Reactive Hair Editorial Team
This post was most recently updated on May 6th, 2023
Your confidence goes sky-high when you’re walking out of the salon with a brand-new hair color. Even without going to the hair salon, you can get a colorful and refreshing hair look with temporary DIY-friendly hair dye at home. You’ve probably already experimented with fantasy colors, but might wondering which brand would be best for your hair between Manic Panic vs Arctic Fox which is why you are here.
Manic Panic and Arctic Fox are both great for different reasons and can be a lifesaver between salon sessions when you’re ready to try a fresh look. Whether you’re looking to change your hair to bright red, neon blue, or platinum blond, choosing the right hair color brand is crucial.
But which brand is right for your hair? Read on to learn the answers!
The Short Story
| Manic Panic | Arctic Fox |
 |  |
| Price | Price |
| $13.99/ 4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) on Amazon | $18.49/ 4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) on Amazon |
| Availability | Availability |
| If you buy it from Amazon you can opt for their subscription option and save 5% on auto-deliveries. | If you buy from Amazon, it is available worldwide with one-time purchase options and subscription programs (10% savings). |
| Results | Results |
 Brunette to purple color change with Manic Panic. Results without hair being bleached prior to color application. |  Blond to bright pink. Results after 30 minutes of leave-in treatment, blow-dried for 15 minutes, and rinsed with cold water. Color fade after one month |
| Shades | Shades |
| 43 shades | 23 colors |
| Additional Information | Additional Information |
| Vegan-friendly, PPD-free, ammonia-free, and cruelty-free. | Peroxide-free, zero ammonia, PPD-free, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free. Read our full review of Arctic Fox here. |
The Long Story
When it comes to dyeing your hair, it’s crucial to take the steps that keep your hair safe, while still achieving high-quality results. Whether it’s in the salon or you’re doing it yourself at home, choosing the right dye, the right method, and the right technique can make your hair look flawless.
There are tons of hair color products out there that can make you confused about what to pick. Manic Panic and Arctic Fox are both popular semi-permanent hair dyes available in the market for youngsters and adults.
Whether you’re thinking about going velvet blue or pastel pink this season, let’s start reading all you need to know about Manic Panic vs Arctic Fox here to decide which one is best for the look you.
What is Manic Panic?
In the world of temporary, bright hair colors, Manic Panic is iconic.
Manic Panic is famously known as an iconic punk rock hair dye brand, promising vibrancy and a unique aesthetic for customers with their products. Not only hair dyes, but Manic Panic also offers hair care, wigs, cosmetics, and tools & accessories.
Manic Panic Hair Color is one hundred percent vegan, cruelty-free semi-permanent hair color. Each color is non-damaging and fortified with conditioners that add moisture to the hair. Its ingredients are also free from paraben, gluten, ammonia, resorcinol, PPD, and phthalate.
The High Voltage Classic Colors range was the first from the Manic Panic brand. Consisting of over 40 shades, this range is a rainbow of colors that many use as a go-to for their brand-new vibrant look.
The longevity of the colors can vary from 2 to 8 weeks depending on how well you take care of it. But some user experiences claim that they were able to keep their hair color for six months!
What is Arctic Fox?
Arctic Fox Hair Color is a long-lasting direct dye that is DIY-friendly and has conditioning with an infamous and delicious grape scent. Its highly-pigmented formula was created and designed to bleed less and prevent staining.
Arctic Fox also offers hair care, a nail kit, and infused face masks. They’re not just limited to hair color products.
Before creating a stunning collection of prismatic shades, their research team invested two years in product research and development. These shades are made with only natural materials and have no harmful chemicals like peroxide, ammonia, or PPD.
All colors eventually fade, but not all fade in the same way. Arctic Fox is formulated to fade within the original color range, so even as the color brightens, it maintains the gorgeous tone you desire.
Manic Panic vs Arctic Fox: Similarities and Differences
Before we go deeper into the differences between Manic Panic and Arctic Fox, we’d like to point out the similarities. Both are:
- Semi-permanent
- Vegan
- Ammonia-free
- Cruelty-free
A semi-permanent hair color doesn’t work like a permanent dye that goes up to the hair shaft. It only coats the hair shaft with the dye, so the color wears off more easily after a few shampoos.
A semi-permanent hair color doesn’t alter your hair’s natural color; instead, they deposit a new color. This is why if you have dark hair, it must be bleached before dying it light or pastel shades. But, if you’re blond, you may not need to bleach your hair first.
To find the differences between Manic Panic and Arctic Fox check this section.
- Longevity: Manic Panic will last for up to 6 weeks depending on the color you use. Arctic Fox dyes last for 4-8 weeks on pre-lightened hair and 2-6 weeks on unbleached hair according to user experiences.
- Color Line: Manic Panic has over 40 hues, while Arctic Fox only has 23 colors.
- Price: Both hair dyes have the same volume, but you’ll only need to pay $13.99 per pack for Manic Panic. Arctic Fox costs up to $18.49 per pack.
- Color Payoff: If you have blond or pre-lightened hair, Manic Panic will appear vibrant after a minimum of 30 minutes of waiting. Arctic Fox colors appear lighter than Manic Panic, so you don’t have to leave them on as long. The pigments will also show up well even if you have unbleached light hair.
Both hair colors also consist of conditioner, so you can leave them on for hours without causing damage to your hair. The longer you leave it on, the more vibrant the color will be. But take care not to overdo it.
Comparison of Related Semi-Permanent Dye
| Manic Panic | Arctic Fox | Keracolor | eSalon | |
| No harsh chemicals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cruelty-free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Long-lasting | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Range of hues | 40+ | 23 | 22 | 20 |
| Non-drying | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Conclusion: Is Manic Panic Better Than Arctic Fox?
If you’re looking for a wide range of color options, Manic Panic has more shades than Arctic Fox. Also, some Manic Panic shades last longer than Arctic Fox colors. Manic Panic is less costly for its hair dye products than Arctic Fox.
However, Arctic Fox colors appear lighter. The vibrant will also show up even if you don’t bleach your hair. The important thing is Arctic Fox bleeds less, so you don’t have to worry about staining your clothes or pillowcases afterwards.
If you prefer to have hair colors for a shorter period while also having more color options, then Manic Panic might be the brand for you. Especially, if you love to change your hair color monthly or weekly. However, if you worry about color bleed on your clothes and want to color to show up on unbleached hair, think about opting for Arctic Fox.
If you want to learn more about the amazing color lines of Goldwell and Redken, click here.
More articles on hair color below:
- Ion Color Brilliance Review
- Wella Color Charm Review
- Pravana Review
- eSalon Review
- Wella T18 Vs Wella T14
- Keracolor Vs Overtone
Hope this review was useful. Now tell us in the comment section which color you’ll choose to dye your hair this season?
