of the business the salon, which has been under construction for the last four months, has been painted green.

The salon has also implemented a strict bin system which will see the used foils, empty colour tubes, chemicals, PPE all recycled.

Ms Hill said: “Normally at the hairdressers everything goes into the same bin but now you can get your hair done and help the environment at the same time.”

After being on furlough for four months Ms Hill “cant wait” to get back to work and said she is looking forward to being busy again.

She said: “ It was hard going from being busy every day to sitting at home doing nothing. But it has given us time to get the shop prepared and get our ideas together.

“I’m absolutely buzzing to get started, I am standing watching the paint dry.”

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