What Does "Recession Hair" Mean? (Plus, Low-Cost Hairstyles to Try)

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Learn how and why people are going ‘recession blonde’
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Recession blonde and recession brunette have become the latest buzzwords on TikTok, but what do they mean? Both terms refer to how economic strain leads people to skip salon visits and grow out their dyed-blonde hair. Keep reading for a complete guide to the recession hair trend, including low-maintenance hairstyles to try. We also spoke to master cosmetologist Shun Pittman about the best ways to care for hair between salon appointments.

Recession Hair Trend Explained

Recession blonde is TikTok slang for hair that is a dark, soft blonde shade with visible roots. The name comes from the concept that people with dyed-blonde hair skip salon visits to save money during an economic recession. The result is a grown-out look closer to their natural hair color.

Section 1 of 4:

What is recession hair?

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  1. Media outlets first used the term in 2009 to describe how people were letting their roots show and skipping color touch-ups to save money after the 2008 financial crash. TikTok users revived the trend in 2025, using the phrases “recession blonde” or “recession brunette” to refer to embracing a grown-out, low-maintenance look. [1]
    • As of April 2025, the U.S. isn’t officially in a recession. However, people are tightening their budgets due to economic stress, leading to the return of so-called recession hair. [2]
    • Hair stylists have reported clients choosing cheaper services and booking fewer appointments, as reported by Bloomberg. [3]
  2. 2
    Recession blonde is a dark, soft shade of blonde. People who aren’t naturally blonde have to visit the salon regularly to maintain a bright blonde shade. This can cost thousands of dollars annually. By growing out their natural hair—or getting a more subtle treatment, such as blonde lowlights, to emulate the recession blonde look—they save money in the long term. [4]
    • Recession blonde is visually similar to bronde (the term for a brunette-blonde hybrid shade), or what TikTok refers to as ‘old money blonde.’
    • Celebrities with recession blonde hair include Jennifer Lawrence, Sofia Richie, and Margot Robbie. [5]
    • The phrase “recession brunette” is used interchangeably with recession blonde. It refers to how the color is between light brown and dark blonde.
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  3. 3
    Similar theories include the lipstick effect and the hemline index. The lipstick effect suggests people buy more lipstick during times of economic crisis because it’s an affordable luxury. [6] The hemline index suggests long skirt hems trend during periods of economic strain, while skirt hemlines rise when the economy flourishes. [7]
    • Both theories are popularly touted as being true or proven, but they’re not backed up by historical economic data.
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Section 2 of 4:

Origins of Recession Blonde TikTok Trend

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  1. TikTok users began posting about recession blonde in February 2025. In one early viral video about the trend, TikTok user @reb_ellion showed off her grown-out brunette roots. She joked that the length of the roots was her indicator that the economy hadn’t been good for a while. Media outlets began covering the trend in March 2025, drawing more attention to it. [8]
Section 3 of 4:

Low-Maintenance Hairstyles and Treatments

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  1. 1
    Get long, tiered layers for an easy-to-style look. Instead of getting a precise cut like a blunt chop, ask your stylist for a long, layered haircut. It requires less upkeep to maintain its shape, which means fewer salon visits. Tiered layers look volumized and bouncy even when they grow out, and don’t require much heat styling. [9]
  2. 2
    Swap a bob for a feathered bixie that has room to grow. If you’re a fan of short haircuts, consider the bixie, a cross between a bob and a pixie. Have your stylist feather the cute cut so that when you grow it out, the layers still have a dynamic shape and texture. [10]
  3. 3
    Choose lowlights instead of highlights to flatter your natural color. Lowlights are the opposite of highlights. Instead of adding lighter streaks, a stylist colors a few strands so they’re darker than your natural color. These strands give your hair a sophisticated, yet natural look, without requiring the costly maintenance of highlights or balayage. [11]
    • If you have gray hair, lowlights help your hair resemble its darker natural color. Work with your stylist to find the right lowlights for your shade of gray and skin tone.
  4. 4
    Go for a natural dye color with dark roots so you can grow the style out. If you still want to go for a color treatment, choose a shade close to your natural hair color. Ask your hair colorist to leave your roots alone (or lighten them, if you’re a natural blonde trying to go closer to brunette) so future grown-out roots can blend in. [12]
  5. 5
    If you want to go blonde, choose balayage over full bleaching. Achieving a bright blonde shade is one of the most high-maintenance hair treatments. Balayage is a low-maintenance alternative that involves colorists hand-painting highlights to appear natural. In most cases, the highlights are focused on the mids and ends of your hair. You don’t have to worry about awkward dark roots because they blend naturally into the balayage. [13]
  6. 6
    Save money by doing coloring and cutting at home. If you trust your own hair styling abilities, DIY the treatments and cuts you’d normally get at the salon. This isn’t ideal if you’re going for a complicated cut or trying to do a major color change. However, you can probably learn how to trim split ends or touch up your roots at home. [14]
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Section 4 of 4:

