Conservation groups are harvesting thousands of tons of human hair to create sustainable filters for the polluted canals of Xochimilco, Mexico City, in a desperate bid to save the native axolotl from extinction. Once numbering 6,000 per square kilometer in 1998, the population plummeted to just 36 individuals by 2014 due to heavy metal contamination and domestic waste.
Since 2025, the organization Matter of Trust Latam has partnered with barbershops and salons across Mexico to collect hair trimmings. According to reports from El Financiero, the initiative collected 202 kilograms of hair last year, with the average shop contributing two kilograms per month.
A biological solution for toxic waters
Volunteers pack the hair into one-kilogram filters, which are then submerged in the canal waters, often attached to traditional trajineras. The hair acts as a natural absorbent, trapping oily substances and pollutants before being removed after several weeks.
Once retrieved, the filters undergo a bacterial treatment process that breaks down the captured waste. This allows the devices to be reused or safely integrated into the soil without generating additional landfill trash.
Research from the University of Coventry in the United Kingdom supports the efficacy of this method. Their data shows that human hair can absorb between three and nine times its own weight in oil, maintaining its structural integrity through multiple cleaning cycles.
Beyond Xochimilco, this technique has been deployed to mitigate oil spills along the Gulf of Mexico. Matter of Trust Latam officials note that while the filters are highly effective, their success rate remains dependent on the specific conditions of each spill.
Conservationists emphasize that while cleaning the water is essential, the axolotl remains a fragile species. Beyond habitat restoration, scientists are currently utilizing controlled reproduction techniques to ensure the survival of offspring in protected, artificial environments away from the immediate threats of invasive species and drought.
The organization is actively seeking further donations to expand the project. They accept clean, dry hair of any length, including dyed or gray hair, and even clean pet fur.
