Hairstylist Kayley Olsson was working when a 16-year-old girl came in with a horrifying story.
She said she had depression and “felt so down and so worthless, she couldn’t even brush her hair.”
As a result, her hair became unbelievably matted, so ahead of her high school pictures she wanted Olsson to “just cut it all off.”
Hairstylist wanted to help the struggling girl
In a Facebook post that went viral in 2017, Olsson wrote that meeting the teen, who she wished to keep anonymous, was "one of the hardest experiences."
"I had a 16-year-old girl come in 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," the post continued.
It honestly broke my heart and we tried everything we could to keep this child’s hair for her!
Kayley Olsson
A heartwarming makeover
Olsson wanted to share her client's story as a reminder for all, especially parents, to be kind to those struggling with mental health issues.
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.
Kaley Olsson
Olsson put painstaking effort into making the teen feel like herself again.
"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 school’s pictures today, you made me feel like me again.'
Kayley Olsson
Ask for help
Telling someone struggling with depression to 'get up and feel better' definitely won't work. Depression is an illness and we all need to be more mindful of the horrors of the mind that others around us are going through.
That's why this story is so important to share. It shows the tremendous transformation that's possible when someone struggling asks for help. It's also a great reminder of the kindness of strangers.
More uplifting stories:
- 4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First House
- Poor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire Him
- Domestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her Life
- Brooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others
right human eye
Photo by 
person holding box
Photo by 
