Manic Panic
Manic Panic is a New York-based, founder-led beauty company founded in 1977 that sells vegan, cruelty-free semi-permanent hair color to DIY consumers, alternative and LGBTQ+ communities, and salons via DTC e-commerce and wholesale.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Manic Panic does
Manic Panic is a New York City-based beauty company founded in 1977 that develops, manufactures, and sells vegan and cruelty-free semi-permanent hair color products under the DBA "Tish and Snooky". The company is co-founded and operated by sisters Tish and Snooky Bellomo and serves DIY hair color consumers, alternative/punk subcultures, the LGBTQ+ community, and salon professionals. Core product lines include the Classic High Voltage and Amplified cream dyes, the SuperNaturals plant-based line, and the recently launched Inter-Gel-Actic gel format, priced across Standard ($14.50-$16.50), Premium ($21.50), and Luxury ($27.50) tiers.
The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce (Shopify storefront with Rebuy personalization) and a wholesale channel on Faire that reaches independent retailers and salons. The company maintains an active community platform, "Dye Hard," that aggregates user-submitted transformations and tutorials, functioning as a content and retention layer. Recent launches — the Rainbow Collection in partnership with the ACLU (Nov 2025), the Aging Disgracefully Collection targeting silver/gray hair consumers (Dec 2025), and the Inter-Gel-Actic gel line (Feb 2026) — indicate ongoing expansion of the product surface and customer segments. The company has also extended into adjacent categories through a partnership with Smiffy's for wigs.
Operationally, the company is small (11-50 employees) with no disclosed external funding and no reported revenue, suggesting a privately held, founder-controlled indie beauty operator rather than a venture-backed scale-up. The broader semi-permanent and hair color market is projected to grow from $24.9B to $46.3B, providing a favorable tailwind, though Manic Panic's capture within that market is not disclosed.
Manic Panic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Manic Panic
- Legal name
- Manic Panic NYC INC
- Website
- https://manicpanic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Manic Panic is a New York-based, founder-led beauty company founded in 1977 that sells vegan, cruelty-free semi-permanent hair color to DIY consumers, alternative and LGBTQ+ communities, and salons via DTC e-commerce and wholesale.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Manic Panic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hair Color Products
- NAICS
- Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Health and Personal Care Retailers (4561)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Styling, Treatments) (CRADANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Professional Hair Color (CRABALAA), Shampoo & Scalp Cleansers (CRABABAA), Conditioners & Hair Masks (CRABABAB), Nail Color & Nail Art (Polish, Gel, Dip, Press-ons, Nail Art Color) (CRABACAD)
Keywords
Where Manic Panic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Manic Panic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Hair Color Products: Primary revenue stream from semi-permanent hair dyes including Classic High Voltage, Amplified, SuperNaturals, and Inter-Gel-Actic collections. Products sold in various sizes and formats with price points ranging from $12.99 to $17.99.
- Hair Care and Prep Products: Sales of supporting products including bleach kits (30 and 40 volume), clarifying shampoo, color-safe shampoo and conditioner, hair toners, and color depositing conditioners (Love Color line).
- Tools and Accessories: Sales of hair coloring tools including tint brushes, application brushes, dye away wipes, tool kits, hair turbans, and sleep bonnets. Price points from $1.50 to $16.00.
- Cosmetics and Merchandise: Extended product lines including cosmetics (lipstick, nail polish), bath and body products, wigs, and branded merchandise.
- Apparel and Pride Collections: Specialized collections including LGBTQ+ themed apparel, with portions of proceeds donated to causes like the ACLU.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Classic High Voltage semi-permanent hair dye |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Amplified semi-permanent hair dye |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Inter-Gel-Actic gel hair color kits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Flash Lightning bleach kits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Color-safe hair care products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Love Color depositing conditioners |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hair coloring tools |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bundles and sets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wigs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Manic Panic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Manic Panic manufactures and sells vegan, cruelty-free semi-permanent hair color products, supporting hair care preparations, application tools, and adjacent beauty merchandise (cosmetics, bath and body, wigs, apparel) directly through its own e-commerce website and wholesale retail partners. Its portfolio spans the Classic High Voltage jar formula, Amplified high-pigment formula, SuperNaturals for unbleached hair, the Inter-Gel-Actic gel system, bleach kits, color-depositing conditioners, toners, and a color-safe hair care system, all targeted at DIY home hair colorists and self-expression consumers.
