The Undisputed Queens of Creative Color™
“We don’t just sell it - we live it!” - Tish & Snooky
Tish and Snooky introduced creative hair color to the US in 1977 in their Manic Panic shop, the first punk shop in America. The wild hair colors were first worn by a select few daring artists, musicians, and performers. “People used to laugh at our looks”. The trend caught on as the 90’s approached and they expanded the color range, included cosmetics too, and named each shade clever names that reflected their rock and roll lifestyle: Purple Haze, Electric Banana, Vampire Red to name a few. This had never been done before in the beauty industry. Soon corporate cosmetic companies took note and began producing imitations but none could compete with the real thing.
Tish and Snooky put their heart and soul into their hair color line from the very beginning. Every dye, every ingredient had to be the best. Because of their passion for animals, all had to be cruelty-free and vegan. Their customer base spread to celebrities, models, movie stars, people of all ages of all types from all over the world. The extreme became mainstream, and Manic Panic became a household word synonymous with outrageous hair dyeing as in “I Manic Panic-ed my hair.”
Tish and Snooky became the authorities on “Creative Color” from their years of experience testing and using their own products. Celebrity and pro stylists from all over the world sang their praises so they expanded their business with a line for professionals. Today they are well respected innovators in the beauty industry as well as beloved personalities.
7/7/77
Tish and Snooky opened MANIC PANIC, the first punk boutique in the USA. They sold clothing and accessories, and wild hair color.
The 70’s
The sisters performed at night and ran the shop during the day. They spread a fashion and hair color trend that was only embraced by a select group of artists, performers, and daring scenesters.
The 80’s
Bye Bye St Marks Place! Gentrification and rising rents forced Tish and Snooky to say adieu to their little shop on St Marks Place
The 90’s
A new location on East 9th Street, showcasing their #1 product: MANIC PANIC hair color with a sign (hand painted by Tish). That’s Manic Panic mascot Daisy Jane Mae enjoying the street culture. By 1995, the demand for the hair color grew so tremendously that the business had to move to a huge warehouse in Tribeca.
High Priestesses of Hair Color™
The Millenium
The world cries out for more hair colors and Manic Panic expands its product range. Teaming up with Snapple, Tish and Snooky tour the country with a mobile salon, coloring heads all over the USA with their latest temporary gel, Dyehard®
Manic Panic Hair Everywhere
The MANIC PANIC company grows with distribution all over the globe. The success attracts iconic companies like Emily The Strange for co-branding ventures.
2010
The MANIC PANIC Hair Color explosion is seen on celebrities, in fashion magazines, on runways, on television.
“Manic Panic has been dressing celebs & rockers for three decades.” – NY Post, Page 6 Richard Johnson
“Thank goodness you make such great color…I’d be lost!”
– Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper got her first hair color at the Manic Panic Boutique in the 80’s and developed her infamous looks with a variety of Manic Panic hair colors - and still wears it to this day! Tish, Snooky and Cyndi have been pals for decades.
“I put Manic Panic in my hair to makes the tips pink. That was a big hit in my family. Mama was really cool because of that.” – Heidi Klum
Snooky, Tish, Annie Golden, Christine Ohlman, and Lisa Burns. These glamorous chanteuses all had the same idea of a "Ronettes" side ponytail for their show at the Bottom Line. It wasn't planned! Great minds think alike. Two stand out in their Manic Panic hair color!
"We used to come up from Athens and drive to New York, and used to hit St. Marks Place and hang out at Manic Panic."
- Kate Pierson, B52s
More color than ever!
Snooky and Tish still to this day run the MANIC PANIC empire with a hands-on approach. No matter how big the business gets, they make sure everything meets their requirements with the best manufacturing, packaging, and storage procedures. They personally test each and every product and shade. All hair color and hair care ingredients must be cruelty-free and Vegan. They brainstorm on every product and color name. They themselves art-direct the packaging and advertising of the line.
MANIC PANIC has produced hundreds of shades and varieties of products.
Decades of hard work and relentless dedication have contributed to the sister’s incredible legacy.
MANIC PANIC: LIVING IN COLOR is a guaranteed page-turner filled with oodles of color and great stories!
(see link below)