Brightest neon turquoise ion blue - undiluted

I've used the cyan which was fantastic and bright. I wouldn't even say my hair was 100% white when i used it. I has a few spots that were a little unevenly bleached so the yellowier spots went a little bit greener (just something to keep in mind), but I think its a very good option out of what you're looking into. The brighter color at the top of my hair in the pic i provides is ion cyan neat.

Of the four, I think Cyan would be best off the bat, but I think Aqua might be better long-term. Azure is probably too muted and Mint is probably too green. The thing with Ion blues, at least when I've used them, is that they do fade a bit, but they get stuck at a softer semi-faded pastel shade. Still, with a super light base, maybe Cyan would be better because it could remain bright even slightly faded.

BTW, I just saw your highlighter yellow shade in the larger photo on your timeline, and it looks amazing! I have literally never gotten Neon Moon even half as bright and I've gone through like four big bottles (silly me always settling for it when it's on sale), so you are way better at getting your base light enough than me!

@Folk_Laur @vivienne thank you!!! That cyan at the top half of your ombré is VERY close to my dream. I didn’t know about the muteness of azure so thanks for that! I got the mint as well cuz years ago I was swatching ion vs Pravana mints, and the ion was straight up blue in comparison. Prob muted too though, good point to think of that!! What do you mean about the aqua long term - is it that the slight fading to the softer shade may be the long lasting color that cyan starts out as? (Sorry that was a mouthful )

Re neon moon - it is probably my #1 fave dye!!! BUT anything that’s not super pale yellow shoes through. Too toned of a base? Not as bright. Super faint white mint color? No. Super Easy to fade on purpose too for me, but lasts longer than like an hour in the sun. What’s your favorite neon yellow? MP banana is like extinct! I have unopened flo glow too. I just had on a super pretty almost iridescent mint made w diluted neon moon and maybe a turquoise? I forget!! Before my ions come (they’re taking forever cuz of the current situation - super delayed even processing the order), I may play around w a neon yellow and adore neon pink (diluted so they will fade out).

Know anything about adore neon pink? MP hot hot pink and arctic fox virgin pink have just been looking dull and magenta-like to me.

Yeah, I think Aqua might be too dark to start off, but I think it would fade and get stuck at something closer to what you want. Cyan would be closer. I'm judging this based on my own base, which is almost always stained with something else, though, so if your base is actually really clean and light, slightly faded Cyan would probably be really close to what you want and Aqua might be too dark even after fading.

On Neon Moon, my base is usually not good enough for it, so I use it kind of like a mixer for non-neon yellows to give it some slight brightness, because FloGlo is harder for me to get (especially now). It doesn't last, though, and I feel like I burn through it really quickly. It is unique in that it doesn't stain, though, because usually yellows will last forever. I've been using Punky Bright Yellow, but it's not neon. I miss Electric Banana, too, but I'm pretty sure it's almost discontinued. Good Dye Young Steal My Sunshine is almost there, but it doesn't have the highlighter glow. I think neon yellow must not sell very well, because there just aren't any brands making them anymore. Need Billie Eilish or someone else to make it cool again so they become more popular.

Adore Neon Pink is pretty magenta-y so don't think it'll help. If you want a bright orange with it, you need to mix it with a non-neon yellow, because the slight green tones really mute it out and make it either peachy or just kind of salmon-y.

Thanks @vivienne!!! You are so knowledgeable and helpful!! I don’t have a super white base... I meant a 100% perfect base for light turquoise haha. I would actually call it “clean & light” tho. It is like white w faint mint. BUTT I am playing around meanwhile and will push it out w pink so what am I saying, it prob will be pretty white (it is white under everything). I just am SO into neon anything ATM!! I never have tried good dye young. Do they have any highlighter-esque hues? Of any color. A neon green I mixed recently - bright as heck when I took the post-dye pic. I took another pic - I am NOT exaggerating - 1.5 hours later, it was GONE. I’m in the sun constantly these days, I’ve found that is the most effective way to painlessly fade. SPF is a must. Tried those hair UV protectors and they don’t do anything. Same w coconut oil. Do you know of any that actually work? I’ve even put skin sunscreen in my hair ha!

