What is considered starting and stopping with a period?

Jessie

I have been counting the starting dark, dried blood that last 3-5 days before the deep red “real period” starts and also the ending dark brown red blood that usually ends the last 2-3 days. Is all of that considered your period or just during the deep red blood? Cuz I’m total I’m bleeding in some variety a total of 9-12 days! Is that normal??