Manic Panic (brand)
| Industry | Hair care |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 7, 1977 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Hair dye and cosmetics |
| Owners | Tish and Snooky Bellomo |
| Website | manicpanic |
Manic Panic holds the distinction of being the pioneering brand of fashion hair color in the United States. Operating out of New York City, the enterprise is managed by sisters Tish and Snooky Bellomo.
History
On July 7, 1977, siblings Tish and Snooky Bellomo launched the flagship Manic Panic boutique at 33 St. Marks Place, situated in the East Village of New York City. After more than four decades in operation, their main office has since relocated to Long Island City, New York.
As lifelong New Yorkers immersed in the local punk music culture, they frequently performed at numerous East Village venues. Their appearances included regular backup vocals for Blondie at the legendary CBGB, as well as performances with their own punk group, The Sic F*cks. Recognized for their vividly colored hair—a style considered quite radical at the time—they soon developed and introduced a line of hair dyes and cosmetics available directly through their Manic Panic shop. Following rapid growth in their hair color business, the retail store eventually closed. (Notably, the storefront and signage were prominently displayed in the opening sequence of Saturday Night Live during its 1980-81 season.)
Manic Panic remains a female-owned and independently controlled company under the leadership of Tish and Snooky Bellomo, often dubbed "The Martha Stewarts of Punk Rock." Their hair color products are distributed globally. Since its inception in 1977, Manic Panic has maintained a commitment to vegan and cruelty-free formulations, with only a limited number of non-vegan items within their cosmetics range.
The brand has been featured in numerous documentaries that credit it with sparking what evolved into a widespread trend and broader acceptance of both men and women sporting unconventional "fashion" hair colors. Manic Panic has garnered attention from major publications such as Vogue, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Nylon, The New Yorker, W, and Rolling Stone.
In addition to their entrepreneurial pursuits, Tish and Snooky continue their musical careers. They have recorded and performed extensively with Blue Coupe—a supergroup featuring original members of Blue Öyster Cult alongside Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and original Alice Cooper bassist, Dennis Dunaway. The sisters also reunite periodically with The Sic F*cks for special events such as tributes to CBGB, benefit concerts honoring Joey Ramone, and various animal welfare fundraisers.
Products
In addition to their range of hair dye, Manic Panic offers a variety of other items designed for enthusiasts of punk, gothic, and trend-conscious audiences.