{"id":690,"date":"2025-05-21T19:00:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T19:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=690"},"modified":"2025-05-22T15:04:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T15:04:53","slug":"6-ways-to-recession-proof-your-hair-color-straight-from-the-pros","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/21\/6-ways-to-recession-proof-your-hair-color-straight-from-the-pros\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Hair Color, Straight From The Pros"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hair color trends<\/a> are famously lighthearted. We ask for \u201csun-kissed\u201d highlights<\/a> or a \u201ccool\u201d blonde base<\/a>. But in this economy, colorists are sensing a vibe shift. The trend about to hit your group chat? Recession hair<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve started to hear from more and more people wanting to stretch the length between appointments and lean into low-maintenance looks,\u201d explains Natalie Rotger<\/a>, a colorist at Jenna Perry Hair Studio<\/a> in New York. Not only does this approach create a more natural, effortless style, but it helps color clients save money by reducing the frequency of salon visits. For context, even partial balayage can cost upwards of $150 in New York City (a half-head of foils could easily be twice that), and with costs rising across the board, it makes sense that people are looking to scale back their hair appointments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For many people, going from blonde to a natural shade of brown is an aesthetic choice rather than a penny-pinching one: \u201cI know everyone is talking about \u2018recession hair\u2019 now, but I think Hailey Bieber<\/a> started this [trend] years ago,\u201d says Rotger. \u201cOnce she stopped highlighting and started going darker, so<\/em> many of my blondes did the same thing \u2014 or started to embrace their natural color a lot more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leaning into a more natural hair color is certainly a more affordable option, but it\u2019s not the only way to save money. Ahead, color experts tell us exactly how to stretch longer between appointments (don\u2019t just ghost) and inch closer to your natural shade in a way that feels expensive. Follow their tips ahead \u2014 and don\u2019t call it recession hair.<\/p>\n

Talk openly about your hair budget <\/h2>\n

Yes, your grocery bill is astronomically high, but ghosting your colorist<\/a> is not a long-term strategy \u2014 it\u2019s an avoidance tactic. Instead, get ahead of your fears and have a vulnerable conversation about financial planning with your colorist. You can do this at your next appointment. When you\u2019re sitting down with your colorist and they ask, \u201cWhat are you thinking?\u201d give an honest answer. Maybe you say, \u201cI\u2019d love to be a bit blonder this summer, but I\u2019m concerned about the upkeep cost. My budget will only allow for two color appointments this year \u2014 can we work together to develop a plan?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Your colorist wants to help. \u201cWhen a colorist knows your goals and your budget, they can suggest [a color plan] that will make you feel great,\u201d explains NYC-based colorist Julie Fortiz<\/a>. \u201cCustom color is very thoughtful and can be budget-friendly if done right,\u201d she adds. Plus, they\u2019re living in this economy too, so they get it.<\/p>\n

Make a \u201cbig events\u201d calendar<\/h2>\n

It sounds simple, but plan your hair color around your life, not the other way around: \u201cMake a game plan,\u201d suggests Rotger. \u201cThink about specific events in your life \u2014 like a wedding, birthday, or vacation. Work backwards from there.\u201d Put on a playlist, get out your calendar, and plan your color appointments around the most important dates. You\u2019ll probably see a few months-long blocks that are safe skips.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Natalie Rotger (@natalierotger)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Figure out how to be low-maintenance<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re blonde and want to transition to a low-maintenance brunette<\/a>, there\u2019s a pretty simple playbook: Let your natural color grow in as much as possible, then go in for a tint-back service. The tint-back is a series of glosses that match your previously-highlighted hair to your root color so there\u2019s no demarcation. \u201cAfter that, there\u2019s little to no maintenance,\u201d explains Rotger. \u201cAfter a few months, maybe you can add a little face-framing highlight,\u201d she adds, but once you\u2019ve successfully transitioned your hair, you\u2019re in full control of your color budget.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Natalie Rotger (@natalierotger)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Trade brightness for shine<\/h2>\n

While a hair gloss<\/a> won\u2019t brighten your hair (only bleach can do that), it will add incredible shine, which can have a highlight-like effect: \u201cGlossing treatments go a long way,\u201d says Fortiz. \u201cThey can make highlights or dyed hair a little sparklier and stretch out your visits to the salon.\u201d <\/p>\n

Some even have hair benefits beyond depositing color to cover grays or root growth, and adding shine. For example, Redken Shades EQ Gloss<\/a> is infused with strengthening wheat amino acids and bonder technology to repair hair damaged by bleach, heat, or environmental aggressors. Most salons carry Redken Shades EQ, so it might be worth asking your colorist if they would consider it for your next appointment. <\/p>\n

A hair gloss costs, on average, $50 to $100, while a full color service might be three or four times that. There are also at-home options<\/a>. \u201cA tinted conditioner is nice because it works like a baby gloss at home,\u201d explains Fortiz. She likes the Davines Alchemic Conditioner, $37,<\/a> and the Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask, $53,<\/a> for their shade ranges.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Natalie Rotger (@natalierotger)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Air-dry whenever you can<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cA lot of people think coloring is what makes your hair dry \u2014 and it can \u2014 but it\u2019s really the constant at-home heat styling that fries your hair,\u201d explains Rotger. If you want to stretch a little longer between color appointments and avoid crunchy ends, you\u2019d be wise to reduce your heat styling and opt for air-drying<\/a> where you can this summer. <\/p>\n

Rotger\u2019s go-to air-dry products are Crown Affair Leave-In Conditioner, $48<\/a>, for all hair types, R\u014dz Milk Hair Serum, $52<\/a>, which boasts added heat protection, and Color Wow Dream Coat Anti-Frizz Treatment for Curly Hair, $42<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t want to give up heat styling or even cut back, make sure you\u2019re taking precautions to protect your hair. First, always use a heat-protecting spray. Unite Hair\u2019s 7SECONDS Detangler, $40.50<\/a>, is a failsafe option, offering frizz control and heat protection. Second, use your blowdryer on low heat, and diffuse on low heat if you have curls. Lastly, consider air-drying to 90%, then hitting the hair with low heat to dry any damp strands<\/a> and add polish.<\/p>\n

Use the non-fancy (but color-safe) shampoo<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Colorists agree you don\u2019t need expensive or extraneous hair products \u2014 not in this economy. Beyond a simple conditioner and heat protectant, consider a color-safe shampoo. This is important because it will be made with gentle cleansing ingredients free of harsh sulfates that could strip color quickly. \u201cIf there\u2019s one thing you\u2019re going to invest in, it\u2019s a color-safe shampoo,\u201d echoes Rotger. Our favorites include the Color Wow Security Shampoo, $24<\/a>, Amika Bust Your Brass Shampoo, $28<\/a>, and the L\u2019Or\u00e9al EverPure Hydrating Shampoo, $9.99<\/a>. You can safely skip the clarifying or detox treatments, especially post-color. Often with hair products, the adage holds: Less is more.<\/p>\n

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Hair color trends are famously lighthearted. We ask for \u201csun-kissed\u201d highlights or a \u201ccool\u201d blonde base. But in this economy, colorists are sensing a vibe shift. The trend about to hit your group chat? Recession hair. \u201cI\u2019ve started to hear from more and more people wanting to stretch the length between appointments and lean into…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/690"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=690"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":693,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/690\/revisions\/693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}