Product overview
Manic Panic is a vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics and hair color brand founded in 1977 by sisters Tish and Snooky Bellomo on NYC's St. Mark's Place. The company offers a comprehensive hair color portfolio centered around semi-permanent hair dyes including the Classic High Voltage® (original jar formula), Amplified™ (30% more pigment for longer-lasting results), SuperNaturals (for dark/unbleached hair), and the newly launched Inter-Gel-Actic™ (space-age gel formula). Supporting products include Flash Lightning bleach kits (30 and 40 volume), the Love Color™ color-depositing conditioner line, the complete Hair Care System (Not Fade Away shampoo, Keep Color Alive conditioner, Prepare To Dye clarifying shampoo), toning products (Virgin Snow and Silver Stiletto), Pastel-izer mixer, professional tools, and extending into wigs, cosmetics, and apparel.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Classic High Voltage Semi-Permanent Hair Dye The original Manic Panic semi-permanent hair dye in jar format; vegan, cruelty-free formula delivering vibrant color results for DIY home colorists.
- Amplified Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Longer-lasting semi-permanent hair dye with 30% more pigment than Classic High Voltage; delivers more intense, longer-lasting vibrant color for DIY enthusiasts.
- SuperNaturals Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Semi-permanent hair color designed specifically for dark and unbleached hair, providing natural-looking color results on darker base shades without bleaching.
- Inter-Gel-Actic Gel Hair Color New semi-permanent gel hair color kit with no-mix, no-developer formula in recyclable aluminum tubes with reusable application tools; delivers bold multi-dimensional shine with moisturizing ingredients and vegan lactic acid.
- Dye Hard Temporary Hair Makeup Temporary hair color gel products that wash out, providing instant color transformation with zero commitment; includes metallic shades and spray formats.
- Flash Lightning Bleach Kits DIY hair bleach kits in 30 volume and 40 volume formulations to safely lift dark hair and prep strands for vivid color application at home; includes developer, bleach powder, tint brush, and protective gloves.
- Love Color Depositing Conditioner Color-maintaining conditioner that deposits semi-permanent color while conditioning hair; available in multiple shades including Rock Me Red, Purple Rose, Fuchsia Fever, Pink Passion, Blue Valentine, and Green Venus.
- Not Fade Away Color Safe Shampoo Color-safe shampoo formulated to maintain vivid hair color and prevent premature fading; part of the complete Hair Care System.
- Keep Color Alive Color Safe Conditioner Color-safe conditioner that helps maintain hair color vibrancy and extends the life of color treatments.
- Prepare To Dye Clarifying Shampoo Pre-color clarifying shampoo that removes buildup, residue, and excess oils to ensure even color deposit; infused with organic ginseng root, rosemary, sage, and sunflower seed extracts.
- Virgin Snow Hair Toner White-toning semi-permanent hair color and toner for achieving platinum blonde, silver, or icy tones; available in Classic and Amplified formulas.
- Silver Stiletto Violet Toning Products Violet-toning shampoo and conditioner designed to neutralize brassy yellow tones in blonde and silver hair, maintaining cool, ash-toned results.
- Pastel-izer / Manic Mixer White mixing pigment that dilutes any Manic Panic shade to create custom pastel colors for softer, more subtle looks.
- Hair Coloring Tools and Accessories Professional-grade coloring tools including tint brushes (standard and angled), application bottles, Dye Away skin stain wipes, hair turbans, and complete tool kits with brush, applicator, coloring cap, and gloves.
- Manic Panic Wigs Synthetic hair wigs available in various styles and colors including Super Vixen, Trash Goddess, and Siren collections; includes branded collaborations with Smiffy's like Siren Mermaid Ombre, Glam Doll Blue Valentine, Queen Bitch After Midnight, and Cotton Candy Angel Siren.
- Manic Panic Cosmetics Vegan and cruelty-free cosmetic products including nail polish and makeup items under the Manic Panic brand.
- Bath and Body Products Vegan and cruelty-free bath and body products under the Manic Panic brand.
- Rainbow Collection Apparel (ACLU) LGBTQ+ themed apparel collection with 15% of sales donated to the ACLU to support LGBTQ+ rights; features designs representing various pride flags.
