YB Loves: Truly Outrageous Jem Hair Dye
Genius collab alert: Jem and the Holograms hair dye by Manic Panic. (Photo: Manic Panic)
As a child in the ‘80s, I was far too young for punk hair, wild makeup, and nightclubs — that came later. In the mean time, I lived vicariously through Jem and the Holograms. I tuned into the cartoon show before school to watch the friends turned rock band kick ass on stage, tackle serious social issues, fend off a rival band of mean girls (the Misfits) and look truly, truly truly outrageous all the while. (If you haven’t seen the cartoon, it’s a must-watch even just for the pop/new wave soundtrack — with 187 music videos and 151 original songs, the fictional bands cranked out more hits than an actual pop star.)
With a new live action film hitting the big screen October 23, I’ve remembered what I loved most about Jem: The colorful hair. My friends and I would fight over which Hologram we wanted to be at recess (obviously Jem because she had the pink hair). Now, after about 15 years of being dye-free, I’m debating rekindling my love affair with Manic Panic, thanks to the brand’s new Jem collaboration. Manic Panic Colors that Rock ($20 each) are available today and come in four eye-catching shades: turquoise for Aja, violet for Shana, orange-red for Kimber, and pink for Jem. The latter two even glow under a black light!
These also might be the first collectible hair dyes ever with the throwback ‘80s cartoons on the labels. While I debate dyeing my own strands, the bottles are serving as inspiration and desk decor. As a Jem purist, I’m going into the new movie with a very critical eye, but getting the hair of my childhood idol is on my wishlist — at least for Halloween. As she singer used to say, “It’s showtime, Synergy!”
Related:
Manic Panic Turns 38, Rainbow Hair Trend Stronger Than Ever
Rainbow Hair 101: From One-Night Stand to Serious Commitment
