Noticed all the blondes going back to their natural hair color lately? As much as many try to claim its because of a hair health journey, other factors seem to be at play here.Hows the economy? one TikTok user asks in a viral video. Well, hasnt been good for a while seems like my indicators tell me, the former blonde says, measuring the inches of her incoming roots with her fingers.THIS IS SO ACCURATE, one commenter responded. @reb_ellion #hair #blonde #hairtok #usa #recession #nobuy original sound Rebekah | Bewitched Beauty Im no expert, but root length has always been a pretty solid way to tell how people are doing financially. Remember when balayage became really popular in 2009? asked one person in the comments. During the 2007-to-2009 recession, blonde celebrities were embracing their darker roots, a trend that mirrored the economic downturn. Now, in 2025, were seeing the same thing happening all over again.One in six Americans admit to spending more on beauty and wellness than they can afford and, if youve ever colored your hair, you know how expensive the upkeep is. So, when purse strings tighten, expensive salon visits are the first to go.With some hairstylists interviewed in a recent Washington Post piece charging at least $100 an hour for cuts, color, bleaching and balayage, being blonde is a luxury not everyone can afford. Suddenly, grown-out roots have become the hottest trendand a leading economic indicator.When someone says they like my natural hair color better and I agree, when in reality I can no longer afford to upkeep the blonde, and this is my brunette recession era, one TikTok post with 2.3 million views reads. Recession brunette is back, another TikTok user declared. @talie028 the length of my money pieces growing out is an indicator of my current savings #enconmy #brunette #reletable original sound The Wall Street Journal reported that lived-in color, referring to partial highlights or balayage, was last years trend among hairstylists. Not unlike the lipstick effectthe phenomenon, during an economic downturn, of consumers continuing to spend on small luxury items, such as lipsticklived-in color and the recession brunette may be the latest stylish indicators of an economy in crisis. Bottom line: If blondes really do have more fun, these days its fair to presume they also have more money.