*** PLEASE NOTE: I AM NOT A COSMETOLOGIST. This is based on my experience for the past 6 years dyeing my hair red, knowledge through my stylist, and research. I do not feel comfortable answering questions beyond what I know, therefore if you are blonde/brunette trying to achieve this color, please consult a professional hair stylist. I personally get my hair done professionally and can’t answer much beyond what I blog about. Thank you. ***
Update on my color! Oh boy. It has already been pretty much a MONTH and TWO WEEKS! since I last dyed my hair. My last post was on December 6, 2011 and that was a two weeks into it update! I am seriously impressed. Extremely impressed… Usually my color would be extremely dull. It has dulled down a teeny tiny bit, but seriously? My hair is very vibrant for going that long.
Once again, THESE PHOTOS HAVE NO COLOR EDITING.
I want to show the true color to everyone considering using this product!
You can tell how long it has been by noticing how bad my roots are! I am going to get it dyed again tomorrow but I wanted to show you all the difference and how long it lasted and how much I now love this brand.
I still love Manic Panic and have recently purchased more dye, but I will never use it without Pravana. I am going to mix the two brands together since Manic Panic does have extremely unique colors and a large variety of choices. I always opt for and love that hot pink violet type of color. I will be dyeing my hair with Pravana then using Manic Panic on top of it. (I’m a big mixer haha)
Honestly, if it wasn’t for my horrible roots I would just slap on some Manic Panic to get my color a bit more vibrant for a while longer and I could totally go without the dyeing process, but… my hair grows super quick so yeah.
I must mention I have been guilty lately of washing my hair with warm to hot water as well the last few weeks (since I knew I would be touching up anyway). Still not disappointed with my color at all. And these photos were taken during the late afternoon in the shade… in the sunlight, it still is very vivid!
The trick to getting this product to last may just be how long you leave it in. Like I mentioned before, I slept with this product in my hair and washed it out the next morning. It really made this color last much longer than the first time I dyed it and left it in for about an hour. So throw a shower cap on!
Please note that this dye is a stain and that is why it lasts longer, so if you’re looking to be a red head for about a few months or always change your hair color, you may not want to use it because it is difficult to get out. Other than that… love it. Glad I discovered it. 
I’ll try to update tomorrow with my hair dyeing routine! My stylist Danielle Ullman will be doing it for me (phew).
Have a great day! xo
Could you tell me what color (s) you used? And did you pre-lighten or soften first at all? I mean of course i see the dark roots but sometimes the contrast between the color and out growth can make the out growth look a lot darker than it really is and pics never look exact. Gem fee to email me back.
Thanks
Typo with the word “Gem” It’s the stupid auto correct on my phone– sorry. And my email is ironkittyy@gmail.com
When I dyed my hair in the photo you’re seeing, I used two tubes of red and one tube of magenta and that is what it faded out to. No, I have been a red head for nearly 6-7 years so I have tones of bright red pigment already in my hair haha, I lighten my roots with L’oreal Hicolor in Magenta. My hair color is naturally dark brown, almost black. Hope that helps a bit!
I was just wondering what level hair color you were before using the red? I have a client who has a darker red hair color about a 6.that wants to be this color and I’m not sure if I should lighten it up before using the red.
I’ve been dyeing my hair red for 6+ years! I am unsure about levels of hair and what they mean because I am not a cosmetologist, and if you are I am sure you can make a great decision! I would feel weird giving my opinion in that area considering I am not licensed.
but from my experience…if you want it vibrant and intense, you’re going to have to lift your color.
Try goldwell reds. You can get bright permanent long lasting reds without pre lightening
Thanks for the tip!
what color by manic panic would you use to keep this similar color? i like the pravana but i also like the manic panic because it conditions pretty good during the color process. thank you
Hmmm… I think a little vampire red mixed with rock n roll red for Manic Panic
Just got in my tubes of pravana! I’m a mixer as well and going to go for a red velvet cake colour…I have black in underlayers of my hair and had prelightened my hair previous and was using manic panic deadly nightshade. So I have that pinky plum colour already in….can’t wait to try this product!
Red velvet color…. sounds yummy! which ones did you mix to achieve that?
This is tomorrow nights project lol. I ordered the vivids in red, fuschia and wild orchid and going to add a bit of violet if needed to deepen the colour….fingers crossed
Have you ever used Majicontrast?
Nope, I have never even heard of it actually
Majicontrast is L’oreal HiColor
In Europe it’s called Majicontrast and in US it’s called L’oreal HiColor.
There is a certain Aveda formula that takes out direct dyes in minutes. I have used it on my clients that have used the green pravana vivids as well as other direct dyes. I currently use urban shock by scruples and it comes out like magic as well!
Super interesting! I will let my stylist know about this!!
Where do I get the Pravana tubes.. Does any of you ladies know?
And Sara, would I use just red for my hair or mix it with
Another color?
Thanks
Did you bleach your hair before you used Pravana.?
Pre-lightened with Loreal HiColor
Hi, do you mean you bleach your hair in order to pre lighten and then use loreal hi color?
My hair is black, and i only want to dye the red on the tips of 4 inches long on the bottom. Do i need to bleach first or can I just use Loreal hi color and use pravana in red and blue?
