Beauty has long been an indicator of the state of the economy. The Lipstick Index – coined by Leonard Lauder, son of Estée Lauder, in the early 2000s – is a theory that states when consumers anticipate a recession, sales of ‘affordable luxury’ items such as lipstick increase. After the 2008 financial crash, ‘recession hair’ became a new marker for assessing economic health, as many went without their regular cuts and styling appointments.
In 2025, TikTok has begun to observe a new recession hair trend, dubbed ‘recession blonde’. “Also known as ‘recession roots,’ the trend revolves around turning grown-out roots into a choice instead of a sign that a salon visit is in order,” explains hair expert Nicole Petty of Milk & Blush . “With the cost of living and salon prices increasing, many of us are looking for ways to cut back on our spending, and pricey hair maintenance is often one of the first luxuries on the chopping block.
” What is recession blonde? Recession blonde is similar to the better known ‘old money blonde’, but with a slightly less appealing name. It’s a darker, duller shade of blonde interspliced with bright strands that occur when people let their golden dye grow out. “The trend embraces a more low-maintenance approach to blonde, which allows natural roots to grow out and results in softer and more dimensional highlights that blend seamlessly,” explains stylist Adem Oygur, founder of Adem London .
“Compared to the ‘old mo.
