It’s Official: We’re Now In Recession Hair Times

I knew things were bad when I started seriously considering a dramatic hair change—not out of boredom, but out of necessity. When money gets tight, our beauty routines are often the first to take the hit, and hair, that ever-present symbol of identity and control, becomes a battleground.

Recession hair is real. It’s not just about bangs cut in a moment of existential crisis or a drastic dye job after scanning your bank statement one too many times. It’s a cultural signal, a response to financial stress, a reflection of our collective anxiety. When the economy tanks, so do our carefully curated hair routines. Luxurious salon visits become a relic of better times, replaced with at-home trims, DIY dye kits, and experimental cuts that scream, “What do I have to lose?”

History backs this up. During the Great Depression, women turned to short, practical hairstyles that required less upkeep. In 2008, boxed dye sales spiked as people ditched their colorists in favor of DIY solutions. And now, in a post-pandemic world marked by inflation and financial uncertainty, we’re seeing it again.

Buzz cuts, choppy layers, and low-maintenance, “quiet luxury” styles are dominating the trends—not necessarily because they’re fashionable, but because they make economic sense.

My friend Emily, for example, chopped her long waves into a blunt bob after realizing how much she was spending on deep-conditioning treatments and trims. Another friend, Sarah, took it a step further and shaved her head completely, saying it was both liberating and practical—no more salon visits, no more products, no more time wasted. And then there’s me. I’m extending salon appointment times. It’s been a month and a half now, and the once-urgent need to cover my grey hair roots has faded into something else: acceptance. Maybe even defiance.

Why spend money trying to maintain an illusion when there are bigger financial battles to fight?

Recession Brunette Or Recession Blonde? When Budget Gets Tight

As hair-stylists explain to me, more clients are cutting back on salon visits to save some money (well, quite a bit of money). Crunching the numbers, in the U.S., hair color services typically range from $55 to $375, depending on the type of service, with root touch-ups requiring more frequent visits. In the UK, prices for similar services average around £130, with London being more expensive than other regions. Not even to mention balayage and highlights, with prices varying by location and additional treatments like toner or Olaplex often costing extra.

As a result, when women DO book appointments, they’re opting for services that require less maintenance or help them gradually return to their natural hair color—like choosing balayage highlights over full color or partial highlights instead of all-over ones.

According to Business Insider, although a full-blown recession has yet to hit, many Americans are already feeling the strain of a slowing economy. “As the cost of living—and hair services—climbs, maintaining blonde hair has become another marker of wealth in challenging times. The growing number of blondes opting for brunette shades reflects how economic policy, the Federal Reserve, and market shifts ultimately influence even the choices found in hair dye bottles“.

Recession hair is more than just a style choice—it’s a survival instinct. It’s a way to reclaim control when everything else feels uncertain. It’s proof that even in tough times, we find ways to redefine ourselves, one snip at a time.

In the face of adversity, what other aspects of our lives are we quietly reshaping without even realizing it?

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