Re: Going blonde.
Hey, you know one our neighbours in Pakistan tried this back in 1992. Didnt suit her especially cz her hair were very long (just above the hips).
Last year I went to this dresser. Told her I wanted blonde streaks over metalic brown shade. And what I saw after the job made me scream. But anyway, I got rid of that stuff this year. But didnt get exactly what I wanted. I told this new girl to color them all red and put 75 thin streaks in ORANGE. I was feeling different and wanted some totally different. She said, “Okay okay okay” to everything I said. While I was dozzing off waiting to see my unique streaks, my mom came to pick me. She said what color is it. I said ORANGE. I pointed out to something lying on the counter which was Orange… THEN she mentioned, “Oh no, Orange tau ata hi nahi yahan.” I was like, “WTF??” She said, "Well, yeh color tau hota hi nahi yahan. Apki is color ki nahi hongi streaks bulke reddish hon gi. Magar woh ap par suit karein ge. I was a bit annoyed but thought would see the results hoping to like it, I didnt say anything. When she washed my hair… I was totally broken hearted. It was red streaks over red hair. I cant describe the feelings I had at that moment. Felt like smashing that big mirror right on her face. But with a red face. I told my mom, “This is not what I told her.” Then told her politely, “Mein ne apko Orange streaks kaha tha.” She had her own justifications like, “Oh mein ne woh kiya jo apko suit karay.” Fine. I didnt argue. She thought she knew better of what would suit me. Then cz my mom goes to her always and like her work so I didnt say much. Just said, “Thank you”, paid and came out.
She could have mentioned before starting that the color I saw on the book and told her I wanted was NOT AVAILABLE IN PAKISTAN!!! 
But I would get Orange streaks one day.