It is important to note that bleach is not good for your scalp so it's best to not let it get in contact with your skin as much as you possibly can. However, of course, we still want our hair to look aesthetic and immaculate, so we have come up with a compromise to help you save your hair. There are 3 different sections on your head that will be bleached a little bit differently. 1) The parting at the top of your head and the "hair whorl" are the only sections where you should let the bleach touch your scalp. Those are the parts you can see and other people can see too, so you will want the color to look fresh there. 2) Next there is a section at the back of your head, from below the ears down to your neck. This section can be ombre bleached around 20+cm away from the scalp. This is because this section of hair needs to grow the longest. You see, the upper layers of your hair where the parting is can be shorter but the lower layers are what give you the most length. Therefore, you are going to want to keep the lower layers as strong and healthy as possible. Because of this, it is good to not bleach this section at the root as it can compromise the health of the hair and lower the chances of you growing it super long! Also, the darker hair color around the neck and jaw helps to define your face so it's a double win. 3) Lastly, it is important to keep the bleach around 1cm or more away from your scalp everywhere else. You'll barely notice it (make sure it's has a nice fade) and it keeps your scalp protected from the bleach. Ok now for the salon! Most hydrogen peroxide is produced in China and Germany. The ones in Germany have been shown to cause less damage, probably due to a stricter manufacturing process but the study wasn't conclusive. You can always ask to see what bleach they're using and check that it's not made in China. Also, you should definitely use Olaplex. Make sure the salon shows you the bottle of it as well. You can explain that you want to see the ingredients or the packaging to make it seem less aggressive. You see, it has been found that some 'high-end' salons tell clients that they're using Olaplex but they end up using a cheaper alternative. As the price of Olaplex is going up, cheaper and cheaper alternatives are hitting the market, so it is in your interest to make sure you are getting what you paid for! The alternatives aren't as technologically advanced yet and it is terrible to be scammed like that too. And lastly, don't be afraid to just ask A LOT of questions. They'll respect you and know you are not someone that can be walked over or pushed around!