The Fantasy Hair Color Guide for Everyone! Courtesy of the Manic Panic Founders! Click on the picture to get the right shade!!! 📌 if you this like we do ❤️
How do you prep hair before adding color?
Start with a blank canvas, after all, you’re about to create a work of art! Shampoo hair with a non-conditioning or clarifying shampoo to assure it is squeaky clean. If you are using a lighter pastel or a brighter neon color, pre-lightening your hair is essential to achieve vibrant results! If you’ve never lightened your hair before, we recommend that you visit a professional stylist. More subtle tones can be achieved using our deeper, more intense shades directly over dark hair, without pre-lightening. Always remember, you can’t dye a black shirt yellow without removing the black first.
Start with a blank canvas, after all, you’re about to create a work of art! Shampoo hair with a non-conditioning or clarifying shampoo to assure it is squeaky clean. If you are using a lighter pastel or a brighter neon color, pre-lightening your hair is essential to achieve vibrant results! If you’ve never lightened your hair before, we recommend that you visit a professional stylist. More subtle tones can be achieved using our deeper, more intense shades directly over dark hair, without pre-lightening. Always remember, you can’t dye a black shirt yellow without removing the black first.
What do beginners need to know before dying their hair?
It’s always wise to perform a patch test to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction. To do so, choose a small area of skin about the size of a penny and somewhere discreet, like behind your ear or the inner fold of your elbow. Wash the area with soap and water and dry with a clean towel. Place a thin coating of your chosen dye upon the test area, allow it to dry, and leave undisturbed and uncovered for 24 hours. Examine the area for any signs of irritation. If there is a negative reaction, the product should not be used under any circumstances. Strand tests are also a great way to make sure you get your desired results!
It’s always wise to perform a patch test to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction. To do so, choose a small area of skin about the size of a penny and somewhere discreet, like behind your ear or the inner fold of your elbow. Wash the area with soap and water and dry with a clean towel. Place a thin coating of your chosen dye upon the test area, allow it to dry, and leave undisturbed and uncovered for 24 hours. Examine the area for any signs of irritation. If there is a negative reaction, the product should not be used under any circumstances. Strand tests are also a great way to make sure you get your desired results!
Apply a small amount of color to a discreet section of freshly shampooed and dried hair before attempting to do a large amount. Apply petroleum jelly or a thick conditioner around your hairline to avoid staining skin. Use rubber gloves. Protect your clothing and anything else the color might stain. If you only want the color in a selected area, apply the conditioner to the areas you want untouched. This will act as a “color blocker” and keep the surrounding areas “color free.” If doing more than one color, separate each section with foil.
Apply color using a double-sided tint brush, starting at the roots and combing through thoroughly, section by section. Cover with plastic cap, and let process 30 minutes. Rinse, with cool/cold water when rinsing out the color, away from face and body, until almost clear.
How do you maintain the color?
For color that you can rock and wash out immediately, use a temporary color gel such as our Dye Hard Temporary Hair Color Gel. Manic Panic High Voltage Semi-Permanent Hair Color lasts for a few weeks or more and fades out gradually, but is also conditioning so it can be refreshed as often as you would like to keep the color always looking bright! Please keep in mind that darker colors will last longer than lighter colors. Lighter colors will fade out faster.
Additionally, washing hair in cool water, using a mild sulphate-free shampoo that is free of oils or clarifiers, washing less frequently, using dry shampoo, avoiding heat styling, wearing a hat in bright sunlight, and wearing a bathing cap when swimming (chlorine and salt water will strip the color) are all great ways to make sure your color stays looking fresher longer!
For color that you can rock and wash out immediately, use a temporary color gel such as our Dye Hard Temporary Hair Color Gel. Manic Panic High Voltage Semi-Permanent Hair Color lasts for a few weeks or more and fades out gradually, but is also conditioning so it can be refreshed as often as you would like to keep the color always looking bright! Please keep in mind that darker colors will last longer than lighter colors. Lighter colors will fade out faster.
Additionally, washing hair in cool water, using a mild sulphate-free shampoo that is free of oils or clarifiers, washing less frequently, using dry shampoo, avoiding heat styling, wearing a hat in bright sunlight, and wearing a bathing cap when swimming (chlorine and salt water will strip the color) are all great ways to make sure your color stays looking fresher longer!
