Maria loves hair. She has been doing this job for over four years, cutting and styling people’s hair. She thought she’d seen everything there was to see, but she had seen the joy a haircut can bring and the difference it can make.

But she was wrong. When a girl entered her salon, Maria thought it was just another day, another client. But as the girl started telling her story, Maria realized there was so much she hadn’t seen yet.

Maria’s career as a hairdresser had begun even before she finished high school. She was naturally bright and charming and got her start in the field by working at her aunt’s salon in her senior year. What began as a way of making extra money soon became her dream job.

On this particular Saturday, the salon was very busy with customers and hairdressers. Every chair was full, and the sound of snip-snapping filled the air. All the stylists were busy chatting with their customers while they cut their hair.

Maria was very friendly to the teenager and helped her back to the salon. She introduced herself. She could see that the girl was nervous, so she offered her a milkshake and said she would tell her great stories to cheer her up.

Maria immediately understood why the girl tried to run away when she saw what the hood was covering.

The girl asked Maria to cut all of her hair off, and Maria asked her why, as she was trying to find a way to clear her day’s schedule.

The girl’s answer to Maria’s question was heartbreaking. “It’s because it’s worthless, just like me,” she cried.

Maria tried to calm her down while she considered the best way to deal with the hair. She suggested taking it slow. The hairdresser told the teen that it’s best to start with a comb and get through the tangles, keeping clippers as a last resort.

As Maria asked the girl why she wanted to cut her hair, she explained that school was about to start and she needed a new photo for her school ID. Sadly, she couldn’t handle the pain of running a comb through it all.

At the end of the day, Maria and the girl looked at her face in the mirror, and the teenager smiled for the first time that day. Her hair, which had been a mess, was now much better.

But Maria knew they still had a long way to go. She asked the girl to come back the next day.

Maria felt sorry for the girl and wanted to help her. She wanted to help her because she was a young girl with a lot of problems, but Maria also wanted to help her because of something that had happened in her own past.

Life hadn’t been easy for Maria, either. She had grown up with her mother and three brothers and sisters. The five of them had survived on very little money. From a very young age, Maria had been helping pay the bills at home.

Maria’s mum had faced many challenges in her life, and she had suffered a lot. When she was 22, her husband left, leaving her with the children, including Maria.

Maria had experienced something similar and felt a strong connection to her. Maria knew she had to help the teenager, no matter what, as her situation reminded Maria of her own.

While the girl listened to Maria’s story, the hairdresser kept thinking about how to fix her hair. Then she had a sudden idea.

Maria’s only solution was to use a relaxer treatment in certain areas to untangle the hair. 

Maria set to work despite the stressful situation. She gathered her tools, mixed the solutions, and, with the utmost care, began to apply the mixture to the scalp. 

The relaxer had worked its magic on the girl’s hair, untangling the clumps that would’ve been almost impossible to do by hand. The girl’s hair looked completely different when she came in.

Maria was happy to tell the girl about her new look. But instead of smiling, the girl’s eyes welled up, and the hairdresser wondered what had gone wrong.

Eventually, the girl calmed down and explained that the tears were of happiness and gratefulness for all Maria had done for her. Maria was happy to hear this and was touched by how much her kindness had meant to the girl.

When she saw the final result, she gasped as she looked in the mirror. Her hair, a mess just two days earlier, was now styled with a beautiful cut, some curls, and a gorgeous sandy brown color that went well with her skin.

Maria had not only fixed the girl’s hair but also given her a free makeover so she would look her best in her school picture. The girl was the star of her school that day, full of hope and confidence. Her new hair had made her the most popular girl in her class.

The girl and Maria remained close friends, and Maria even got her an apprenticeship at the salon. Maria’s kindness made the girl feel like she could believe in herself again, leading to a new friendship and a long-lasting connection.