With financial worries on the rise in the UK, many women are opting for a low-maintenance hair color instead of their usual salon blonde. This new trend involves letting their natural hair color grow out for a more cost-effective look. Personally, I’ve also chosen to skip salon visits to save money and have been pleasantly surprised by the positive changes in my hair.
I vividly recall the first time I colored my hair at around 15 years old. After pleading with my mother for blonde highlights like my sisters, she finally agreed. The deal included half-head highlights but also required trimming off split ends, a change I wasn’t initially thrilled about due to my love for long hair.
Living in Australia, my hair faced challenges from sun exposure, saltwater, and sunscreen, making it less healthy. I felt fantastic after getting those desired highlights, which marked the beginning of a ten-year hair color journey that had its ups and downs.
During the past decade, I experimented with various hair colors, ranging from bright purple and light pink to platinum blonde and deep black. Despite the fun, I never achieved the natural look I craved until last year when I decided to grow out my natural hair color after a hair mishap.
Nearly ten months without dyeing my hair has saved me around £400, allowing my natural mousy, ashy brown color, also dubbed as ‘recession brunette,’ to emerge. Notably, even celebrities like Taylor Swift are embracing this trend.
For many women who were blonde as children but lost that hue with age, maintaining the ‘naturally blonde’ image has been a priority. However, the current economic climate has led to a shift towards more natural hair colors, with terms like “lived-in color” and “recession brunette” gaining popularity.
This trend, akin to the Hemline index in economics, reflects changing spending habits influenced by the rising cost of living. As people reconsider luxuries, including expensive hair treatments, they are opting for more cost-effective and natural alternatives.
Although I miss my lighter hair, the decision to let my natural color shine through has resulted in healthier and shinier hair, with reduced hair fall and breakage. While I look forward to pampering myself again in the future, I am enjoying the journey of maintaining naturally vibrant hair.
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