How To Revive Your ‘Recession Blonde’ Roots, According To Beyoncé’s Colorist

More than any other celebrity, Beyoncé has been endorsing the “recession blonde” hair trend all summer. “Recession blonde hair is a hair color trend where people embrace a more natural, lived-in blonde by blending brighter blonde highlights with darker, more muted tones, often allowing natural roots to grow out,” her long-time colorist and founder of Rita Hazan Salon Rita Hazan tells ESSENCE. 

But, make no mistake, the look isn’t just for the ones who can afford a new >salon appointments, including root touch-ups, which means it’s accessible regardless of your beauty budget. “While rising prices are inescapable,” Hazan says, “finding alternative solutions to maintain blonde hair is [still] possible.”

Read on for more about the color trend, drugstore products to buy, and expert tips on touching up your hair for the low.

What is “Recession Blonde”?

When money is tight, scheduling routine touch-ups to upkeep your blonde hair may feel less necessary. As a result, the color of your natural hair begins to grow from the roots, or, if you’re wearing a wig, your color may start to yellow and fade. “‘Recession blonde’ is a natural-looking blonde that’s darker at the roots and gradually lightens toward the ends, creating a soft, lived-in effect,” says celebrity hairstylist Dereq Clark.

While the >economic uncertainty and how it impacts our spending habits, the look can also be intentional. “It’s a strategic blend of your natural root color into your blonde so you don’t have that harsh line when your roots grow in,” says celebrity hairstylist Annadjid “Kee” Taylor. “It gives you the freedom to go longer between appointments while still keeping your hair looking dimensional and fresh.” 

Think: soft root shadows, subtle melting, and that effortlessly sun-kissed look. “It looks expensive, but it takes way less upkeep,” she says.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 02: Beyoncé attends the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) Why is the >HASK Blonde Care Purple Toning Shampoo. 

However, a color-treatment shampoo isn’t the only affordable solution to color care. “There are many ways to extend the color life of blonde roots,” Hazan says. While people often lean exclusively on purple or blue shampoo, Hazan says hair glosses and masks double in benefits for overall hair health.

Taylor agrees, adding that color-treated hair can get dry fast, and dryness makes your color look dull. “A weekly deep conditioner or glossing treatment can totally reset your blonde,” she says. “A good hydrating gloss is affordable, easy to apply at home, and makes your hair super shiny.”

VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 01: Kelly Rowland attends the amfAR Gala Venezia 2024 presented by Red Sea International Film Festival and World Gold Council at Hangar Nicelli on September 01, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Victor Boyko/amfAR/Getty Images for amfAR) How often should blonde roots be retouched?

Recession blonde wouldn’t be “recession blonde” without overgrown brown roots. But, if you’re trying to avoid the look, “blonde roots should typically be retouched every 6 to 8 weeks, [but it] ultimately depends on your natural growth and the desired look you’re going for,” Clark says. For example, if you have platinum or traditional blonde hair, your roots may require a touch-up every 4 to 6 weeks. But, if you’re not afraid of the recession blonde look, every 8 to 12 weeks is perfectly fine.

“The whole point is to make the grow-out part of the look, so as long as your tone is still good and the blend is holding, you really don’t need to come in as often,” Taylor says. “This color is designed to fade gradually, making it extremely low-maintenance.”

What are the steps to retouching your roots at home?

“When clients ask me about retouching their roots at home, I always recommend to take your time, prep properly, and not rush it,” Taylor says. “It’s not a hard process, just one that’s worth doing with intention.”

