Malin Akerman -- Co-Purchases New Home ... Proves She's a Friend in Deed

It pays to be Malin Akerman's hair stylist ... the "Trophy Wife" actress just co-signed on a cozy little bungalow for the woman behind her blowouts ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Malin tell us she put down a sizeable chunk of money to help Maranda Widlund buy the $811K cottage in L.A.'s Los Feliz neighborhood.

Akerman will have a 27% interest in the 2 bedroom, 1-Bath crib, according to the purchase docs, while Widlund and her husband will own the remaining 73% ... and get to pay the mortgage.

We're told Malin simply wanted free haircuts for life to help out a friend.