Are there certain colors that are suitable for all hair types and colors?
Darker colors such as bold, jewel tones look great on darker hair that has not been pre-lightened and give stunning highlights that fade after a few shampoos. Darker colors that are applied to light, porous hair can last a lot longer. Pastels and neons are more vibrant on blonde or pre-lightened hair, but will fade faster. Reds and purples tend to be the most versatile across the board, but it’s always good to perform a strand test to see how the color will look on you first.
Darker colors such as bold, jewel tones look great on darker hair that has not been pre-lightened and give stunning highlights that fade after a few shampoos. Darker colors that are applied to light, porous hair can last a lot longer. Pastels and neons are more vibrant on blonde or pre-lightened hair, but will fade faster. Reds and purples tend to be the most versatile across the board, but it’s always good to perform a strand test to see how the color will look on you first.
What are the best ways to treat the hair after coloring?
Conditioning is not necessary after first coloring the hair, however a trick to prolong color vibrancy is to rinse with a mixture of white vinegar and water in equal parts immediately after coloring. Comb through and allow it to sit for a couple minutes then rinse thoroughly. This raises the pH level of the hair, leading to greater color performance. We recommend you don’t shampoo or condition for about a week after coloring. Use dry shampoo or us a mild or gentle cleansing shampoo that is free of sulphates, oils, and clarifiers.
Conditioning is not necessary after first coloring the hair, however a trick to prolong color vibrancy is to rinse with a mixture of white vinegar and water in equal parts immediately after coloring. Comb through and allow it to sit for a couple minutes then rinse thoroughly. This raises the pH level of the hair, leading to greater color performance. We recommend you don’t shampoo or condition for about a week after coloring. Use dry shampoo or us a mild or gentle cleansing shampoo that is free of sulphates, oils, and clarifiers.
- Since Manic Panic® does not damage or lift hair,the base color is essential to the end result. For best results, you will want to achieve at least a level 7+ blonde for many of our shades prior to coloring and a level 10+ for pastel and Neon/UV shades.
- Wash hair with a clarifying shampoo like our Prepare To Dye® Clarifying Shampoo (do not condition) and blow-dry until fully dry!
- Gather your supplies! Get a t-shirt (that you don’t mind getting color on), gloves, Color, mixing bowl,tint brush, towel, dye away wipes, and coconut oil (or other protective cream) for your hairline, and set up your spot! Make sure to be careful to avoid splattering dye on any porous surfaces.
- Perform a strand test and patch test.
- Apply Manic Panic® Hair Color evenly and fully saturate your strands making sure to work in small sections.
- Cover hair with a plastic cap (not necessary but can help with processing and clean up).
- Use a hairdryer to apply heat to your hair for part of the processing time (not necessary but can ensure hair follicles are primed for best absorption).
- Leave color on for 30 minutes or longer. Since Manic Panic® is non-damaging, you can leave it on for an hour or more!
- Rinse hair color with cold running water (making sure to avoid your eyes and face). Shampoo and conditioner are unnecessary since Manic Panic® acts as a conditioner while it’s in, but we like to use our conditioner for added softness and shine. Make sure to rinse thoroughly over the sink (but be mindful of where you rinse at it can stain porous surfaces)! To ensure most shades are adequately rinsed, rinse until the water runs almost clear.
- Towel and/or blow dry hair (make sure to use a dark-colored towel to avoid staining). Style as usual. Take on the world.
Disclaimer: Results will vary depending on many factors (the health of your hair, other colors applied previously, hair care routine, etc). This product should not be used for dyeing eyebrows and eyelashes. If eye contact does occur, rinse immediately with warm water and contact a physician. Please always conduct a patch andstrand test to make sure you do not have an allergic reaction to the product and that the hair color will appear on your hair the way you’d like it to! And always contact us with questions you have so we can help you!
Maintain color by washing with a sulfate-free color-safe shampoo & conditioner, using cool water. The more often you wash, the faster the color will fade out so try to use dry shampoo in-between washes to prolong the life of your color!