How to Dye Your Hair With Manic Panic Hair Dye

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

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!

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Preparing Your Hair for the Dye

PDF download Download Article
  1. Classic is Manic Panic's regular semi-permanent dye, and it lasts 4-6 weeks. If you're testing out a new color, this is a great option. Amplified dye, on the other hand, lasts up to 8 weeks. [1]
    • If you’re thinking about bleaching your hair so the color shows up better, purchase their bleach kit as well. [2]
    • Choose a Classic or Amplified dye from your local beauty store or online.
  2. Bleach your hair to get the best results. [3] 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. [4]
    • Before you start, protect the surface under you. Lay down newspaper or plastic bags, that way you don't stain your furniture.
    • 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.
    Advertisement
  3. 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. [5]
    • Don’t use conditioner on your hair beforehand, as this will prevent the dye from adhering to your hair correctly.
  4. 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. [6]
    • Once you’re completely done with the dye process, the petroleum jelly will wash right off.
  5. 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. [7]
    • 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.
    6. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Dyeing Your Hair

PDF download Download Article
  1. 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. 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. [8]
    • 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. Brush the dye onto your roots last because your roots will develop the color the fastest. [9] Use a comb to brush through your hair, distributing the dye evenly. When your hair is saturated with color, it will become frothy. [10]
    • If you’re not noticing the dye become frothy, apply additional coats onto your hair.
  4. 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. [11]
    • 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. 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. [12]
    • Only use the blow dryer for part of the processing time, not the entire 30 minutes to an hour.
  6. 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. [13]
    • 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! [14]
    • 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.
    Jen Atkin, Celebrity Hairstylist

    Actively protect colored hair. "I always suggest using a UV protectant on the hair to protect color from fading or environmental damage. Moisturize and beware of sun damage — it can tarnish your strands and lead to frizz or color fadage."

    8. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Is Manic Panic hair dye long lasting?
    Angela Justice
    Master Hair Stylist
    Angela Justice is a Master Hair Stylist and the Owner of Payton Place Salon based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. With over 33 years of experience, she specializes in styling and cutting hair, coloring hair, providing hair repair and strengthening services, and installing tape-in hair extensions.
    Angela Justice
    Master Hair Stylist
    Expert Answer
    Not especially! Manic Panic dye has really large color molecules that can't penetrate into the hair shaft—instead, they just sit on top. Because of this, the color only lasts for a couple of weeks.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 7
  • Question
    Can you use Manic Panic on wet hair?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    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.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 7
  • Question
    Can you use Manic Panic without bleaching your hair?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    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.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 12
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      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)


      Reader Videos

      Submit a Video Tip!

      Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!

      Submit a Video

      Tips

      • Understand how the color will affect your hair. For example, applying blue hair dye on yellow hair will result in a green color.
        Thanks
        Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
      • Use a color shielding shampoo/conditioner and cold water when you're washing your hair to help preserve the color.
        Thanks
        Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
      • Choose from over 38 colors on their website.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • The best shampoo I've found to preserve the color is OGX coconut water. Also, I add 2 or 3 tablespoons of the color I used whenever I must shampoo. I lather up and then wait a few minutes before rinsing again. This really helps to prolong the color.
      • Dyes are hard to get out of porous surfaces like bathroom tile. If you forgot to cover an area to protect it, you can use toothpaste, bleach products, dandruff shampoo and baking soda, or a magic eraser to clean stains up.
      • If you want to skip the bleach, check the Manic Panic website and go through their colors. They'll list the colors that do or don't require bleach.
      • If you get Manic Panic dye on your skin, just use hand sanitizer! Any dye of theirs will come right off.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Bleach Your Hair With Hydrogen Peroxide
      How to
      Choose a Hair Developer: Volume Strength, Application, & More
      What Color Neutralizes Red Tones in Hair? How to Cancel Out Red Hair Dye
      Why Won’t My Hair Take Color Anymore? 7 Reasons & How to Fix It
      How to
      Use Wella Toner after Bleach
      How to
      Fix Purple Hair from Toner
      The Quickest & Most Effective Ways to Remove Semi-Permanent Hair Dye
      How to
      Safely Bleach Hair at Home
      How to
      Use Hair Toner
      How to
      Prevent Hair Dye from Staining Skin
      How to
      Prevent Hair Color from Bleeding
      How to
      Fix Yellow Hair
      How to
      Remove Brassiness from Your Hair
      How to
      Use Elumen Hair Color
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ Angela Justice. Master Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 5 November 2021.
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcwqYPOUq9U#t=40s
      3. ↑ Angela Justice. Master Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 5 November 2021.
      4. ↑ https://stylecaster.com/beauty/how-to-dye-your-hair-manic-panic/
      5. ↑ https://stylecaster.com/beauty/how-to-dye-your-hair-manic-panic/
      6. ↑ https://www.wmagazine.com/story/temporary-hair-color-guide-manic-panic
      7. ↑ https://www.manic-panic.co.uk/article.php/23933/manic-panic-university--how-to-dye
      8. ↑ https://www.manic-panic.co.uk/article.php/23933/manic-panic-university--how-to-dye
      9. ↑ Angela Justice. Master Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 5 November 2021.
      1. ↑ https://www.manic-panic.co.uk/article.php/23933/manic-panic-university--how-to-dye
      2. ↑ https://www.manic-panic.co.uk/article.php/23933/manic-panic-university--how-to-dye
      3. ↑ https://manicpanic.com/pages/faqs
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcwqYPOUq9U#t=5m
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcwqYPOUq9U#t=5m41s

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      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!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 639,663 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Sunni Schneider

        Jun 5, 2016

        "I've been dyeing my hair with Manic Panic and punk colors for over 15 years, but I wanted to read the tutorial ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement