THE VIOLENT DELIGHTS GUIDE TO MANIC PANIC HAIR COLOURING

I began dyeing my own hair in my early teens, and over a decade later, I have actually forgotten what my natural shade even looks like. Hopefully this qualifies me to give a few tips to those either colouring ther hair for the first time, or even some of the more experienced colourists out there. Given some of the disasters I have subjected my own hair to, at the very least I can probably tell you what NOT to do!

STEP 1: Choosing your colour
Okay, first things first, you need to have a set shade in mind before you get started. Try to choose a colour that compliments your skin tone and suits your personality. If you are going for a drastic change or want a very striking effect, contrast is the key. For example, traditional Goths use make-up to acheive a very pale flesh pallor, which can effectively make their hair appear even blacker in juxtaposition.
Just like your dress sense, your hair colour is a valid and very effective means of expressing yourself, so have fun with it! Which describes you best - Bubblegum Pink? Electric Blue? Raven Black? All of the above? Check out our Manic Panic Amplified range for inspiration - there really is a colour to suit everyone, so try to find yours before rushing in!
Another important tip is to be realistic. Some natural hair shades and types are not easy to colour, and will not take dye readily. Very coarse hair can be particularly stubborn, as can very dark or auburn shades. Step 3 explains how best to prepare your hair so that you can acheive the desired results.

STEP 2: Choosing your dye
There are different levels of strength to hair dyes. These are:

Temporary: A temporary dye usually only lasts one or two washes - ideal for a night out, party or as an experiment. They are great fun to play around with and easy to apply (often 'wash-in, wash-out' like shampoo or spray-in like hairspray) but are very low in strength. A temporary dye will often make little or no difference to darker hair, unless using a spray or gel colour such as a Manic Panic Dye-Hard. Whereas the 'Hint Of A Tint' type of temporary dyes wash in to add a subtle tinge of that colour to the hair, gel or spray colours are actually applied onto the hair rather than into it.

Semi-Permanent: Semi Permanent hair dyes are great, as with the right preparation, you can acheive some fantastic results. However, if your results are less than perfect, at least they are not there forever! Traditionally, these can last anything from 6-8 washes to 16-24 washes. Depending on your natural shade and the colour you apply to it, the longevity of a semi-permanent dye can vary drastically. For example, pillar box red dye applied to very blonde hair is going to be there for a long time - However, the colour will fade and look 'washed out' after the initial period of vibrancy begins to wear off. Semi permanent dyes effectively 'stain' the hair, though the chemicals used are not as strong as those used in permanent ones. For a fantastic range of really striking semi-permanent colours with extra long-lasting effects, check out Manic Panic Amplified dyes. They have a special formula designed to make them last up to 30% longer, meaning your hair will stay a vibrant shade for even longer! Of course, being only semi-permanent they contain no ammonia or peroxide so they will not lighten your hair. If you choose an Amplified colour lighter or brighter than the hair you are applying it to, it will have little effect without pre-lightening. More about that in a minute.

Permanent: Permanent dyes are exactly that - permanent. Lighter shades will undoubtedly contain ammonia and/or peroxide, which are chemicals that will lighten your hair, but don't get carried away. If you have dark hair, putting a pack of Wella or Loreal Ash Blonde permanent dye in it won't make it go the colour on the front of the box! No matter how long you leave it on. I can't stress that enough - if you want to lighten your hair it is better to use a pre-lightening kit such as Manic Panic Flash Lightning before applying a permanent colour. In my experience, boxed permanent dyes (such as Nice & Easy or Garnier Nutrisse) are best for darkening hair or adding colour to much lighter hair. The only problem being that once it is there, it is there for good. The only way to get rid of it is to either grow or cut it out, or to dye over it with another colour, though too much of this can really damage your hair. There is also the problem of maintainence - hair grows at an alarming rate, which you only tend to notice when the two inches of hair nearest your scalp are a completely different colour to the rest of it! Regular touch-ups are a necessity when using permanent hair dyes. As I said, choose your colour wisely before taking any dramatic steps. You could end up requiring an urgent haircut or touching up your roots forever!

So you have picked your shade and hopefully have an idea of which type of dye to use to best suit your desired colour and the natural tone of your hair. Onto the next step.

Step 3: Preparation of the Hair.
I cannot stress enough how semi-permanent dyes such as Manic Panic Amplified will not lighten your hair. Please don't make the mistake of buying in loads of bright pink dye thinking it will turn your medium brown hair the exact same colour shown on the pack, because that's not going to happen. Remember that the results really do depend on the hair you are dyeing, so to acheive the shade you want, pre-lightening is often a very necessary step. Even blonde hair can require pre-lightening to remove yellow tones before applying a semi-permanent colour. I speak from experience when I say that the very best product to pre-lighten your hair with is Manic Panic Flash Lightning. These are available in 30 or 40 volume kits (these being different levels of strength) and contain everything you need to pre-lighten your hair. It works by using peroxide to remove/destroy the pigment in your hair, stripping it of colour and leaving it ready to take dye. Peroxide is very potent stuff (they don't call it bleach for nothing), so it is important to get it right.The best way to use it is to mix a very small amount of Flash Lightning to apply to a small section of your hair (preferably in an easily hidden area - or better yet, snip a few strands from an inconspicuous location, such as the nape of your neck) and check it frequently (at five minute intervals) to see the effect it is having. When this section of hair appears light enough, make a note of how long you left it on for so that when you apply it to the rest of your hair (or sections), you will know how long to leave it before washing it out.

Step 3: Application
Now that your hair is nicely pre-lightened it's time to apply the dye. Make sure your hair is clean and dry - unless you are colouring dreads, in which case, just make sure they are well separated. Wear plastic gloves and cover up any nice clothing (and the furniture) with an old towel. It also helps to apply vaseline to your ears and browline before you start to prevent staining. For best results when applying the dye, use a tint brush and work from root to tip, evenly distributing the gel or cream through the lengths of the hair. Once you are satisfied that all of the necessary hair is well-covered, leave it well alone for the duration of the 'developing' period. This is usually between 20 and 30 minutes, but make sure you check the instructions of whatever brand you are using. Leaving it on longer than recommended won't make your colour any more intense, it can actually damage the hair, so keep an eye on the clock.

Step 4: Completion
Wash your hair thoroughly, until the water runs clear. There is nothing worse than your colour running as soon as you go out in the rain! If you have followed the instructions on the pack and chosen your colour wisely, your hair will hopefully look every bit as stunning as planned! Remember that semi-permanent colours don't last forever, and if you pre-lightened your hair first, there is nothing stopping you from applying a completely different colour next time! Except maybe your boss... or your parents...

So there we have it - hopefully this guide will have given you a better idea of the products available and the best way to colour your hair. All of the above mentioned products are available in my Ebay shop VIOLENT DELIGHTS, and if you need any further advice on choosing your colour, please feel free to drop me a line, as I am always happy to help wherever I can.

Don't forget: choose your colour wisely, be very careful and express yourself! What the hell - hair grows back anyway... : )