Slight Case of Insanity

As a follow up to my last post I thought I would share the triumphs and drama of my first experience using Manic Panic hair dye. The colour I used was Vampire Red. I purchased a tub off ebay for about $22 plus postage, and one tub was enough to cover my thick, shoulder length hair. This was the most potent dye I have use to date, so check out my tips at the bottom of the post for how to make the whole experience more pleasant.

Prior to dyeing:

I had already bleached my hair to a gross orangey colour and dyed it using a semi-permanent Fudge colour called Mahogany Brown or something (which was WAY too dark for me). So I spent 2 weeks removing the dye until it got to this colour:

Application:

• I had a friend help me put the dye in (luckily, as it is POTENT and I tend to get dye everywhere!).
• She applied it to damp, shampooed hair (not conditioned).
• She applied it all over and combed it through so all my hair was covered.
• She clipped my hair up with plastic (not metal) clips and covered it all with a plastic shower cap so I wouldn’t get it everywhere.

As Manic Panic hair dye doesn’t contain chemicals like regular dyes, it is safe to leave in for extended periods of time. I have read some people leave it in overnight. But, as I value my pillow cases and sheets too much, I left it in for 5 hours during the day. By this time I was extremely bored with being housebound so decided to wash it out.

Rinsing:

• I rinsed it out in COLD water (hot/warm water tends to remove more dye) in the shower.
• After the water was almost clear I rinsed it with a Vinegar Rinse to help maintain colour and soften my hair.
• I left the rinse in for 5 minutes, until the smell was too much for me, and then rinsed it out (again, with COLD water).
• I conditioned my hair with Goldwell Rich Repair Conditioner
• I followed this with my protein treatment and let my hair dry naturally.

Results:

Maintenance:

• I only ever wash my hair with cold water. As cold as I can stand it.
• I use De Lorenzo Nova Infusion in Cherry Red, which deposits colour onto your hair whilst you shampoo.
• I conditioned with Goldwell Rich Repair to keep my hair healthy, which helps it hold colour longer.
• After washing I alternate using a protein treatment or a leave-in conditioner to maintain my hair’s health (and therefore colour).
• I never blow dry my hair, I let it dry naturally.
• If straightening, I always use heat protection.

*** TIPS FOR USING MANIC PANIC DYE ***

- It is a strong dye, so you don’t HAVE to lighten your hair beforehand. However if you want a really vibrant colour, I recommend at least lightening a few shades.

- Have a friend help. Find someone understanding and tidy to apply it for you.

- Do it either outside or over newspaper or something. Our first casualty was the dining room chair I was sitting on!

- Use vaseline around your hairline. Unless, of course, you like that vibrant forehead look…..

- Use gloves. This dye stained my skin in less than 3 seconds, and took AGES to scrub off.

- As it is a chemical-free dye, you can leave it on for a long time. I recommend at least a few hours to get a longer-lasting, vibrant colour.

- If possible, rinse out over a bath tub or sink to avoid skunk stripes down your back. Just try and avoid it dripping on your face.

- Wear gloves when rinsing as your hands with suffer otherwise. Mine were pink for a few days after, even with serious scrubbing.

Tagged as Colour, Dye, Hair, Hair Dye, Manic Panic, Vampire Red + Categorized as Everything Hair