Start by preparing your color kit, ensuring you have all the tools you need.Carefully section your dry, unwashed hair with clips to help with the application process. Using a brush, apply the color on the roots, starting from the back of your head and on the roots only.Allow the color to process according to the instructions.Once the processing time is complete, rinse your hair thoroughly, shampoo it and follow with a nourishing conditioner, like the Cheribe Daily Refresh Moisture Milk. Taraji P. Henson at The Mark Hotel before the 2025 Met Gala: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Masato Onada/WWD via Getty Images) What To Do When You Don’t Have Money For A Retouch

The point of recession blonde is to be as accessible as possible—even if it means cutting corners. “There are definitely ways to stretch the time without compromising the look,” Taylor says, with root cover-up spray being the most affordable color cheat. All you have to do is apply it in the shower like conditioner and rinse it out after 10 to 20 minutes, she says. “It’s not a long-term fix, but it can buy you some time if you’re pushing your next salon visit.” 

Otherwise, if you don’t want to buy any products at all, high buns, messy parts, and waves are a styling hack to make your roots look more blended. “It’s all about working with your grow-out instead of hiding it,” Taylor says. Meanwhile, specific cuts and colors look better with age: “Balayage or lived-in blonde shades are great alternatives [to recession blonde] as they grow out more naturally and allow you to extend the time between retouches at the salon,” Hazan says.

What should you avoid when DIY-ing?

If you’re not a professional and decide to skip your root touch-ups, knowing what not to do can save the health and appearance of your hair. 

Before testing on a full head of hair, it’s always important to do a test strip to avoid any reactions or mess ups.Don’t guess on processing time; make sure you follow the instructions directly.After the first rinse, shampoo, and condition, skip shampooing for at least 48 hours after coloring to allow everything to settle and last longer.Make sure you’re picking up the right products (fixing your mistakes can be much more expensive than doing it right the first time.) PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 25: Zendaya attends The Prelude To The Olympics on July 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Lyvans Boolaky/FilmMagic) The Best Products Under $20 Dollars To Maintain Your Roots 

“The most important step to retouching your hair at home is picking up the right product,” Hazan says. “If you’re going to maintain your color at home or between appointments, it should feel achievable, not overwhelming,” Taylor adds.

01 01 Rita Hazan True Color Ultimate Shine Hair Gloss Hazan’s very own gloss revives color and adds shine to color-treated and color-damaged hair, which she recommends using 2 to 4 times per week. Available at ritahazan.com 15Shop Now 02 02 HASK 5-in-1 Leave-In Spray What’s more cost-effective than a multi-use product? From thermal protection to restoring dry, damaged hair, this leave-in is one of Taylor’s favorites for maintaining your “recession blonde”. Available at haskbeauty.com 9Shop Now 03 03 Everpro Gray Away Root Cover Up Spray If your wallet doesn’t open for a touch-up, blending in your dark roots with a root spray is a temporary, no-fuss cheat to presentable hair. Available at amazon.com 9Shop Now 04 04 Wella Professionals Invigo Nutri-Enrich Mask Dry hair doesn’t have to be inevitable when your hair is blonde—especially with one of Clark’s favorite hair masks. Available at amazon.com 19Shop Now 05 05 HASK Blonde Care Purple Toning Shampoo A good and affordable purple shampoo is the most popular solution to extend your color’s lifespan. “It fights brass and keeps blonde bright,” says Taylor. Available at haskbeauty.com 7Shop Now 06 06 Cheribe Growth Oil For Hair + Scalp Taylor recommends using a touch of oil on your scalp before coloring and this one is liquid gold. Available at cheribe.com 13Shop Now 07 07 Wella Professionals Invigo Blonde Recharge Shampoo Using a pro-approved purple shampoo can help give you salon-quality results at home (without the added cost). Available at amazon.com 19Shop Now 08 08 Cheribe Softening Hair Conditioner Conditioning your hair after you’re done DIYing your roots is a step you can’t skip (especially when you’re using a bond-repairing conditioner). Available at cheribe.com 13Shop Now 09 09 Glaze Pearl Blonde Super Color Conditioning Gloss Hazan says using a color gloss is “safe to use on virgin or color-treated highlights, super affordable, and super easy to use at home.”  Available at glazehair.com 18Shop Now TOPICS:  blonde hair hair coloring tips recession indicators

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