Depression is a problem that many people face but the degree of depression they experience does differ from one individual to another. For some, the experience is something that is similar to a case of the blues but for others, it can be a debilitating problem that affects every aspect of their life. That is what this hairstylist from Iowa experienced. Her name is Kayley Olssen and she saw something so profound that she had to post it on her Facebook page.
She described the incident as “one of the hardest experiences” that she ever had to deal with. The pictures involved a 16-year-old client who was battling depression to the extent where she really couldn’t take care of her own 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 girl’s hair was so matted that she came in and said to cut it all off because she couldn’t stand the thought of combing it out. This hairstylist was not about ready to simply lop off her hair. She knew she needed to do something special, especially since the girl was heading back to school. In her words, it broke her heart.
Kayley didn’t shave her hair but she did give her 13 hours of time over two days. By the time she was finished, her hair would be completely transformed into something absolutely beautiful. When you compare the before and after pictures, you will have a difficult time knowing that they are the same person.
She entitled her Facebook post, “A CHILD should NEVER feel so worthless to not even want to brush their hair.” You can see her note and the hairstyle below:
Kayley Olsson posted pictures on her Facebook page of a 16-year-old girl who had been battling depression. She wouldn’t come out of her bedroom and she never combed her hair. The first three photographs showed what she was up against.
These pictures have gone viral with thousands of comments and shares. People were absolutely amazed by the transformation but they also identified with what this girl had to go through.
Here is the note that she shared on Facebook said:
“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 effects people all around the world and of all ages! PARENTS take it serious 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 was
“I will actually smile for my schools pictures today, you made me feel like me again”
Here’s the picture of the 16-year-old girl who came into the Iowa salon. She just wanted the hairstylist to cut all of her hair off.
Rather than cutting the hair off, she gave her 13 hours of her time to transform her into a young girl with a beautiful hairstyle.
“It honestly broke my heart and we tried everything we could to keep this child’s hair for her!” Kayley wrote in her post.
It really paid off in the long run.
Kaylee posted an after photo of her hair. She had gone from a messy, matted hairstyle to a beautiful new look.
“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.
When you look at it from the side, it shows how completely different it was from when she first stepped into the salon. It took hours of washing and cutting but the girl felt so much better.
“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 worldwide have been touched by what this hairstylist did and they are sending messages.
One Facebook user named Jaye told Hayley, “To take that time to make her day better, is a blessing.”
Someone else admitted that Kayley had made her cry with her kind deed. She also had some kind words for the girl who took the time to get out of her bedroom and go to the salon. This can take a lot of strength if you are suffering from depression.
If you know someone who is suffering from depression or if you have these thoughts yourself, you can call the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 for help.