The Best Recession Proof Hair Color Trends
At the time of writing this post, October of 2023, many economists argue whether we’re in or headed for a recession or not. I can’t speak for everyone, but I can speak for what the majority of my clients tell me at their hair appointments. Expenses are high, and people are trying to save money wherever they can.
One of the first expenses to go are luxury items. And yes, hair color is considered a luxury item. While some of my clients may argue this, you don’t technically need your hair colored to survive.
So in this post I’m going to cover what recession hair color is and give some examples of what you can do to save money on your hair during tough times.
What is recession hair color?
Recession hair color refers to any color that is relatively low-maintenance. High maintenance hair color can become pricey pretty quickly if you’re trying to count your pennies during a recession.
What is the “recession brunette” theory?
“Recession Brunette” is a social media term that has been given to those coloring their hair back to brown because blonde hair is too expensive for them to maintain. It was coined after the term “Expensive Brunette” which was given to dimensional brunettes a few years back.
Many ladies are choosing to go back to their natural color to avoid paying to maintain colored hair. So many are doing this that it’s in fact become a trend and coined a term on the internet.
Recession proof blondes
All that being said, not everyone is willing to fully go back to their natural color. Personally, I would have a heart attack if I did this because I’ve been blonde for the last 20 years.
To counter this, there are definitely low-maintenance blonde options. These blondes blend really nicely with your natural color so that you don’t have any harsh regrowth lines as your hair grows. This allows you to push your appointments much further out. I have seen some clients go 6 months to a year without touching up their blonde!
You’ll want to find a stylist that specializes in “lived-in hair color” or “lived-in blondes”. These services will typically cost you a little bit more right off the bat, but they will last you much longer than traditional highlights.
Hair colors to avoid on a budget (high maintenance hair color)
In this section we’ll cover what hair colors are going to cost you the most and require the most amount of maintenance, and I’ll also give you an alternative option for each!
***Since I’m sharing the products that I love to use with you guys, this page includes affiliate links to these products. If you take action and purchase a product through clicking one of my links, I’ll make some commission money from it at no extra cost to you. This enables me to be able to continue giving you awesome hair tips, so thanks! ***
Platinum blonde
This is probably really heartbreaking for some to hear but it should go without saying that platinum blonde is an extremely high maintenance hair color. Not only do you need to visit the salon frequently, but your visits cost more and there is a ton of at home maintenance that is required in order to maintain this color.
Alternative option: An alternative option for this is to go with a lived-in platinum blonde color. This color will have a root shadow that blends your natural in with the platinum. You will still need to use quality hair products at home to maintain the condition and the tone. But you will be able to push your appointments out a little further with the root smudge.
Products to maintain:
- The Perfect Blonde Toning Shampoo and Conditioner
- Pravana Purple toning mask
Red hair
Red hair color fades much quicker than other hair colors. Some argue that the dye molecules are larger, therefore they are removed from the hair easier with shampoo and warm water. But others say that it’s because the molecules are smaller so that is why they’re removed quicker.
EITHER WAY. Red hair fades pretty quickly, and the color will fade slightly with each shampoo. Because of this, it’s considered a high maintenance hair color.
Alternative option: I have to say, it’s SO nice living in the 21st century. Now we have shampoos and conditioners that will deposit color onto your hair. So you can get your color done, and then use a red toning conditioner at home to maintain the color. It won’t be the exact tone that you got done in the salon, but it’s better than the color fading completely.
Products to maintain:
- Viral Colorwash (Vibrant Red)
- Viral Colorditioner (Vibrant Red)
- Gem Lites Colorwash (More Natural)
- Gem Lites Colorditioner (More Natural)
Fantasy/Vivid Colors
Similarly to red hair, fantasy and vivid hair colors fade very quickly as well. They are also very expensive to get done, so not the best option during a recession. Usually a service is considered a “corrective color” when vivid colors are applied. This is because the hair needs to be lightened significantly in order for the fantasy colors to show. And since the hair has been bleached, you’ll need to take extra care of it at home to maintain the integrity; similarly to platinum blondes.
Alternative option: Rather than coloring your entire head a fantasy color, opt for just a few peek-a-boos. This will cut down your expenses immensely as well as your maintenance.
Products to maintain:
Other options to cut hair expenses
Aside from choosing a lower maintenance hair color, below I’ve listed several different ways that you can cut the cost of your hair expenses during a recession.
Extend the time between salon visits
If money is tight, try extending the time between your hair salon visits. If you usually come in for a cut once every 6 weeks, try extending it to 8 or 12 weeks. While this isn’t necessarily ideal, it can definitely help you to save on your spending during a recession.
If you have hair extensions or a high maintenance hair color, be sure to talk to your hair stylist first to be sure this option will work for you. Some services cannot be extended, and it could cost you way more if you push it too far out. Certain services become a “corrective service” instead of a “touch-up” when it’s grown out too far.
Trim your own ends
While again this option isn’t ideal, I always say that an uneven haircut is better than no haircut. If your ends are split and you can’t afford to go to the salon, I recommend trimming them yourself. Order some cheap hair cutting shears (that are ONLY used on hair) and trim it yourself. It’s better to get the ends cut off so that the breakage isn’t traveling up your hair strand.
Here is a video tutorial I made cutting my own hair during the COVID lockdown:
And here is a video on how to clean up a mans hairline:
Use a color toning shampoo or conditioner
As mentioned earlier when we talked about reds, color toning shampoo and conditioners are helpful for ALL hair colors. This is especially helpful for brunettes that have colored over their blonde. The color will fade quickly from the hair that was previously blonde, so to combat this you’ll want to maintain it yourself at home.
Use the Gem Lites Colorwash and Gem Lites Colorditioner to maintain any hair color that is fading. It won’t necessarily cover your gray hairs, but it will help to maintain fading hair color.
See this video where I used them to blend my natural color into my blonde hair with coloring shampoo:
You can check out my blog post here on color toning shampoos and conditioners to learn more about these products.
Talk to your hair stylist
Since everyone has different hair, everyone will have a different solution to cutting back their hair expenses during a recession. The best thing you can do is to ask your hair stylist what will work best for your situation. They know your hair, they know your personality, and they’ll have the best recommendation for YOU in particular.
Don’t feel ashamed if you need to ask them this, we are all going through this recession together and it is 100% understandable to need to cut back on your hair expenses.
Recession Hair Conclusion
When money is tight, hair is one of the first items we choose to cut back our spending on. Recession hair color is trending today due to how high our expenses have gotten over the last several years.
The internet has even coined a term called “recession brunette” which refers to those that have colored their blonde hair back to their natural brunette color to save money on the maintenance.
But that being said, blondes can also cut back expenses and maintenance by choosing “lived-in” blonding color options. While these services are a bit more expensive to begin with, you are able to extend the time between salon visits exponentially.
During a recession if your money is tight, you should avoid high maintenance hair color options. Some of these options are: platinum blonde, red, and vivid or fantasy colors. You may want to choose an alternative to each of these services.
Some other ways to cut back your hair spending during a recession are:
- Extend the time between salon visits
- Trim your own hair
- Use color depositing shampoo or conditioner
- Talk to your stylist
If you have any further questions for me on this topic, leave them for me in the comments. And as always, Have A Good Hair Day!
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