NaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!
Maeve Kennedy Gormly: My name is Maeve Kennedy Gormly and I am from Stockton, California. I am 22 years old, and I am working on my MSW with a clinical concentration in mental health at the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work.
NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls?
MKG: I’ve had my share of hair trauma, including the time my dad broke a hairbrush trying to untangle my hair, attempting to use baby oil as conditioner in seventh grade and my ninth grade crush telling me that I might be attractive if only I could “do something” about my hair.
My hair was pretty straight from ages four to fourteen, but with puberty came waves and frizz. I tried to iron and spray my hair straight. Sometime in high school, I realized that I wasn’t meant to have the smooth, straight hair that I so desperately wanted, so when I went to college, I didn’t pack my straightener.
NC: What is your current routine?
MKG: Over the years, I’ve learned that my hair looks better when I do less, so I try to keep my routine as low maintenance as possible. I almost never straighten or blow dry my hair. I only detangle my hair in the shower when it is doused in conditioner, and I try not to use shampoo more than once or twice a week instead of washing my hair the “normal” way, I just rinse it thoroughly or use conditioner.
NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process?
MKG: My hair is more wavy than truly curly. Sometimes I just let my hair air dry without any product, but that means crazy frizz and limp waves by lunchtime. Usually, I use some mousse, leave-in curl conditioner, or spray gel. If I really want my hair to last throughout the day, I use hair spray. My hair tends to devour product, so I do not really need to worry about stiffness, even if I use gel or hair spray.
