Are you considering joining the dark side? Well, welcome! At Manic Panic, we’re all about the vibrant and colourful tones of vivid colours but we also know how important those deeper and darker shades are for adding a variety of interest and unique diversity to creative-coloured hair. Within our range, we hold a shade that you can’t get much darker than - Raven.
Raven is a beautiful glossy black colour with undertones of blue and green throughout. Its dark and heavily pigmented formula adds both depth and dimension to hair no matter how it is applied, whether you choose to apply it in all of its main character energy or simply wish to use it as an accompaniment for a more vibrant shade.
Who can wear Raven?
As we know, semi-permanent hair dye cannot lighten the hair. Due to this, we usually recommend lightening the hair to a very light blonde for the colour to produce its brightest result, however, Raven is different. As Raven is a very deep tone and is meant to appear dark on the hair, it can be applied to all-natural and bleached hair colours. Use Raven to maximise your already dark hue or completely transform your natural light hair.
What to consider when before applying your Raven hair dye
You might have already guessed because of how many times we’ve mentioned the deep tone of Raven, but this colour might not budge as quickly as expected. Semi-permanent hair colour is designed to fade over time, however, those with a higher and darker pigmentation are likely to last in the hair for longer. We don’t recommend applying Manic Panic black Raven to your hair with the expectation that it will wash out in a few weeks
As such a versatile tone, many of us may have already experienced that dark almost gothic phase with an all-over black application. From this experience, we learnt more about physical appearance such as the undertones of our skin and which colours seem to benefit our features. It is important when using hair colours with a dark overall appearance that we consider all of these attributes so that we can ensure our application technique will provide the desired outcome.
We’re taking a deep dive into some of our favourite ways that we have seen Raven applied by our ambassadors and affiliates. If you’re considering your options when it comes to adding a darker tone to your hair, you might just find one of these looks inspiring for your next appointment!
Dynamic Duos
In the world of vivid hair colour, it is not uncommon to see multiple different tones incorporated into one head of hair. This can be through a rainbow of different tones or just a select few that complement each other. Due to the versatility of black, it can be paired with almost any colour and this is common practice not only with hair, but fashion, interiors and more! One of our affiliates, Georgia (@hairbygeorgiaa_) often incorporates Raven into her vibrantly-toned transformations to emphasise the pops of colour.
There are different approaches you can take when styling black and brighter tones together. In these examples, Georgia has used Raven to create deep highlights amongst a custom tone of Fuschia Shock and Hot Hot Pink; the vibrant pink tone becomes the main body of the look but with the assistance of highlights, it creates an interesting and unique result.
Alternatively, Georgia has also created a look by incorporating Raven with dip-dyed ends. Usually, dip dye is created using a vibrant tone on the ends of a natural hair colour but this reverse take is another effective way of allowing the roots and mids of the hair to pop in colour. In this look, Georgia has used one of our brightest red tones in Pillarbox Red as the dominant colour alongside the Raven dip dye to create a devilish and gothic finish.
Star Of The Show
If you aim to make your Raven Manic Panic application the main aspect of your look, think ‘opposites attract’. Due to the high level of dark pigmentation in Raven, pairing it with a colour on the opposite side of the spectrum allows the colour to become more prominent in the hair no matter how you choose to apply it. Manic Panic UK affiliate, Ami (@thick.cuts) is well known for using the technique of hair painting in their work regularly. Commonly used on short hair lengths such as buzzcuts, hair painting is a really exciting way for stylists and their clients can create something unique to them. Ami has used the combination of Raven and a very light blonde bleached and evenly toned base to make the darker tone pop.
Alternatively, Raven can be used with a natural light tone to create dimension in the hair. Manic Panic ambassador, Kitti Clarke (@kitti_at_the_art_house) has incorporated Raven in a peek-a-boo style with their client's silver-toned hair. We love the metallic and futuristic finish that this pairing provides and how it also delivers a different option for those looking to introduce a more creative flare without having to add vibrant tones to their hair.
Custom Tones
The Manic Panic semi-permanent hair dyes are all intermixable so can be customised to create your own desired shade. As Raven is so highly pigmented, it isn’t so easy to change the colour itself, however, it can make a great tool when mixed to alter the tone of other shades. Adding a small amount of Raven to a lighter and more vivid colour will deepen the overall tone and create a rich finish.
Manic Panic UK affiliate, Paige (@_.hairbypaige._) created this beautiful coloured hair streak look on a light blonde base. Alongside the Psychedelic Sunset strips, Paige created a custom tone of Sea Goddess and Raven to accompany them. Sea Goddess is a beautiful sea green shade with undertones of turquoise, however, when mixed with a small amount of Raven this colour becomes a beautiful earthy moss-green tone.
Whether you're thinking about trying Raven for the first time or you’d like to try a different technique next time, there are many ways that you can include Raven without having to apply a full-head application. For even more inspiration, check out the Manic Panic UK gallery or follow us on Instagram @manicpanic_uk, we are always updating our feed with bold and interesting looks!