A hairdresser refused to shave off a depressed teenager's hair and instead spent 13 hours fixing it for her instead.

Kayley Olsson, a student hairdresser in Waterloo, Iowa, recently shared a story on Facebook that has touched the hearts of millions about a depressed teenager who came to sit in her salon chair.

The 20-year-old explained the 16-year-old had been dealing with severe depression for years and felt so worthless that she couldn't even brush her own hair.

The unnamed teen asked Olsson to just shave her head in time for her school's picture day but the hairdresser refused and spent 13 hours fixing it for her.

Olsson shared the heart-warming story with her Facebook followers on Tuesday, as a reminder that mental illness affects people of all ages.

This unnamed depressed teenager asked her hairdresser to shave off her matted hair on Monday in Waterloo, Iowa. The 16-year-old said she felt so worthless that she couldn't even bring herself to brush her hair

Instead, the girl's 20-year-old hairdresser spent 13 hours over two days fixing her hair so it would look good on picture day on Tuesday. Pictured: After shots of the teen's hair

The hairdresser, who attends cosmetology school at Capri Waterloo, has garnered more than 160,000 likes, 67,000 shares and more than 8,500 comments on the post.

Olsson began her story by saying it was one of the most challenging experiences that she ever had and said she chose to keep the teen anonymous.

She wrote: '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.'

Kayley Olsson, a 20-year-old student hairdresser, shared the story with her Facebook followers as a reminder that mental health illness affects people of all ages

SIGNS THAT YOUR TEENAGER MAY HAVE DEPRESSION Although they may not describe feeling depressed, warning signs include saying they are stressed or easily annoyed. Other symptoms include tearfulness, withdrawing from socializing, changes in eating habits and a lack of energy. Physical signs are headaches, poor digestion, and muscle and joint pain. Stress and depression often appear together. Like depression, stress can also cause fatigue, headache and aching muscles, as well as ulcers. Source: Helpguide.org Advertisement

Olsson continued: '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".'

Social media users have cheered Olsson for sharing the story and helping the young woman.

Mary Litchfield wrote: 'You did a beautiful job. Most people who have taken the easy way and just cut her hair and told her stat (sic) fresh. But you took the time and invested time she needed to be invested in her for her to know she has beauty and value.'

Nicole Miller Lardy added: 'Wow! I had a client like this... in the past but she was an older lady, bed ridden.... totally gave me a new perspective on being a stylist when she cried from being so thankful.'

Recent studies show that depression rates have rocketed among young people, 11.3 per cent of 12- to 17-year-olds have untreated depression, up from 8.7 per cent in 2005.

However, the number of teenagers being treated for depression remains unchanged, according to a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics.