I just happened upon in this board in that random way people find things on the internet and i have to say i'm totally impressed with the kindness and helpfulness and knowledge of posters here.  you really can't say that about the vast majority of message boards these days.
i am a TOTAL newbie, so please forgive if i'm beating a dead horse here, i did read most of the threads before posting, but i would like some clarification on something.
i just today used natural instincts to darken my mediumish brown hair to an almost black color.  so far, i really really like it.
i read on other threads that if you use a semipermanent color to darken your hair it won't fade, but will grow out with roots?  boo!  is this true???  i'm scared!
i live in hawaii, where it's summer all the time and my born again virgin hair was lightening to an ugly reddish tone at the ends.  i cut off about 5 to 6 inches (it's now at my lower back) and still it was looking fried and crispy at the ends.  my hair is hard to describe.  the best i can think of is to say it's fine hair, but i have a lot (A LOT) of it.  so it doesn't hold styling well, and it frizzes.  yay me.  i know this isn't the proper thread for it, but since i'm here.... anyone have any reccomendations of a good cut that will make it lay flat???  i cut it straight across the bottom and it now looks like i have naturally curly hair that i insisted on brushing straight.. i.e. it poofs out something wicked at the bottom.  i have no strong compunctions about doing anything to my hair.  (i haven't really done anything though!  don't get mad at me!  i've never bleached, or even blow dry or hairspray!  although i have to cop to flat ironing on special occasions. sorry)
i don't like to go to stylists (mostly because i live in hawaii and, please no offense to anyone PLEASE, but it's hard to find a salon where people speak great english OR if they do, they usually go insane and want to do crazy things to me because of the length of my hair, i'm sure a lot of you know what i'm talking about),  and i would appreciate any suggestions of what to expect to happen to my hair since i've colored and how to protect my hair from 365 days of sun and wind??

thank you thank you!
i don't actually have curly hair, it just behaves as though i do.  it's got a tiny bit of wave, if anything.  even if rain on, it stays primarily straight, just frizzed on the surface. if i brush it (which, after a long hiatus, i recently started doing twice a day), it frizzes out and gets all crazy and if i don't, it feels really dry, even though it lays smooth.  i'm ashamed to say that i used to go weeks without brushing my hair, although i always wide-tooth comb it after showers. i looked at some pics recently from when i was 18 (i'm 28 now) and my hair, although heavily sun-in-ed (SORRY!!!), looked waaaaaaay better.  maybe it was youth, but i think it was because i wasn't afraid to brush it.
is it age?  is this when hair starts to dry??  are wrinkles next??
am heading off to the thread you recommended.  thank you so much!