I prelighten aka “bleach” with the Loreal hicolor. With black hair, you definitely want to visit a professional because it is a hard color to get out and will take more than one process
So I’m just a little curious.. where did you get your hands on Pravana Vivids?
Salon Centric. You have to have a professional license to shop there.
Does Manic Panic by itself damage your hair at all?
Nope not at all!
I love how your hair turned out! I’m trying to achieve that darker red you’ve got in your hair too! My hair is naturally as dark as yours so I’m curious, did you bleach your hair at all before adding the red to achieve that dark, Velvet cake red? And what colors did you use to get that color?
Also, what level of developer did you use when mixing the dye?
I pre-lighten with the Loreal Hicolor! Everything I specifically use can be found in my articles under hair
hey sara! Ive had pravana red for over a year and loved it a few months ago I got rid of it and now Im back. I just wanted to ask you what exactly your stylist does for your roots when your ready to redye since your roots are so dark. does she bleach just the roots and do an all over redye or what? Im just looking for a new way to keep my hair easier to redye because when I was red before my stylist used a different red on my roots and then over time it made my hair less vibrant.
She uses the Loreal Hicolor for my roots and puts the pravana over my entire hair
Hi there, I have my hairdresser lighten my brunette roots with a 3o vol developer, and I use Manic Panic’s Rock and Roll Red which I get lots of complements on… but I want it to pop more… the color you have in these photos are incredible. What exact product of Pravana’s do you use? To achieve this red you have are you mixing 1 part Vampire Red with 2 parts Rock and Roll Red? Thanks
I am using a mixture of Pravana’s Vivids red and magenta
I purchased Pravana Red & Magenta and am trying it for the first time tonight! I’ll be using 1 tube Red and 1/4 tube Magenta. For touch ups, I previously mixed Rock n’ Roll Red into my shampoo. Do you use Pravana for your touch-ups via shampoo? Or do you still use Manic Panic for shampoo touch-ups? If so, what MP shade?
What if my roots are a dirty blondish/brown color…would you still use the hicolor before applying pravana vivids?
Hicolor is for dark hair only
Pravava Vivids are a direct dye, so you don’t actually mix them with developer.
The vivids actually work best on slightly damp hair. They last a bit longer and turn up more vibrant. Hope this helped!
Hi I’m curious I just started colouring my hair red , but I noticed my hair has become dry. Do you have any tips to condition my hair back to life.
First question is, how are you dyeing your hair and what are you using? You might be over dyeing your hair. You can always look into hair masks, those help a ton!
Hi I use Hicolor Hilights with a 30 base dyeing my hair twice a month.
There’s your problem O.O When you dye your hair with something like HiColor you should wait for 4 to 6 weeks for a redye. You’re overdyeing your hair… You should use only HiColor for your roots ans use a semi permanent dye like pravana or Manic Panic for touch up the color.
Hi Sara! I love you YouTube channel and your blog. I stumbled upon you by googling red hair. I recently used manic panic pillar box mixed with purple haze over my blonde hair.It was pretty but not what I am looking for. After 3 washes I noticed how faded it is. It’s more brown now. Anyhow, I already got my hands on the vivid red and magenta. My question is should I bleach my hair to get your vivid color? Or can I just go over the faded hair? It’s like a medium brownish red now. Thank you for all your awesome tips!
(I’m not a cosmetologist) I wouldn’t bleach it. IF your hair can handle it, I would lift with something like L’oreal Hicolor to get it a much more vibrant red color
Thanks Sara! I dyed it without lifting it and it turned out great. I will lift my roots next time before I dye it again. I’m so I love with this color. Thank you so much for all your tips! Happy holidays. Best wishes.
Have you tried a dye called special effects?I just heard of it but wasn’t sure if it was good or not.
I have! Some people swear by it, but I prefer Manic Panic over S.E.
Hi, I’m currently looking towards dying my hair red. I’ve had issues in the past with the red fading too fast and the dye running a lot in the shower to the point when it stopped running the red wasn’t bright and it came out pink or orange based instead of red. But I was just wondering when you sweat, I know it’s gross but I have a current 1 year membership at the gym and don’t want to waste it, does the red run along with sweat? I was hoping on dying my hair red soon but I don’t want to go to the gym and sweat and have red sweat running down my face, so I was planning on going red once my membership is up. Thank you very much in advanced.
It actually runs for me when I sweat when my hair is freshly dyed! It sucks, I know. Best thing I suggest is wearing a sweat band or head band around your hairline to help it drip down!
I’m naturally like a spanish tan color & wanted to know if you would recommend me going with a hair color like yours. Or would a dark pink do? Also, what products you use to maintain your hair, like shampoo, conditioner, creams, etc. Thanks in Advance!
I would ask a stylist since your skin has undertones and so on, it will help decide which colors would be the best. Darker tones are always safe though! Products I use can be found on other posts on my blog
Sorry, what color do you use? What is your initial hair color? love greetings
My colors are Red and Magenta. My hair is naturally a very dark brown
Beautiful haircolor!
I really want to dye my hair red, but I’d like to be able to wash it out, if I don’t like the result.
For how long does Manic Panic colors last?
Thanks in advance!
It lasts 4-6 washes