Manic Panic
Manic Panic is the original line of “fashion” hair colors in the USA. It’s based in New York City. Sisters Tish and Snooky Bellomo opened the Manic Panic flagship boutique on July 7, 1977, at 33 St. Marks Place, in New York City’s East Village. With $250 each, and in their over the top, first generation punk style, they offered the neighborhood cool vintage fashions, and rock n roll wear designed and made by Tish herself.
Being native New Yorkers, and deeply involved in the New York Punk music scene, they soon found themselves performing at many of the East Village venues. They performed regularly at the infamous CBGB’s, singing back up with Blondie, and their own Punk band, The Sic F*cks. Known and loved for their brilliantly colored, cutting edge hair, it wasn’t long before the Manic Panic hair colors were born. Tish and Snooky introduced their customers to not just wild, every color of the rainbow hair colors, but cosmetics to match. Soon they were distributing the hair color right out of the store. When their hair color business boomed, the boutique closed. (The NYC store’s front and signage were featured prominently in a shot in the opening montage of Saturday Night Live‘s 1980-81 season).
Tish and Snooky continue to own and run Manic Panic, NYC, whose headquarters are located in Long Island City, New York. Manic Panic hair color is now sold and distributed world wide. Being the original, Manic Panic hair color remains the leader in “fashion” hair colors, boasting 48 gorgeous shades of classic hair color, 24 shades of amplified color, 11 colors of Dye Hard styling gel, 3 volumes of bleach, 48 shades of lipstick, 32 eye colors, spectacular glitters, lashes, nail polishes, powders, foundations, and a Professional line. Manic Panic has committed to vegan, cruelty free products.
Manic Panic has been mentioned in many documentaries, crediting them for beginning what would become a trend and now the acceptance of men and women wearing “fashion” hair colors.[citation needed] Manic Panic has received numerous mentions in publications such as Interview, Vogue, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Nylon, Elle, The New York Times, The New Yorker, WRolling Stone.
Tish and Snooky continue to perform as musicians. They are the extended part of Blue Coupe, a band composed of original members of Blue Öyster Cult, along with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and original Alice Cooper bassist, Dennis Dunaway. They also continue to perform with the Sic F*cks, reuniting for special occasions like tributes to CBGB’s, Joey Ramone benefits, and various animal charity events.[2]