Cutting hair to help the environment!

Hair stylist Alyssa Sanderson cuts Adrian Jeffrey’s hair. “I never get haircuts,” said Jeffery, who usually shaves his head. He said he was glad “to donate to a great cause.” Laura Stovel photo
Hair stylist Alyssa Sanderson cuts Adrian Jeffrey’s hair. “I never get haircuts,” said Jeffery, who usually shaves his head. He said he was glad “to donate to a great cause.” Laura Stovel photo

By Laura Stovel
Several local businesses celebrated Earth Day on Wednesday with discounts, cake and even a ‘cutathon’ at a local salon.
Mountain Goodness Natural Food offered customers who cycled or walked to the store or who donated $2 to the North Columbia Environmental Society (NCES) a 15% discount on many items. And the Toronto Dominion Bank served a beautifully-decorated cake with organic coffee – spoons and forks were made from bamboo.
Birch and Lace hair salon topped them all with a ‘cutathon’ or ‘spa-athon’ in which, for two-hours, clients could get their hair cut or receive a spa treatment in exchange for a donation to NCES – minimum donation for cuts was $20. Customers were asked to come in with dry and clean hair so that cuts could be done faster and more money could be raised.
Salon owner Sara Jeffery said there was a good response to the event. She and her staff were able to serve 14 customers asking for a range of services from eyebrow waxes, massage and, for most of them, haircuts.
“I forsee this being a bigger event in the future,” Jeffery said. “I have a vision of this being a community event every Earth Day.  It could showcase different businesses in town that have green initiatives.”
Birch and Lace makes environmental sensitivity part of its brand. Jeffery researches products that are the least damaging to the environment and all the hair that is cut is gathered and sent to absorb oil during oil spill.