Shaun White CUTS HAIR OFF! (For Charity)

Shaun White's flowing red locks ARE GONE ... for now at least ... because the snowboarding legend just hacked off his mane!!!

The good news ... Shaun says he decided to get rid of his long hair because he wanted to donate to the Locks of Love charity ... which provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged kids who have suffered a medical hair loss.

Before White went under the clippers, he explained his decision -- "I've been thinking about this one for a while ... but it's for a good cause so I want to do it."