how to use manic panic

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Manic Panic hair dye is a semi permanent, vegan hair dye that comes in all kinds of vibrant colors. Before applying it, make sure that your hair is light enough to pick up the color by bleaching it if necessary. Use a tint brush to spread the dye evenly over your hair, and wait anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours before rinsing the dye off using cold water. After you dry your hair, enjoy your new hair color!

1
Choose Classic dye for color that lasts 4-6 weeks. This is Manic Panic's regular semi permanent dye. If you're testing out a new color, this is a great option as it only lasts up to 6 weeks.^[1]
- If you're thinking about bleaching your hair so the color shows up better, purchase their bleach kit as well.
- Choose a Classic dye from your local beauty store or online.
2
Select Amplified dye if you want your color to last up to 8 weeks. The Amplified hair dyes have 30% more pigment than the regular Classic dyes, making the color last longer. Choose an Amplified color from Manic Panic's website that you think would look great on your hair.^[2]
- Prepare to bleach your hair before using the Amplified dye if you want your color to show up super well.
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3
Protect your work surfaces to prevent stains. Place newspaper or plastic bags over the surface where you'll be working. Put down multiple layers for extra protection, and stay away from any carpeting or furniture that you don't want stained.
- The bathroom or kitchen is a good place to dye your hair.
- Plastic trash bags work well to protect any surfaces.
4
Bleach your hair to get the best results. If you have darker hair or want a super vibrant color, it's best to bleach your hair using the Manic Panic Flash Lightning bleach kit. Read the instructions that come with the kit, mixing the bleach powder with the developer thoroughly before applying the bleach to your hair evenly.^[3]
- The kit comes with plastic gloves, bleach powder, developer, a plastic container for mixing, a tint brush, and a plastic cap.
- How long to leave the bleach in will depend on the natural color of your hair, so check it every ten minutes to see how light your hair has gotten.
- Wash your hair several times using shampoo if you bleach it to make sure all of the bleach is out of your hair.
- Bleaching your hair beforehand is especially important if you're dyeing it a pastel shade.
5
Wash and dry your hair thoroughly before dyeing it. Use a regular or clarifying shampoo to wash your hair, making sure it's super clean and rinsed out. Let your hair air dry or use a blow dryer to dry your hair thoroughly before starting the dye process.^[4]
- Don't use conditioner on your hair beforehand, as this will prevent the dye from adhering to your hair correctly.
6
Spread petroleum jelly along your hairline to avoid staining your skin. Apply it to your hairline using your fingers, spreading it around your ears and neck to prevent the dye from leaving color on your skin. Keep the petroleum jelly off of your hair or else the dye won't absorb properly.^[5]
- Once you're completely done with the dye process, the petroleum jelly will wash right off.
7
Do a strand test to see how the color will affect your hair. Testing one small section of your hair with the dye will help you get an accurate idea of how your hair will look. Pick out a small section of your hair that's hidden from view and apply the dye to it. Let it sit for 30 minutes, and then rinse it out with cold water. Dry your hair thoroughly to see what color the dye makes your hair.^[6]
- The test section only needs to be about 0.5–1 in (1.3–2.5 cm) in width.
- While it's not required that you do a test strip, it's a good way to know for sure how the dye will affect your hair before applying it to your whole head.
- Do a patch test using the hair dye by spreading a dot of it on your skin to make sure you're not allergic to it.
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1
Put on plastic gloves and old clothing before starting. Wear plastic gloves to help keep the dye off of your hands. Pick out clothes you don't mind getting stained, like an old t-shirt or sweatpants.
- Sometimes a hair dye kit will come with plastic gloves, so check the box before purchasing an extra pair.
2
Brush the dye onto your hair starting 0.5–1 in (1.3–2.5 cm) from the roots. Use a tint brush to apply the dye to your hair, one section at a time. Start a small distance from the roots, brushing the dye onto each strand of hair and working your way down to the ends. If desired, you can use your fingers (with gloves on!) to rub the dye into each strand more thoroughly.^[7]
- Consider separating your hair into sections to make it more manageable to dye, if desired.
- Short hair will likely use about half of a jar of dye, while longer hair will need a full jar.
3
Apply the dye to your roots last, then comb it through your hair. Brush the dye onto your roots last because your roots will develop the color the fastest. Use a comb to brush through your hair, distributing the dye evenly. When your hair is saturated with color, it will become frothy.^[8]
- If you're not noticing the dye become frothy, apply additional coats onto your hair.
4
Put on a plastic cap and wait at least 30 minutes. Create a pile of your dyed hair on top of your head, and put on a plastic cap. Let the dye soak into your hair for at least 30 minutes, though you can leave it on longer if desired.^[9]
- If your hair doesn't absorb dye well, leave the dye in for at least an hour.
- Set a timer so you know how long you've had the dye in your hair.
- Some people rinse the dye out after 30 minutes, while others leave the dye in for hours. Check your hair color after 30 minutes to see if you'd like to keep it in longer.
5
Heat your hair with a blow dryer to make the dye set faster. If you want to speed up the coloring process, keep the plastic cap on your head and use a blow dryer. Move the blow dryer over your hair, keeping it out of contact with the plastic cap.^[10]
- Only use the blow dryer for part of the processing time, not the entire 30 minutes to an hour.
6
Rinse your hair using cool water. Once you're satisfied with the color, rinse your hair in a sink or shower using cold water to remove the dye. Try to rinse your hair out away from your face so you don't get dye on your skin.^[11]
- Use a stainless-steel sink if possible to avoid stains from certain dye colors.
- Rinse your hair until the water is clear or only a slight tint of your color comes out.
- Consider rinsing your hair with water and vinegar to help the dye last longer.
7
Dry and style your hair as usual once it's rinsed. After all the dye is rinsed out, you're ready to blow dry your hair or let it dry naturally. Style your hair the way you like, and enjoy your new color!^[12]
- To keep your new hair color looking vibrant, avoid clarifying shampoos or washing your hair too much, as well as chlorine, saltwater, or lots of exposure to sunlight.
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Question

