I have just answered your second question. Having now read this I would say 'Don't use bleach on dark redish hair'. Mine was mousy brown. It might go orange on your hair colour.
I had to go to the salon and have my hair "stripped". Simply using blonde dye turned me (yikes!) orange. A good salon will have good gentle products. My hair was fine from that. It was the relaxer that messed me up.
You will have use the lightest blonding in one step...and then use a ASH color. Only ash will completely get rid of orange/red tones. just never use ash on banana yellow blonde hair,cuz you will end up with green hair.