Behind the Scenes of Manic Panic Hair Dye

Manic Panic is one of the leading hair dye companies in the United States. The company began in 1977 and was created by two New York City natives, Tish and Snooky. The girls were part of the original lineup of singers for the rock and roll group, Blondie. With a $500 loan from their mother, the two opened up their own punky boutique on St. Mark's Place. The name Manic Panic was born when the girls' mother decided that it fit their punk rock lifestyle.

Manic Panic has certainly grown since those early days. The store was designed specifically to cater to the punk rock crowd, teens, and hipsters. When Tish and Snooky opened their line of Manic Panic hair dyes their popularity soared. With all the colors of the rainbow included in their massive line of dyes coupled with the booming success of the original punk rock scene, business became great. Manic Panic also introduced matching colors for lips, nails, and eyes.

During the late 80s, Manic Panic's products became more popular than ever. Everyone from celebrities and fashion models to high school kids were using their punky products. Then the 90s came around and Tish and Snooky saw their products shown in magazines, television, and even in movies. The huge success of Manic Panic allowed the girls to move from a tiny store in New York City to a gigantic warehouse.

By the time the year 2000 came around, Manic Panic began distributing their product line internationally. Partnering with the A-Lee Company of Japan, the girls were able to open a chain of Manic Panic beauty salons throughout Tokyo. In their spare time, Tish and Snooky return to their punk rock roots to perform for crowds. They reunited with their old band for the last nights of CBGB's and Joey Ramone's birthday parties, as well as performing at charity events to help animals.