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[Chloe]

It's been awhile since I've messed with these brands.  I've been using salon colour reds for a couple of years, so I forgotten pretty much everything I knew about alternative hair colour. 

I going to go back to blue/green/turquoise.  I need something that will last at least two weeks before showing any maky looking fade.  Fade is fine, of course, but not the ugly, browny kind.  In my job, I can dye my hair any colour I like, but I must keep it fresh, and every two weeks is about as often as I can manage. 

So, what brand to go for.  I'm leaning towards blue or turquoise at the moment - like Fishbowl or Blue Haired Freak by SFX.  Are their Manic Panic counterparts longer lasting?  I'm hoping to order tonight ready for the middle of next week. 

Thanks for your help guys.

[Bunny]

Some people swear by Manic Panic but in my experience SFX is always better. I've tried Manic Panic's Atomic Turquoise and After Midnight Blue and the Turquoise faded horribly fast on my fine hair. After Midnight blue did last a while though, but I did not like how it faded into an ugly green.

I haven't tried Fish Bowel but I have tried Blue Haired Freak. This one faded pretty quickly on my hair, in about 2 weeks I'd say, but I preferred the greyish color it took in comparison to the faded Manic Panic's pond-water green look.

If you wash your hair a lot I'd recommend SFX Blue Velvet, it lasts longer than Blue haired Freak.

[redroses]

Special Effects is far superior... on me anyway.  I have used Manic a few times and felt it faded/washed out instantly, though the initial color is very vibrant.  It just does not have the staying power. I use SFX on bleaches pieces I have on the sides, and over my natural color for tint, and it works.  I do my bleached parts once a week b/c I like them VERY intense, but I could get 2 weeks out of it if I wanted it lighter. 

[masquerade]

I, on the other hand, have used SE once and it faded VERY fast. I use Manic Panic and it does not fade for a good while. But everyone's hair is different.

The SE I used was Fish Bowl. I may have a picture somewhere...I will have to dig.

[Chloe]

Thanks for the input guys.  I actually went ahead and ordered Fishbowl and Blue Haired Freak.  I'm gonna start with the BHF and see how it goes.  If the fade is crap, I'll try out MP.  Thanks!

[Nickki]

Hi,  as the answers above show what works great for one person may not be great for another but generally from a selling point of view Special Effects way outsells Manic Panic just now.  If you are using a pale turquoise blue please ensure you have a very pale lemon or white base colour as this is normally need with pastel shades and especially blue or green based colours. 

[Chloe]

Thanks Nickki.  I'm actually a hairdresser, so I am pretty lucky in terms of getting my basecolour right and what have you. 

I'm surprised that SFX outsells Manic Panic now, I had never heard of SFX when I started dyeing my hair alternative colours.

[Nickki]

There are several UK based sellers who stock Manic Panic whereas Special Effects is hard to find outside of the USA with very few sellers of this brand.  Sales may be more equal for us if Manic Panic was also scarce in the UK but at present from feedback, sales and personal experience Special Effects is better for most colours in my opinion - that aside manic panic have a larger range of colours and some of their colours can outlast special effects so again depends on the person and hair type etc.

[Syphilis]

Actually, I believe it's marketing too. Manic Panic is just a wayy better advertiser than Special effects ever will be. You know this because MP gets 'famous' movie stars, band members to use their stuff whereas I have heard of no such celebrity using Special effects. From my understanding as well, SE has a hard time stocking as quickly as MP and is often sold out or the shipment is delayed from the manufacture.

If you compare MP's website with SE's website. MP is a lot more productive in this aspect as they have pictures of the people who use it, 'positive' reviews, contests for their customers, you can buy their products directly online, etc. Where as SE just has the supposed color in a picture (e.g doesn't show any people showing it), you can not order from them without emailing them - it's just very simple and not as helpful as MP's website.

[Caligo Bastet]

No question - Special Effects.

They don't sell Special Effects in my country, and not many people even know it exists.
There's only one store that sells Manic Panic and a couple that sell Directions.

Everyone who's ever dyed their hair in an unnatural color here will tell you (including myself) that Manic Panic is really bad.
I mean seriously - it fades after 3 washes, lasts a week and a half tops.
Back then I had a couple of parts in my hair red and after 1 wash it began to fade to this horrible orange color.

Anyway - it's Special Effects all the way!
Their colors lasts a LOT longer and I find the end result (after dying) looking much better than Manic Panic's one.

It's just hard getting Special Effects - but it's a whole lot better

Oh and I remember seeing a video of Audrey Kitching and she had a bottle of Special Effects behind her (in her house), and also Jeffree Star uses Special Effects

[Laser-eyed]

SFX, although saying that went I used the blue mayhem it faded within a week :/