- The Aging Disgracefully Collection Six bold hair color shades designed for natural grey, silver, or white hair, promoting self-expression and grey hair liberation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Free shipping threshold of $50 increases average order value
Companies that use Manic Panic
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Manic Panic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature5 records
Manic Panic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Smiffy'scoreManic Panic collaborated with Smiffy's on a wigs collection featuring various themed wigs including the Siren Mermaid Ombre, Glam Doll Blue Valentine, Queen Bitch After Midnight, and Cotton Candy Angel Siren styles. The collaboration combines Manic Panic's color expertise with Smiffy's wig manufacturing capabilities.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Manic Panic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lime Crime: Lime Crime sells vegan, cruelty-free bold hair dyes and color-adjacent beauty products through DTC channels with a similar subculture-rooted, values-based brand identity targeting the same bold-color DIY consumer.
- Pulp Riot: Pulp Riot is a professional vivid and fashion hair color brand widely used by salons, directly competing with Manic Panic's professional channel and overlapping on bold semi-permanent and permanent color offerings.
- Arctic Fox: Arctic Fox is a vegan, semi-permanent hair dye brand selling directly to consumers with a similar vivid-color portfolio and values-based positioning, making it the closest direct competitor to Manic Panic in the DIY dye category.
- Overtone: Overtone sells color-depositing conditioners and daily color care systems that compete directly with Manic Panic's Love Color line and color-safe haircare range, especially for users maintaining colored hair at home.
- Splat Hair Color: Splat produces bold, vivid DIY hair dye kits (including bleach-and-color bundles) sold at mass-market price points, directly competing with Manic Panic's Flash Lightning bleach kits and dye categories at the entry-level.
- Punky Colour: Punky Colour offers a wide range of semi-permanent vivid hair colors through mass retail and DTC, directly competing on price points and bold-shade breadth that overlaps heavily with Manic Panic's catalog.
Broad incumbents
- Clairol: Clairol is a mass-market hair color incumbent offering both permanent and semi-permanent dyes; its broader portfolio and retail distribution create competitive pressure on Manic Panic at the mass-channel level, though it does not specialize in the bold/vivid niche.
- Wella: Wella is a global professional and retail hair color incumbent with both permanent and semi-permanent offerings; it competes with Manic Panic especially in professional salon channels where both brands overlap.
- Schwarzkopf: Schwarzkopf (Henkel) is a global professional and consumer hair color powerhouse whose Live range and professional lines compete with Manic Panic across both salon and DIY channels.
Regional players
- Crazy Color: Crazy Color is a UK-based semi-permanent vivid hair dye brand with a comparable shade range and counter-culture heritage; it competes with Manic Panic internationally (especially in Europe) but has a different primary geographic footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Manic Panic social profiles
Digital presenceManic Panic compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Manic Panic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Manic Panic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Manic Panic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Manic Panic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Manic Panic
What does Manic Panic do?
Manic Panic manufactures and sells vegan, cruelty-free semi-permanent hair color products, supporting hair care preparations, application tools, and adjacent beauty merchandise (cosmetics, bath and body, wigs, apparel) directly through its own e-commerce website and wholesale retail partners. Its portfolio spans the Classic High Voltage jar formula, Amplified high-pigment formula, SuperNaturals for unbleached hair, the Inter-Gel-Actic gel system, bleach kits, color-depositing conditioners, toners, and a color-safe hair care system, all targeted at DIY home hair colorists and self-expression consumers.
Is Manic Panic a public or private company?
Manic Panic is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Manic Panic founded?
Manic Panic was founded in 1977. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Manic Panic based?
Manic Panic is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Manic Panic make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hair Color Products are the primary driver. The others are hair Care and Prep Products, tools and Accessories, cosmetics and Merchandise and apparel and Pride Collections.
Who are Manic Panic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lime Crime, Pulp Riot, Arctic Fox, Overtone, Splat Hair Color and Punky Colour. Broad incumbents are Clairol, Wella and Schwarzkopf. Crazy Color is listed as a regional player.
Does Manic Panic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Manic Panic.
What industry is Manic Panic in?
Manic Panic's product category is Hair Color Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADANAE, Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Styling, Treatments), with a secondary code of CRABALAA, Professional Hair Color. Its NAICS code is 456120 and its SIC code is 2844.