Phooey on the dearth of neon yellows!! Good call on a celeb bringin it to the public eye.

GDY doesn't really have anything super neon. I've only tried the orange and yellow hoping it would compare to Napalm Orange and Electric Banana, but unfortunately, it didn't quite live up. They look bright, but just don't have the same neonness. One thing I've been meaning to try is Iroiro Neon Yellow, but I haven't had the chance (kept buying Neon Moon lol).

UV does kill my colour really quickly. I haven't found a good solution other than a a hat, which obviously defeats the purpose.

I have tried the Iorio neon yellow and I was disappointed.... this was couple years ago (1-2-3 I don’t recall haa), swatched next to flo glow. I know that’s like the brightest neon highlighter with a greeny tinge; the Iorio was reminiscent of a more cosmic sunshine next to it. It was nice, I just love neon yellow and wanted only that so I ended up not using it :/ But for other purposes, in a rainbow or for sunny yellow (I haven’t done that yet), or mixing I wish I’d held onto it :( Sunny yellow I think may just be the only color in the world I’ve never tried. What is your fave non neon yellow?

I know about the hats!! I want my color seen darn it! Haha

I like the Punky Yellow and Pravana Neon Yellow (ironically) best for non-neon options. Cosmic Sunshine is good if you want something that fades properly, like Neon Moon. I think I've all tried Manic Panic Sunshine and it's also a good option, but it's harder for me to find, so I haven't used it recently. Before Sparks became pro-only I liked their yellow, too.

That’s funny I was looking at Pravana neon yellow - good to know. Based on how much I like neon moon I’d probably pick cosmic sunshine. I didn’t realize sparks was professional now. I’ve never tried and always wondered if similar to Pravana, just by presentation.

@vivienne : I love Pravana neon blue, esp over this minty base. It’s like a light neon turquoise that is sooo perf. Of course, it fades in a day. By a day, I mean an hour in the backyard sun in Pennsylvania and I’m back to white-mint which is nice but not what I’m going for. Sally is taking FOR-ever w my ion and it’s annoying to dye my hair daily ha, obvi. I just ordered adore aquamarine (& baby blue I think but I’m sure that’ll fade out instantly like the Pravana). I ordered aquamarine based on some old threads of yours recommending it as a great turquoise. The reason I want ion undiluted is any time I dilute, it lasts even shorter. I like how I can use Pravana from tube. But, is aquamarine a super strong dye and can possibly last a bit to tide me over for my perm ion blues ya think?

And going by the love of Pravana neon blue, a touch of green added to skew it more turquoise, is cyan still the recommended super permanent out of the tube? Or like you said, the aqua a bit faded til stuck at the faded color for life? I certainly do not mind a shade or 2 darker than my goal initially, as long as the initial color (less important) and fade (more important, as that is the color I want forever) is BRIGHT! Thanks!!!

I don't think Adore does amazing in the sun. I remember it fading down pretty quickly on beach vacations, but the combination of the seawater and UV is a bit much to expect from any dye. Tbh, UV is generally a really killer for most pigments, so I'm not sure how well even the Ion will last. It doesn't like to rinse out or bleach out, but UV might still break the molecules down and fade away the colour.

Since you've got them all coming, I'd probably start with Cyan and only move to Aqua if it ends up fading too quick. They are both decently bright, especially over a base like yours. How long do you usually leave the dye on? I feel like 1-2 hours is pretty decent, but if everything is going really quickly, maybe try a really long soak like overnight.

