first post!

I've read quite a few of the posts in this bloopers board, and thought you all would be more helpful than some boards I've seen. In the last 6 months I've had my hair bleached twice by a friend in the cosmetology/hair field working on her license, it was one bleach after the next. I was trying to get my unnatural bright red color to blonde. As alot people have had happened before me, It turned an uneven orange, and was dry & brittle. I ran out to cover it with a caramel brown,...a month later I went to a colorist who I knew who talked me into getting a copper/auburn type color..hard to explain it's like a brownish red. I dont hate it, but It's definitely not for me, brings out the pink in my skin tone I believe. I'd like to try for a nice blonde [not too specific, any blonde will do at this moment, LoL] I have thick, wavy, [kind of course but im working on the texture] mid back length hair.  I'm not going to make the mistake again of letting just anyone do my hair, so do any of you know how long I will be in the salon for, the processes I will have to go through, what products i should use to help my hair beforehand, and how much the average cost is so I can be a bit more educated. I'd hate to be swindled, and most importantly dont want to be injured by a mistake that I can prevent. Very weary of colorists now. Thankyou!