Can you use Manic Panic on wet hair?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You can, but the results may be patchier and less vivid than they would be on dry hair. Dye tends to adhere better to your hair when it's dry, and dampness can dilute the color.
Question

Can you use Manic Panic without bleaching your hair?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes, but keep in mind that it may not show up as well on darker hair. You'll get the most vivid results if your hair is bleached, lightened, or naturally light in color.
Question

Is Manic Panic bad for your hair?

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Manic Panic is designed to be gentle and non-damaging on your hair. It's semi-permanent, so it doesn't penetrate your hair or change its structure like permanent color. However, keep in mind that everyone's hair reacts differently to dyes and other hair products, so try it out on a small part of your hair if you're concerned.
Question

How old do I need to be to dye my hair?

There's no age requirement for buying or using any sort of hair dye, but if you are very young, you should ask a parent's permission before doing so.
Question

How well will the colors show on dark, unbleached hair?

Hair dye is typically translucent, so the colors will not show up very well. Instead, they will add to your existing hair color. For example, adding red over dark-colored hair will create a deep red or burgundy. They will show up the best in sunlight, but will be more discrete indoors.
Question

Does Manic Panic require a developer?

No. You use the color straight from the jar. You can mix it with white conditioner to lighten the color, but you do not use a developer like with other dyes.
Question

What about if I have medium/light brown hair? Do I need to bleach first?

It will show up pretty well without bleaching, but the color won't be as vibrant. Be advised that frequent bleaching can be damaging to your hair.
Question

How many jars of semi-permanent color will I need to get my desired shade?

For very thick hair or hair longer than shoulder length, use two jars to make sure every section gets saturated thoroughly.
Question

Can I use conditioner with this method?

Yes, you can add conditioner to lighten the color or use conditioner on your hair after. You just want to steer clear of shampoo, as it will remove some, if not most, of the color.
Question

Will it cover grey hair?

Yes!

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Things You'll Need

Manic Panic hair dye
Shampoo
Gloves
Tint brush
Petroleum jelly
Comb
Plastic cap
Bleach (optional)
Timer (optional)
Blow dryer (optional)
Plastic bags or newspaper (optional)

Understand how the color will affect your hair. For example, applying blue hair dye on yellow hair will result in a green color.
Use a color shielding shampoo/conditioner and cold water when you're washing your hair to help preserve the color.
Choose from over 38 colors on their website.

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About This Article

Article SummaryX

To dye your hair with Manic Panic hair dye, first, use clips to split up your hair into several sections. Then, cover the top of your forehead and neck with petroleum jelly or conditioner, so you don't get dye on your skin. When you're ready, apply a generous amount of hair dye to each section of hair using a brush. Comb through each section of hair before moving on to the next section so the dye fully covers each strand. Once your whole head is covered, wait at least 30-60 minutes before rinsing out the dye. To learn how to dye very dry hair, read on!

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