i usually use directions and thought id give manic panic a go as everyone raves about it and i figured something thats over 3 times more expensive than directions its got to be good right? wrong. the colour wasnt true to the colour on the tub, even though i had lightened my hair to almost white, it fades very very quickly and left an awful dull blue colour behind that wont go away. wont be wasting my money on manic panic again, as the pink that i tried at the same time was just as terrible. directions did a much better job, the colour in the pot was much closer to the colour that came out on my head and seems to last a little longer too, all for about £3.50 a tub.