Phewf..I’m exhausted from all the self-disclosure.  I wanted to keep it light this week with some fun fashion and beauty tips.

First, I wanted to show you my do-it-yourself hair color. I was getting bored with my dark hair and tried a modified ombre look, with a semi-permanent dark burgundy color on top.

This was my hair before:

And this is how it turned out after:

I achieved this look by using Loreal Paris Feria Wild Ombre product for medium to dark hair to strip some of the darkness from my bottom layer and some chunks around my face.  I followed the directions for the semi-ombre look.  After that processed,  I washed my hair, dried it, then, because I don’t like the orangey color when I try to lighten it,  I added a semi-permanent  burgundy brown made by Clairol Natural Instincts. I simply followed the directions in the box.

Warning:  I am not a hair color expert, but I think this is double processing, even if the second product was a semi-permanent color!  Don’t try this at home if you don’t have healthy hair, or if your hair has recently been processed. I took a big risk doing this on my own, so before you try it, consult with a color expert at a salon.

On another note, several people have asked how I get my curly hair to behave beautifully the past few days.

When I’m in a hurry, as I have been the past few days because I joined a gym and started some training for volunteer work, I let my hair be its curly ethnic self.

Well, almost…

Here’s how I master my curly mane:

First, after towel drying, I use two products:   a silicone-based product like Garnier Fructis serum or Moroccan oil–I have to use quite a bit, like 2 TBSP, but never on my roots so they don’t look oily or weighted– and a moisturizing mousse like Aussie’s Catch the Wave with leave-in conditioner.  Then I brush the tangles out of my hair, which distributes the products more evenly.

Next, I take 1 inch sections of my hair and twist them into corkscrew curls, starting at the crown and working my way down. I like to make them sweep away from my face.

The trick to frizz-free curls is to mostly let them air-dry.

If I’m going to be home and not out in the frigid temps, I just let me curls air dry, occasionally scrunching and separating them out with my fingers as they dry.

Note:  If I don’t want to leave the house with sopping wet hair, I still twist my wet hair into corkscrews, but I also use the hair dryer on the lowest blowing setting to semi-dry each curl past the soaking wet phase, but  so that my hair is still more wet than dry. Some people use the big diffuser that comes with your hair dryer, but I find that this makes my curls more tight than I like them.

I apply more serum even when I minimally dry the curls  with the hairdryer so they don’t get frizzy, as well as continuing to twist and shape them as I hold the hair dryer about 6 inches from my head. This creates a looser more beachy curl.

Lastly, I spritz with a heavy duty hair spray, like Suave max hold hair spray.

Searching for a new look for fall?

I love to “thrift”. I can buy some really cool and quality pieces for so much less than retail.

I wanted to share my latest frugal fashion find:

I found this gorgeous Vince Camuto high low dress at Plato’s Closet, for…insert anticipatory drum roll here….3 SWEET LITTLE BUCKS! It was several sizes too big, so I carefully took it up along the sides.

I’m not a good seamstress, but I couldn’t let this lovely linger any longer on the clearance rack.

Bold, jewel-like colors are a hot trend this season, and this kind of dress beckons us to live our boldest color dreams out loud.

Wear it with another vibrant color like this:

Or pair it down to more understated elegance like this:

Make it edgy and fun like this:

Create a unique look with your fave accessories like this:

Which of these different ways do you think I wore it recently? Write your best guess in the comments section below, then follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/CeliTurner where I’ll reveal which look I wore tomorrow.

In the meantime, get out there and get bold with color! You’re too beautiful to be subdued.