The Season of The Goth - Hair Edition

Soon enough, we’ll be waving September off as we enter the spookiest month of the year. We still can’t believe that summer is over, but we’re ready to start preparing for Halloween celebrations! Halloween is known for its Gothic aesthetic; often decorations include a dark colour palette such as black, deep reds and luscious purple tones as well as alternative figurines and Gothic aesthetic symbols. With Halloween on our minds, we’ve been exploring some of our favourite Gothic hair colours and combinations using the Manic Panic hair colours. 

The Gothic Colour Palette

It’s easy to assume that a Gothic colour palette includes only dark colours; however, there are many different Goth subcultures, which introduce a range of different styles and trends, including hair colours. Take a look at some of the prominent subculture colour palettes within the Goth scene:

Traditional Goth: Also known as Trad Goth, the Traditional Goth wears a much darker range of colours, including black, dark red, and purple.

Pastel Goth: As the name suggests, the Pastel Goth subculture blends pastel colours such as mint green, baby pink, and lavender with more traditional colours such as black.

Victorian Goth: Inspired by a Victorian mourning style, Victorian Goths wear a haunting range of colours from black and grey to burgundy and ivory tones.

Soft Goth: Combining the darkness and alternative variations of gothic fashion, Soft Goths explore a more gentle approach to the subculture by incorporating colours such as dusty rose and mauve with deeper colours.

Mall Goth: Thinking back to the early 2000s, the Mall Goth aesthetic plays with new colours such as green and pink, and explores patterns such as checkerboard. 

With all of these different styling options to choose from within the Goth subculture, do you know which might sound more up your street? Dive into some of the Gothic Manic Panic moments that jumped out to us; these might help you choose which Goth you’re more like!

It’s true, some of us just aren’t about the level 10 blonde life and really enjoy a deep hair colour, but that doesn’t mean you can’t explore the world of vivids. Trad Goth hair colours are particularly dark, as mentioned above, and make a super stylish and trendy switch for the autumnal season. This red and black combination by Manic Panic Ambassador @emdoeshair232 is an awesome representation of a traditional gothic vibe. 

For this look, Emma created a custom mix of Vampire Red, a deep blood red hue, and Vampire’s Kiss, a brighter pink-toned red, to create this beautiful, vivid yet moderate red hair colour. Emma then created modern chunky highlights using the red mix alongside the Manic Panic Black Kat Love Color™ Conditioner. 

If your traditional goth vibe is looking more purple than red, then you might just love this awesome deep purple and blue look by @brookepascarellihair. The rich colours of Ultra Violet Blue and After Midnight create an unconventional finish using a completely different colour combination. Applying to a darker base (level 5-6) will allow these colours to remain subtle; however, due to their highly pigmented formulas, you’ll notice a tint of colour particularly obvious in sunlight.

Not all Gothic styles use dark tones as the centre of their colour palette; the Pastel Goth aesthetic consists of merging dark tones with much lighter colours. This subculture is a beautiful way of combining the traditional values with a modern approach by incorporating colours like pastel pink, purple, and blue. This much different styling type allows Pastel goth hair to be particularly creative and fun!

Manic Panic Sponsored Salon, Harness & Mane, created an incredible look that fits perfectly with this aesthetic. Using a range of Manic Panic colours from the Creamtones Perfect Pastels range such as Dreamsicle, Sea Nymph, and Blue Angel on a crisp steel-like base; this look complements the Pastel goth aesthetic as it plays with variations of pastel tones but still holds an alternative feel. 

For those that like the combination of both dark and light tones within their look, this super cute pixie fringe colour addition is a great alternative. Using Sea Nymph and Cotton Candy Pink alongside the deep canvas to suit the Pastel Goth palette, @pops_of colour has created a great option worth exploring for this aesthetic. With minimal bleaching required, this look is easy to maintain and ticks all of the Pastel Goth boxes!

We all know that the Y2K trend is still having its moment, but are you aware of the 2000s goth? The Mall Goth aesthetic is one that incorporates colour, patterns, and texture with spikes and straps; common features in their everyday look. Colours included vibrant green and pink which are often used to transform hair colour! Hair was often creatively coloured, with the addition of dark shades, and patterns were even painted into the hair too.

Consider yourself a bit of a Y2K goth princess? Try this awesome pink look by @hairbygeorgiaa_ using a custom mix of Cotton Candy Pink and Pussycat Pink. This pink moment makes a great option for the Mall Goth aesthetic as it incorporates both colour from the palette as well as patterns with the raccoon tail! This look could be recreated using a number of the Manic Panic colours like Electric Lizard or Psychedelic Sunset.

We love the Gothic aesthetic and the hair is always a vivid dream. Whether you opt for darker or lighter colours, there’s a place for all styles! If you’re looking for the perfect goth hair dye, the Manic Panic range consists of a rainbow of colour so that you can choose and customise to create your perfect shade to fit your vibe! If you choose to explore a Gothic hair journey this autumn we’d love to hear all about it, so tag us in your transformations at @manicpanic_uk!