Caring for Hair Between Salon Visits

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  1. Eat a nutritious diet featuring protein, healthy fats like omega-3, carbs, vitamins A, E, and D, and minerals like iron. The same nutrients that improve your overall health can help your hair, skin, and nails become more hydrated and resilient. [15] Drink plenty of water to boost hair health, too, says Pittman.
  2. 2
    Add deep conditioning to your hair routine. Use a deep conditioning treatment weekly on top of your regular shampoo and conditioner to help your hair stay hydrated and shiny. It’s especially useful if you have dry or damaged hair that needs the extra moisture. “A treatment is like a conditioner on steroids,” explains Pittman.
    • Do a treatment about once a week by applying a deep conditioner or hair mask over wet, clean hair. Leave it in your hair as long as the product specifies—typically, 5-15 minutes.
    • Next, rinse until the water running off your hair is clear. Pat dry with a microfiber cloth or shirt. [16]
    • Put a shower cap on to keep the treatment from rinsing out if you’re applying it in the shower.
  3. 3
    Limit your use of heat styling tools to twice a week. Regularly straightening, curling, or blow-drying your hair with high heat can cause damage to your hair, making it dry and prone to breakage. [17] Try to limit how often you use heat tools on your hair to two or three times a week so your hair feels healthier in between salon visits.
    • Pittman emphasizes that it’s important to use a thermal protectant spray every time you apply heat to your hair to prevent damage.
  4. 4
    Rinse with cold water to preserve color longer. If you’re choosing to skip salon touch-ups, preserve the color from your last dye session by rinsing with cool water. Feel free to shampoo and condition at your usual temperature, but turn the faucet to cool for a final rinse. The cold water seals the hair’s cuticle, preserving color in the long term. [18]
  5. 5
    Look for color-safe and color-preserving products. Many haircare brands and salons offer specially formulated products that prevent color from fading as fast. These include purple shampoos to maintain the icy tones of ash blonde dyes and color-safe shampoos and conditioners that help prevent breakage. [19] Find the right products for your specific color treatment shade to maintain the right hue.
  6. Every time you wash your hair, you remove some of the natural oils your hair needs to seal in artificial coloring. If it’s possible for your hair type, consider skipping one or two wash days a week to preserve your color longer. Use dry shampoo to clear up greasy strands between washes. [20]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/recession-brunette/
      2. ↑ https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/recession-warning-signs-trump-economy-what-know-charts-rcna196221
      3. ↑ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-11/recession-indicator-us-hairstylists-report-clients-cut-spending
      4. ↑ https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/fashion/recession-blonde-hair-colour-tiktok-b2721141.html
      5. ↑ https://harpersbazaar.com.au/recession-brunette-hair-trend/
      6. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2022/06/01/with-inflation-rising-the-lipstick-effect-kicks-in-and-lipstick-sales-rise/
      7. ↑ https://www.instyle.com/fashion/clothing/what-is-the-hemline-index-real
      8. ↑ https://www.fastcompany.com/91293146/tiktok-recession-brunette-trend
      9. ↑ https://www.instyle.com/low-maintenance-haircuts-7966609
      1. ↑ https://www.instyle.com/low-maintenance-haircuts-7966609
      2. ↑ https://www.oprahdaily.com/beauty/hair/a27562312/lowlights-for-gray-hair/
      3. ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/low-maintenance-hair-color
      4. ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/low-maintenance-hair-color
      5. ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-cut-your-own-hair
      6. ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/get-radiant-hair-skin-and-nails-naturally
      7. ↑ https://www.johnfrieda.com/en-uk/blog/hair-care/how-to-deep-condition-hair/
      8. ↑ https://www.k18hair.com/blogs/consumer/science-class-17-the-science-behind-heat-damage
      9. ↑ https://www.michaelthomashairdesign.com/2024/05/01/pro-tips-for-maintaining-vibrant-hair-color-between-salon-visits/
      10. ↑ https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-maintain-colored-hair
      11. ↑ https://www.michaelthomashairdesign.com/2024/05/01/pro-tips-for-maintaining-vibrant-hair-color-between-salon-visits/

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