NaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!
Therese Tully: Hi, my name is Therese Tully. Born and raised in Mendham, NJ. I am a junior at Boston College and an aspiring writer. Though I’m the youngest of eight kids, I am the only one with red curly hair!
NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls, or have you always enjoyed and embraced your curls?
TT: Though I love my curls now, they have caused me a lot of pain in the past. Let’s just say fifth grade wasn’t my year. It was a dark time before I had discovered the power of conditioner and when my hair routine involved slicking my hair back into a tight ponytail and then combing it out. Yes, you read that correctly. I still shudder at the thought. Luckily, with the help of a fellow curly girl sister-in-law and lots of shine serum, my curls and I have become good friends. Diane von Furstenburg claims that the decision to stop straightening her hair and embracing her natural curl changed her life. I really relate to that, and have come to love the crazy imperfection of my curls.
NC: What is your current routine or regimen?
TT: My routine is super simple and pared down. I am extremely lazy when it comes to my hair. I think a good cut is important, and I get mine done almost every time I get home from college, because I trust no one but Clarissa with my hair! I also don’t wash my hair everyday because it is so dry and I hate to strip it of its natural oils. Other than that, my hair is pretty low maintenance.
NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process?
TT: It begins in the shower. If it’s a shampooing day, I do that first and then use lots and lots of conditioner. I let that sit in my hair while I do everything else, giving it the optimum amount of time to soak in. Next, I rinse my hair with cold water, because I read somewhere that it makes it shiny — it seems to work! Out of the shower, I throw a towel on my head as I moisturize to let it soak up some of the water, though I have been told this is a curly haired sin! Afterwards I finger comb it and apply tons of shine serum. Next, I scrunch with conditioner, the same kind I used in the shower and I usually finish off with a layer of hairspray. What can I say…I’m a Jersey girl!
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NC: What about your hair stylists?
TT: Stylist. Singular. Her name is Clarissa. She is an angel and the only one who touches my hair. Our relationship is totally unhealthy; I worship her.
NC: What are your favorite hairstyles to wear with your curls?
TT: I love just pulling the sides back and using a long flat barrette to hold it together. I think it looks romantic with the curls gathered up in the back. It’s definitely my go-to style. I also love a loose curly bun with a few stray curls escaping — I think I have perfected it over the years! But above all, I love just wearing it down and natural, especially in the summer when the salt and the wind at the beach have worked their magic.
NC: What are your must-have products and tools?
TT: I love Organix Liquid Glass Serum in Shea Butter. It smells so delicious and is a pretty good heavy weight, which I need! For conditioner, I rotate a lot, but anything from Garnier is rich and wonderful. The Moroccan0il Intense Curl Cream is really great too, but I am a super broke college kid, so I don’t usually indulge. My top hairspray choice is Condition 3-in-1 Maximum Hold Hairspray. My mom and I are both addicted to it. It’s not heavy or sticky and every time I wear it, people compliment me on the scent.
NC: What do you do at nighttime for your hair?
TT: I know I am supposed to be sleeping on a silk pillowcase or something, but to be honest, I don’t! I should do more, but really nothing. I never sleep with my hair up, because I know that’s bad for it. Sometimes, if I am really looking to preserve the curl, I will sleep with a silk scarf wrapped around my head, but my family laughs at me!
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NC: What is the best thing about being curly?
TT: Curls are so unpredictable and they are never boring. They also make you feel special and unique. My curls are so low maintenance. I never have to waste time blow drying my hair. That is definitely the biggest plus!
NC: How does having curly hair affect your everyday life?
TT: Every day is a surprise. Is it going to be a good curl day or a day when I would rather shave my head? You never quite know. Also, I think it’s funny that when I meet people, as a curly redhead, they make so many assumptions about me right off the bat, some of them true some of them not. I guess it really colors the way people view me right from the start, and I don’t fight that.
NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?
TT: Straight hair can be so boring! Your curls are like no one else’s! Trust me, there are millions of people who would kill to have your hair.
NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects. Tell us about your life and what you are up to!
TT: I just ended a wonderful summer internship with Parenting Magazine where I met some incredible people and got to do some interesting writing. I am currently getting ready to go back to Boston College, and by getting ready, I mean shopping and avoiding packing for as long as possible. But mostly, I should be planning and preparing for another busy semester as the Features Editor for BC’s student newspaper, The Heights. I am definitely looking forward to the cooler fall temperatures and cool new knit hairbands for winter to accentuate my curls!
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