Kayley Olsson is a hairstylist based in Iowa, and on August 8, 2017, she posted a series of photos on her Facebook page detailing “one of the hardest experiences.” The photos were of a 16-year-old client who had been battling depression to the point that she couldn’t even brush her hair.
“She told me she only got up to use the restroom,” Kayley wrote in the post. “She felt so down and so worthless she couldn’t even brush her hair.”
The anonymous girl’s locks were matted so badly that she told Kayley, “just cut it all off I can’t deal with the pain of combing it out.” But the hairstylist wasn’t going to do that. She wanted to help the teenager — especially since she told Kayley she’d be heading back to school soon. “It honestly broke my heart,” Kayley wrote.
Instead of shaving her head, Kayley spent 13 hours over two days completely transforming the young girl’s hair into a beautiful new hairstyle.
Kayley shared a “before” photo of the young girl’s hair as well as two “after” photos that are absolutely stunning.
Kayley took to her Facebook page to write a heartfelt note about her experience with the teenager. “A CHILD should NEVER feel so worthless to not even want to brush their hair,” she said about the young girl.
Continue scrolling to see the hairstyle, along with Kayley’s note.
On August 8, 2017, Kayley Olsson posted a series of photos on her Facebook page of a 16-year-old client who had been dealing with severe depression that left her bedridden and unable to comb her hair.
The hairstylist uploaded three photos and a note about her experience, which she called “one of the hardest.”
Since LittleThings posted this story, Kayley’s photos and note have received over 9,000 comments as well as more than 68,000 shares.
Not only did people want to share the amazing transformation with others, they identified with her note, which touches on mental illness and the reality of depression.
This is the note Kayley shared on Facebook.
She wrote:
Today I had one of the hardest experiences with my client who I am keeping anonymous, I had a 16-year girl come in with who has been dealing with severe depression for a few years now. She got to the point where she felt so down and so worthless she couldn’t even brush her hair, she told me she only got up to use the restroom. She starts back at school in a few weeks but she has her school pictures today. When she walked in she told us just cut it all off I can’t deal with the pain of combing it out, she called herself worthless for it. It honestly broke my heart and we tried everything we could to keep this child’s hair for her! At the end of the day, I want this to be a lesson to people. MENTAL HEALTH is a thing, it affects people all around the world and of all ages! PARENTS take it seriously don’t just push your kids off and tell them to get over something they legitimately can’t. A CHILD should NEVER feel so worthless to not even want to brush their hair.
After being here 8 hours yesterday and 5 hours today we finally made this beautiful girl smile and feel like she IS worth something! Her last words to me were
“I will actually smile for my schools’ pictures today, you made me feel like me again”
This is a photo of the anonymous 16-year-old girl who came into Kayley’s Iowa salon begging her to “just cut it all off” — but Kayley didn’t do that.
Instead, the hairstylist spent 13 hours over two days transforming the depressed teen’s matted locks into a beautiful new hairstyle to help her feel confident.
“It honestly broke my heart and we tried everything we could to keep this child’s hair for her!” Kayley wrote in her post.
Her hard work and kindness paid off, because the hairstylist gave the teen an amazing hairdo that is worlds away from what she looked like when she stepped into the salon.
Kayley posted this “after” photo of the teen’s hair. She went from a messy, matted hairstyle to a beautiful, curled look perfect for picture day.
“After being here 8 hours yesterday and 5 hours today we finally made this beautiful girl smile and feel like she IS worth something!” the stylist wrote.
This side view shows how completely different the teen’s hair looks now. The stylist’s hours of washing and cutting made the teen feel 10 times better. Kayley’s act of kindness helped this young, depressed girl start to feel a little better about herself.
“Her last words to me was ‘I will actually smile for my school’s pictures today, you made me feel like me again,’” Kayley wrote.
Thousands of people from all over the world have been touched by what Kayley did and wanted to thank her and send messages to the young girl.
One Facebook user named Jaye told Hayley, “To take that time to make her day better, is a blessing.”
Jaye also thanked the stylist for helping the teen go from feeling worthless to liking herself and the way she looked.
Another commenter admitted that what Kayley did and said made her cry. She also gave kudos to the young girl for getting herself out of bed and to the salon, something that takes a lot of strength for those suffering from severe depression.
If you or someone you know suffers from depression and may be at risk, please call the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
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