@vivienne thanks!! I’ve left from anywhere to few hours to days. I’m not joking!!! After having it under the cap I just wore it as a helmet head for a couple days. That DEF makes it last the longest (but is obviously weird). One of the reasons beside permanency I wanted ion is that it’s so thick like a hair paste that I can easily do that haha. Like a whole overnight in the cap and beanie, then helmet head for at least 24 hours. That’s the best luck I’ve had, letting it dry into my head. UV is certainly a killer. I guess I have to manage my expectations.... but sunlight is like a natural antidepressant/anti anxiety for me rn in these troubled times. I almost forget about the world in my yard enclave.

What about directions lagoon blue? I’ve not much experience with directions aside from flo glo.

Actually the directions are hard to get right now. Any punky blues (beside turquoise - since I’m getting the adore aquamarine)?

I think Lagoon Blue from Punky is the closest to what you're looking for in terms of colour, but it's probably not going to last any better than what you've tried.

Thanks @vivienne again!!

I’ve never tried to maintain this color long term. Idk if you remember but pinks (neon->pastels) are what I had for the longest term, and on my head at least pinks do not degrade under sunlight like blue/greens (then again I also find blue/greens easier to fade w vitamin c, etc... while pinks need the bleach powder concoction push).

I’ll just style my head with dye til I tire of it haha. Then when summer comes I’ll probably have to reconsider the cool spectrum and go all neon yellow or pink (my other favorites!)

Thank you so much for all your advice :)

Omg I apologize for stalking you @vivienne! Flo glow question: how much can you dilute and still keep the color true? BRIGHT neon yellow that lasts and lasts? Thanks!!!!

PS I do not know where in the world you are, but I found a tub of electric banana today on amazon prime! I’m in US

Lol, no worries, I'm cooped up at home, so I like being able to help out between answering emails. I'd say 50% is about the max I'd dilute FloGlo if I'm trying to keep the neon-ness. It does impact longevity slightly, in that the initial glowy effect doesn't last as long. For me, the actual yellow base still stains no matter what.

I canceled my Amazon Prime this year, so it's not a great option for me right now. I used to get it through the Manic Panic website because a friend had a discount, so I'm always hesitant to buy it at the "normal" price. You did remind me that Manic Panic came out with a "pro" line a few years ago that's supposed to last longer and comes in tubes like Pravana. I've been meaning to figure out a way to try it. The colours are more standard mixer-type shades, but they do have a yellow (non-neon) and also a light turquoise I think.

Also, Pulpriot has a neon yellow that's a true highlighter shade. I've only tried the purple from the brand, which was good, but I feel like most brands can nail the purple. I have some friends of friends who worked in a salon and say it's great, but I always take their opinion with a grain of salt, because they take care of their hair much more than me and haven't used all of the "regular" brands to compare. Still, definitely worth a try, if you're interested. Also, also, they do have a neon blue called Blue Muse and another one that's a little more real that I forget the name one.

@vivienne Hmmm pulp riot I may need to check that out, and it’s funny I did just see (for the 1st time ever) mention of that tube MP pro edition, as I was googling I think blue velvet and it has a color of the same name.

Since I know you’re on the edge of your chair concerning my exploits (haha), Sally’s seems to have taken my cash and kept their stash bc my ion blues have yet to arrive :( Soooo I took some of the last of my precious stores of blue velvet (sfx not mp pro haha), diluted it for bleeding not color, and squirted in some dark turquoise to lean it more true blue than purple. I baked it into my hair for many hours like I do, and it’s the best solution I’ve found to keep it ANY shade of blue. Not pink (bv heavily diluted faded pink yes pink), not mint, nor white. It’s a super pretty inky navy and I like the way it looks on my skin and with my clothes. It gets brighter blue, but flooding my follicles with heavy pigment seems to be the best course of action. 2nd best was when I used a whole tube of neon blue Pravana neat and kept it baking in over 24 hours. It was beautiful! Blue just doesn’t like to stay on my head outdoors even on a cloudy day. Pinks on the other hand......... can’t get rid of em!

What you been doin with your hair? Rainbows?