Manic Panic FAQs
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Why should I choose manic panic?
Manic Panic hair dye is the best in the business! We’ve been leading the industry for over 45 years, with so many gorgeous colour options. Why should you choose Manic Panic? Well, aside from our iconic colours and years of experience, we also pride ourselves on being a completely vegan, cruelty-free, women-owned company! The Manic Panic semi-permanent hair dye is free from parabens, free from sulphates, and nourishing to your hair. Shop Manic Panic hair dye for the best hair dye around! You can find out more on our ‘About Us’ page here.
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Who can use manic panic?
Pretty much anyone can use our Manic Panic hair dyes. As we said above, the Manic Panic formula is semi-permanent, which means that it doesn’t contain any harsh developer or chemicals. Our hair dye is nourishing and conditioning for anyone’s hair. However, if you have any allergies or health conditions, or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you might want to ask your doctor for advice before buying hair dye.
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Will hair dye damage my hair?
No, Manic Panic hair dye won’t damage your hair! Our conditioning formula is intended to nourish and enrich your hair while it colours. You can leave the dye on for as long as you want (we recommend no more than an hour) without any damage to your hair!
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How long will my colour last?
All of our Manic Panic hair dyes are semi-permanent, apart from specific ranges like our ‘Temporary Hairsprays’. Semi-permanent hair dye doesn’t contain any developer, which makes it gentler to hair than demi-permanent or permanent hair dyes. Our semi-permanent hair dyes tend to last between 4 and 6 weeks, although lighter shades may fade more quickly. Colour fading also depends on your washing habits (see below).
Colour FAQs
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What colour should I dye my hair?
Not sure what colour to dye your hair? You can shop our whole range of Manic Panic colours in the menu above, with dozens of bold, vibrant fashion colours and glossy, sleek natural shades. If you’re curious about picking the perfect shade for your complexion and base hair colour, you can read our ‘Colour Theory’ blog right here. This blog goes over the colour wheel, picking out the perfect hues to complement each other!
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Can I mix hair dye?
Yes! All of our Manic Panic Classic colours are inter-mixable, which means that you can create the perfect customisable hair shade of your dreams! Simply mix multiple hues together in a tint bowl, and you’ll have the perfect shade for you. You can also use our Manic Panic Pastel-Iser to turn any classic colour into a pastel shade. With our mixable formula, anything’s possible!
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What are hair levels?
If you’re deciding on your new hair colour, you might also be curious about your hair level. The darker your hair, the harder it will be to get a bold colour transformation. If you’re looking for a super-vibrant colour result, we tend to suggest pre-lightening hair to a level 7 blonde or higher. To see all of the hair levels, check out our hair level guide here.
Hair Dyeing FAQs
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What is a patch test?
We recommend doing a patch test before applying any product to your hair or scalp. This is to ensure that your skin won’t have any negative reaction to the product. All you have to do is apply the product to a clean patch of skin (only the size of a 5p coin). Leave the product on for 24 hours. If your skin is red or irritated after this process, we recommend not using the product.
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What is a strand test?
Much like a patch test, a strand test is intended to test the product before using it on your entire head. For a strand test, pick a strand of hair out of sight (e.g. at the nape of your neck). Paint your product onto this strand, and leave it to process for the recommended developing time. After this, rinse off with cold water. This will show you the product result. If your hair is damaged or if the result is not what you had expected, you might want to reconsider using the product. For a diagram on how to do a strand test and more information on getting ready to dye hair, check out our guide here.
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Do I need to bleach my hair?
We mentioned hair levels already, but generally, if you’re looking for a bold colour transformation, we recommend pre-lightening your hair beforehand. However, every head of hair is different, so make sure to take your previous damage and hair type into account. You can find out more information about bleaching your hair here.
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How do I dye my hair at home?
To dye hair at home, you’ll need some Manic Panic hair dye, a tint bowl, a tint brush, and some old towels/clothes. Dye your hair carefully, making sure to saturate every strand. Leave to develop for the time stated on the packaging, then rinse off with cold water. You can read our step-by-step dye tutorial here.
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Should I wash my hair before colouring?
Semi-permanent hair dye works best on dry, slightly greasy hair, so we don’t recommend washing your hair right before dyeing.
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Can I lighten and colour my hair on the same day?
Yes! Of course you can- in fact, our enriching and conditioning formula can be very good for recently bleached and damaged hair. However, make sure to take your hair type and damage into account. If you’re at all doubtful about putting your hair through another process so soon, you can always wait a couple of days and give your locks room to breathe.
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Do I need gloves to dye hair?
Everyone has a different method, but we would definitely recommend using plastic gloves to dye your hair, as our Manic Panic hair dye is very pigmented, and may temporarily stain the skin on your hands.
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Should I use a bag when dyeing my hair?
You can put a bag or shower cap over your hair while it’s developing. This helps to lock in the heat, making the developing process faster. However, it’s not a necessity, and we certainly don’t recommend squishing your hair into clumps, or covering your face in any way.
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Why is my hair dye coming out in the shower?
This is completely normal. Hair dyes, especially temporary and semi-permanent hair dyes, will not last forever. The first time you rinse your colour out, you’ll of course notice a lot of colour going down the drain. However, you’ll also notice colour coming out in your next few showers, at least for the first few weeks. This just means that your colour is slowly fading. Washing your hair with colour-safe shampoo and cold water can help prevent too much colour loss.
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How long do I leave hair dye to process?
For the Manic Panic semi-permanent hair dyes, we usually recommend 30 minutes developing time. However, our dyes are conditioning, so you can leave them on for a bit longer without any concerns. Other products, like bleach, have stricter developing times. Always check your product packaging for specific developing times.
Hair Maintenance FAQs
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How do I look after dyed hair?
Dyed hair can fade quickly if it’s not looked after correctly. If you’re interested in caring for your coloured hair, you can shop hair care products like our colour-safe shampoos, silver toners, and enriching hair masks. Take a look at the hair care range here.
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How do I make my hair dye last longer?
Aside from nourishing and conditioning your hair, there are a few tips and tricks for maintaining hair colour as long as possible. First, always use cold water to rinse your hair. Avoid too much heat, and use colour-safe shampoos and conditioners. Want more hair maintenance advice? Check out our guide here.
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How can I freshen up my colour?
If your hair colour does start fading, you can always refresh it with one of our Love Color Colour Depositing Conditioners! Our colour-depositing conditioners feature a wonderful conditioning formula with colourful pigment. Apply in the shower just like regular conditioner, and leave on for 10 minutes for a refreshed and vibrant hair colour! You can browse our full range of Love Color conditioners here.
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How do I stop colour bleed?
For hairstyles with multiple colours, you can avoid the dyes bleeding together by rinsing the hair sections one at a time. Remember to always use cold water!
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How do I remove hair dye?
Sick of your hair dye? You can remove your colour with bold methods like bleach and colour remover, or use oils, toners, and warm water for a slightly slower, gentler process. You can also go over dyed hair with a different colour- just remember to check out our colour theory blog for our advice on which colours you can pick!
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Is heat bad for my hair?
Yes, heat is bad for your hair. This goes for all hair, not just dyed hair. However, coloured hair is more likely to fade or receive damage due to heat. To avoid heat damage, you can use heat-protecting products, hats, scalp SPF, and rinse your hair with cold water.
Have we answered all of your hair dye questions? Hopefully, you’ve got everything you need, but if you have any more questions or concerns, you can read all of our handy care guides and dye tutorials below.
