Everyone is going “recession blonde,” but what is it and why is everyone talking about it? Experts break down how a fraught economy has inspired a viral hair color trend.
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Whetherthere’struthtotheseindicatorsoryouchalkituptomerecoincidences,therehavebeenmanytimeswhenfashionandbeautytrendshavecorrectlypredictedarecession.TheHemlineIndex,forexample,isatheorycreatedbyeconomistGeorgeTaylorin1926thatsuggestedthelengthofahemlineiscloselyrelatedtohowwelltheeconomyisdoing.Shorterhemlinesindicateathrivingeconomy(thinktheRoaring‘20sandtheflapperdressorthe‘60sandthebirthoftheminiskirt)whilelongerhemlinesshowaneconomythatisnot(floor-lengthdressesandpantsdominatedfashionduringTheGreatDepression).In2009,themediacoinedtheterm“recessionhair,”whichsawmanyforgotheirregularhaircutandstylingappointmentsasaresultofthestockmarketcrashof2008.Nowin2025,TikToktakesitonestepfurtherandgoeshaircolor-specificwith“recessionblonde.”
TheNationalBureauofEconomicResearchhasyettoofficiallydeclarearecessionintheU.S
