FOR A GOOD CAUSE:

The women in Project Self Sufficiency are single moms who are in school, often working, and struggling to make ends meet.

They don’t usually take time out of their busy day to get a haircut, and even if they could make the time, most of them can’t afford it.

Hair Studio 409 in Newport Beach closed its doors to the public Monday to host a cut-a-thon for women from Project Self Sufficiency and Human Options, a local battered women’s shelter.

Owner Robert Curtis and his staff, along with members of the D’Orsay, the Art of Hair salon in Fashion Island, spent the day giving free haircuts and a new look to women very grateful for a chance to be pampered for an hour or so.

Cherish Bossom of Huntington Beach is a full-time student and mother of two who came in for a trim. By the time she gets up and gets the kids ready for their day, she says there’s no time to spend on herself. “This is a priceless idea,” she said.

“It’s all I can do to put my hair in a ponytail, or throw on a headband and some lip gloss, then head out the door.”

Interim Supervisor Ann Casady has been involved with Project Self Sufficiency for the past 7 years. The Huntington Beach organization helps low-income single parents, which includes dads, though Casady said the majority of parents are women.

To qualify for the education-based program, they must live in Huntington Beach and whether they are working or not, must be enrolled in school.

Hair Studio 409 hosted a similar event for Project Self Sufficiency in November.

Casady spoke to several women she said were ecstatic after receiving their “mini-makeovers.”

“One woman mentioned that she hadn’t had her hair cut in more than a year,” Casady said. “It’s a luxury that they can’t afford. They need to pay for rent, gas and [put] food on the table.”

Giving back to the community is important to Curtis. After two children were killed by a motorist on a Costa Mesa preschool playground in 1999, he organized a fundraiser for the victims’ families.

For five days, five salons participated in a cut-a-thon. Each salon took a day, Curtis said, and none of them worried about clients or profits.

“We laid our scissors down as far as competition, and picked up combs and dryers to work together for a common cause.”

Sandra Rea owns a public relations and marketing firm that has helped promote some of the events at Hair Studio 409. Many women come to the salon before a job interview, Rea said, and after getting a haircut, leave feeling more confident.

“When you feel good outside, you feel better inside.”

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.