“A Hairdresser’s Life-Changing Encounter with a Teenager”
Leisure and Careers
Maria started working as a hairdresser even before finishing high school. She had always possessed a special talent for making people smile through their appearance and hairstyles. It was her thing. She began by helping out in her aunt’s salon to earn some extra money during her senior year.
An Unusual Saturday
That particular Saturday was bustling for Maria and her colleagues. The hair salon was packed, and each hairdresser had a fully booked schedule for the entire weekend. But as Maria was about to finish with one of her regular clients, she noticed a teenage girl peering through the windows.
Her curiosity is piqued
The girl, dressed in oversized gray joggers and a hoodie, walked into the salon. Her blue eyes scanned the crowd, her hood pulled up over her head, and her fingers constantly fidgeting. Maria could clearly see that she was nervous. She put down her scissors and faced her with a smile. But the teenager turned and rushed outside. “Sorry, Lucy,” Maria apologized to her client. Then, she navigated through the packed salon to go out onto the street.
Offering help
“What’s your name?” Maria asked as the girl walked toward her. The girl mumbled her name, and Maria gave her own. “Do you want to come back to the salon?” she asked. “We have milkshakes and cool stories.”
A heart-wrenching request
“Cut it all off,” the girl said as Maria stared at her hair. It was tangled and dirty, with thick knots that hadn’t seen a comb in a long time. “Why do you want to cut it?” Maria asked, already envisioning canceling her entire schedule for the rest of the day. “Because it’s useless,” the teenager said. “I’m useless.” Tears filled her eyes. “Please, cut it.”
“Why do you care?”
“Nobody cares,” the teenager shared. She told Maria the story of her life, explaining that her mother had passed away a few months ago. Since then, the girl’s mental state had slowly deteriorated, plunging her into the pervasive darkness of her life.
“Her Reason”
“The school year is about to start,” the girl said. She needed a new photo for the semester, and she couldn’t bear the thought of having to struggle with combing her hair. Maria’s heart broke as she listened to her story.
Day Two
As the day neared its end, Maria turned the young girl to face a mirror. She had managed to transform what was once a mass of tangled curls into a more manageable hairball. The teenager smiled. It was her first smile of the day. But Maria knew there was still much to be done. She returned the smile and asked if she could come back the next day.
A New Challenge
Maria picked up where she left off with the girl’s hair. She asked her what length she would be comfortable with and her favorite styles. Although most of the knots and tangles had been tackled, the damage to her scalp was still significant.
Walking on Eggshells
Maria knew that if the girl opened up to her a bit more, they could find a balance between them. She desperately wanted to help her even more. The teenager had already shown that she easily panicked.
Getting a Bit More Personal
Maria wanted to learn more about her. Obviously, it was clear that she had a lot on her mind, especially for someone so young. It saddened Maria to know that this poor girl was going through such difficult times.
Maria’s Story
Life hadn’t been easy for Maria either. She had grown up in challenging circumstances. With little means, she had grown up helping her mother pay the bills for her and her three siblings. Dropping out of school at a young age had been a tough choice. In the past, Maria had dreams and ambitions, but she had to set them aside for her family.
Losing Her Mother
Losing her mother at such a young age had been the most difficult thing for Maria to bear. It was years ago, but she felt that pain every day. Maria now understood why she had instantly felt connected to the young girl. As she looked at the damaged roots of her hair, she knew she had to help her in some way.
A Delicate Solution
Maria realized that the tangled portions of hair were too small and fragile to be untangled without causing pain to the girl. However, if nothing was done, her “sick” hair would continue to grow and damage the “healthy” hair.
Getting to Work
Maria knew that relaxers contained harmful chemicals. These products were not meant to be directly applied to the scalp. She had to be extremely careful.
It Works?!
The relaxer worked like a charm, automatically untangling the sensitive areas of her hair that were too delicate to be untangled manually. Surprisingly, compared to the state of her hair when she entered the salon, they were completely transformed, from root to tip.
A New Friend
When the teenager calmed down and was able to explain, Maria felt relieved. They were tears of joy because the girl was actually grateful. No one had shown her so much kindness before. Maria was overjoyed.
A Fresh Start
Maria brought a mirror. She had cut the hair above the shoulders, curled the ends, and added light brown highlights to complement the girl’s golden bronze color. The girl ran her hand through her hair, going through the soft curls.
A Happy Ending
In the end, Maria had successfully revived the teenager’s hair and even gave her a free makeover. Overflowing with newfound confidence, the girl even became the center of attention on the day of the photo. After hearing Maria’s story, they became close friends.