How to Get Glow In The Dark Hair

ByCordelia

How to Get Glow In The Dark Hair

Glow in the dark hair has been named the first hair trend of 2016. Today I’m going to tell you how to get glow in the dark hair. Yes, I’ve done it. It’s not a new thing, it’s just suddenly surging in popularity. I’m not gonna lie, I used to love going to clubs and have my hair glow under the blacklight. Between that and my LED poi, I was happy dancing in the dark.

How to Get Glow In The Dark Hair

Manic Panic hair dye has the best glow in the dark dye options.

  • Siren’s Song – a unique-blue green that leans green.
  • Cotton Candy Pink – delicate baby pink
  • Electric Banana – bright yellow
  • Electric Lizard – bright lime green
  • Electric Tiger Lily – bright neon orange
  • Hot Hot Pink – bright hot pink
  • Mermaid – light ocean teal blue pastel
  • Red Passion – deep cranberry red
  • Jem Pink – bright fuchsia pink
  • Jem Orange red – bright orange red

I’ve used Manic Panic shades like Red Passion, Hot Hot Pink, Electric Tiger Lilly, Electric Lizard and Cotton Candy Pink. You can also mixed the dyes that glow in the dark with non-UV reactive shades.

Blacklight Reactive Hair with Manic Panic

This is me in a room with partial light + a blacklight. I believe the colors were Electric Lizard and Hot Hot Pink.

Glow in the Dark Hair with Manic Panic

Glow in the Dark Rainbow Hair

Pravana ChromaSilk Neons in Neon Yellow and Neon Green also glow in the dark and they’re a good option if you want to visit the salon. You know I love my Pravana!

However if you want to do glow in the dark hair at home, here’s how.

Three to five days before you want to dye your hair, use a deep conditioning mask. Then one day before you plan on dyeing your hair, wash it with a clarifying shampoo to remove any build up on your hair. Don’t apply product after doing this and let it air dry!

If you want a very subtle pop of color you can skip bleaching. If you want bold color you’re going to need to have your hair lightened to a light blonde. You can use a Manic Panic Flash Lightning kit. After lightening your hair, you can use Manic Panic Virgin Snow (a toner) to counter yellow tones in the hair before dyeing it.

If you’re going to do your hair all one color, pick the glow in the dark color you’re going to use and apply it all over. You may want to ask a friend to help you apply the color evenly to the back. If you’re going to do multiple colors, you definitely want a friend to help you.

After you have the dye in your hair, put on a clear cap on to cover your hair and use a hair dryer / bonnet to apply heat for a half hour. Then wrap a towel around your head to keep the heat in for another half hour. You can keep it on for another hour if you want or go rinse it out.

Rinse your hair until the water runs clear. I would use tepid water. Then use a sulfate-free shampoo; my favorite is Cocoa Pink ShamPink. Then use a good conditioner like Cocoa Pink Argan Therapy Creme.

To help maintain your color, don’t wash your hair for at least 3 days. I wash my hair every 5 to 7 days. I use Batiste dry shampoo in between when necessary. Use oVertone Go Deep conditioning hair masks every other time when you wash.

Don’t forget to use a heat protectant before you apply heat, whether it’s a blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron. Thermal protection is a must!

So what do you think? Will you try the glow in the dark rainbow hair trend?

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Cordelia Frost is the creative force behind Phyrra, a treasure trove for cruelty-free indie and goth makeup enthusiasts. She's the author of the game-changing 'Hooded Eyes Makeup Manual' a must-read for hooded eyes makeup.

Cordelia's world is a kaleidoscope of alternative beauty, gothic fashion, and life-enhancing tips, making every visit to Phyrra a journey into a more colorful and inspired self.

55 Comments

  3. Special Effects also has several colors that do this. I got a hold of Napalm (orange) like 5+ years ago and it was magical. I’ve sadly never had any Manic Panic color do anything in my hair but wash right out D:

  7. I’m sure if will look super cool in a club, but I don’t think i can ever do that. Maybe something less permanent like a spray for something fun 😛

  8. That’s a really fun trend and I love that it’s coming back! I remember a lot of glow in the dark makeup and hairstyles when I went to trance clubs with my friends (which feels like it was a million years ago).

  9. Are grandmothers allowed to have glow in the dark hair? Are there places to even go to show it off? I’m showing my age – I love it though.

  17. People have often joked that my hair is glow in the dark red. I love seeing your pix of actual glow in the dark hair!

  18. I want them to come out with a glow in the dark ‘topcoat’ that doesn’t change your normal hair color, but can be used as a temporary thing. It’s pretty cool, I must say!

  20. I LOVED seeing your hair when it glowed in the dark! I never go to clubs so I would never get to see my hair glow when it was dyed. I think that it’s something neat but I agree with you, it is hardly new! I’m glad that you gave a list of colors!!

    1. We have blacklights in one of the rooms of the house, so I could always enjoy it in there. It’s fun with blacklight reactive nail polish too.

  24. Very cool, but I haven’t been clubbing since my early 20s, so it would be wasted on me. I guess I could install black lights in my house…

  25. I use red passion! I haven’t checked it out under blacklight, I’ll have to try it! Thanks for the post <3

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