A NEW LOOK -- AND FOR A GOOD CAUSE, TOO.

Byline: Semhar Debessai

Staff Writer

All across Los Angeles, women are gearing up for new summer looks, pitting one hairstyle against another: long vs. bobbed, curly vs. smooth, blond vs. blonder.

For Briana Lilly of Encino, a new hairstyle has less to do with the changing season and more with making a positive change in a sick child's life.

Two years ago, Lilly's mother was diagnosed with cancer and eventually lost all her hair. Two months ago, after running the Orange County Marathon and raising more than $1,200 for the Ronald McDonald House charity, Lilly felt compelled to do more.

Following her 30th birthday, Lilly decided to donate her naturally blond tresses to Locks of Love, an organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children with medical hair loss.

"I never realized how much hair means to women (until my mother's diagnosis)," she said. "It was so much a part of her identity. ... I couldn't imagine these little girls dealing with the same thing."

Walking into Monique's Hair Salon in Tarzana at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, Lilly met Mazal Dabush, the stylist who agreed to cut her hair, free of charge.

Dabush, an energetic 52-year-old who doesn't look a day over 40, gushed over Lilly, a first-time client who greeted her with equal enthusiasm.

The two met at Curves, the exclusively female fitness center where Lilly works.

"I was running my mouth (about wanting to cut my hair). ... And she offered to do it," recalled Lilly.

Moments after sliding into the styling chair, Lilly shed 10 inches of her cover-girl mane (the minimum length requirement accepted by Locks of Love). Within seconds, her hair went from cascading down her back to barely skimming her shoulders.

"My hair feels so light!" she reacted with surprise.

As Dabush proceeded to style the shorter 'do, Lilly rejected any feelings of anxiety or regret. "I just know how much those little girls will appreciate it.

"I used to think that making a difference was being on the news, flying to Africa," she said, pausing for a moment as an errant tuft temporarily covered her face. "(Now I know) it's the little things that help."

Lilly's 10-inch ponytail was placed in a Ziplock bag and mailed off to Locks of Love's Florida office, along with the donation form available at www.locksoflove.org.

Lauren Kukkamaa, communications director for Locks of Love, is grateful for donors like Lilly who have made it possible to provide cancer-fighting and cancer-surviving children with quality hairpieces. (It takes six to 10 ponytails to create one hairpiece.)

With just a six-person staff and "lots of volunteers," Locks has been able to meet the needs of all their eligible young applicants.

For Lilly, this is not the end of her philanthropic endeavors. For starters, she has the Revlon 5K Run/Walk in May.

"I have my health (and) I have time," she said. The chic new haircut is an added bonus.

Semhar Debessai, 818-713-3665

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Photo:

Briana Lilly is all smiles after cutting her long blond hair to donate to children in need of hairpieces while stylist Mazal Dabush looks on at Monique's Hair Salon in Tarzana.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer