If the current state of the economy could be succinctly captured in a single word, it would be this: unpredictable. Considering Singapore’s reliance on global trade, it comes as no surprise that the US-led tariffs have put economists on edge—with our government flagging the possibility of a technical recession this year. That said, it is a situation that is keenly felt on a global scale, with most opting to err on the side of caution and cut back on various expenses. In the case of the beauty realm, it seems to boil down to one specific expenditure: salon time. And with that, the term recession hair is born.
@maacdaddddy major $$ saver heheh #gray #grayhair #greyhair ♬ Hey Ya! (My baby don’t mess around) – Outkast
For those unaware, recession hair is an umbrella term that encompasses low-maintenance hues and cuts. Requiring little to no upkeep, they refer to particular styles that look flattering with grow-out such as balayage and peek-a-boo highlights. There is also a sharp uptick of individuals embracing their grey strands and letting them show through.
“I used to visit the salon every three months. This year, however, I’ve been opting to let my roots grow out,” explains Shien Yu, marketing executive and a former hair dye enthusiast. “The last time I went for a touch-up was right before the Christmas season. If I’m being entirely honest, it’s been really liberating. There’s something so powerful about embracing your natural state.”
Beyond letting nature take its course, there are also a variety of recession hair looks to try. For instance, the highly-favoured ‘bronde’ shade; the long bob; and more. Spy them all, below.
1 / 5
Balayage
The crux of this look lies in the hand-painting of highlights into an individual’s mane to create a sun-kissed effect. This makes for a precise, seamless blend of colours that melt into one another, so even gradual colour changes appear natural as there isn’t a visible demarcation line—no matter how much growth occurs.
2 / 5
Bronde
You read that right. This style pairs a deep brown base along the roots with blonde and light brown highlights to create a dimensional and low maintenance look. Most people opt for this look to lighten up their strands without fully jumping onto the blonde bandwagon.
3 / 5
The long bob
A godsend for those with thin, fine strands, this in-between look is short enough to facilitate quick hair-dry times but also comprises enough length for it to be styled in a variety of ways—straight, wavy, and even curly—to disguise grow-out effectively.
4 / 5
Peek-a-boo highlights
No matter whichever shade you opt for, the strategic placement of peek-a-boo highlights on the underside of tresses means that it can be easily concealed.
5 / 5
Long layers
Much like balayage, longer layers have less structure and are designed in a way that it blends with the rest of the hair, which reduces the need for frequent trims.
