Archive May 6, 2025

Zara McDermott has just unveiled a darker hair colour for spring, and it happens to be a top money-saving shade that’s soaring amid the tariff and cost of living crises

If you’re going into the summer months looking for hair colour inspiration, look to Zara McDermott, who has just unveiled a darker tone that takes her away from her usual highlighted blonde shade. The documentary maker took to her socials to share the transformation, penning: “Dark caramel for summer”. And while there are plenty of names for this exact hue, experts have coined it ‘recession’ blonde or bronde for 2025.

A move away from full head of highlights and ashy tones, this low-maintenance shade is perfect for any blonde or light brunette looking to save money on regular salon visits. The whole aim of the tone is to work with your natural base shade, meaning less time in the salon and more time with a glossy hair that doesn’t look grown out.

The ‘recession bronde’ trend – A professional overview

“Balayage became hugely popular around 2010 during the last recession,” says Siobhan Haug, co-founder of London’s Haug House salon. “And now, with tariff changes in the US and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis over here, we’re seeing hair colour trends reflect those economic pressures again, like this ‘recession’ or ‘low maintenance’ bronde.”

According to Siobhan, today’s clients want to invest in high-quality salon colour, but they’re also thinking practically. “People want beautiful, well-done colour that lasts. They’re spacing out their appointments more, so the key is to get the most longevity from each service. That means adapting classic techniques in smarter, more strategic ways,” she observes. For blondes, this means taking them from full heads of highlights back to balayage-like shades that work with the natural root colour.

READ MORE: Hero Color Wow spray turned hair into ‘liquid glass’ at this year’s Met Gala

READ MORE: Jesy Nelson ‘obsessed’ with spring’s top beauty trend during baby prep break

Even for brunettes, Siobhan and her team have evolved their approach. “We’ve moved away from permanent colour and now use demi-permanent instead. It’s a compromise in terms of full coverage, but you get a beautifully blended effect that keeps you going for longer,” she adds.

Another cost-effective trick involves changing the application method of root tints. “A full root tint normally needs refreshing every four to six weeks. But now, many of our clients are having the same colour sliced through the hair, leaving out some strands. This allows for a softer regrowth and stretches the maintenance to eight or even ten weeks.”

This technique, unique to Haug House, also works well for clients who have traditionally had a block colour. “We take them from that solid look to a highlighted version of the same shade,” she explains. “It’s all about grey blending now, rather than covering every single grey hair. It gives a much softer and more natural grow-out.”

Blondes, too, are getting a more naturalised treatment. “We’re doing more underlighting—placing lighter packets on top and weaving lowlights underneath. It creates depth and dimension, and extends the time between appointments. Regular highlights might last 8 to 10 weeks, but with this technique, you can go up to 16 weeks without needing a refresh,” says Siobhan.

Head of beauty Zoe tries out the colour for herself

I was getting pretty fed up with the constant root touch-ups and the never-ending maintenance of my full head of highlights. With my busy work schedule, I knew it was time for a change. I wanted to go blonde, but in a way that didn’t mean I’d have to be in the salon every few weeks. So, I decided to book in with Siobhan at Haug House to get her advice. I told her I wanted something low-maintenance, like Zara’s new colour, but still had that blonde look, and she assured me she could make it work.

Siobhan worked her magic with this underlighting technique, and I was honestly blown away by the results. She layered lighter highlights on top and then added some lowlights underneath, which gave my hair so much depth and dimension. The colour looked really natural, and the grow-out is going to be subtle– no more harsh roots.

What I loved most is how much longer I could go between appointments, up to 16 weeks, I’m told. It was exactly what I needed: a creamy blonde that works with my root colour and doesn’t require constant upkeep.

Make your colour last longer

• Invest in a purple shampoo, but don’t overdo it: Once a week at a maximum, but ideally once a month, is how often you should be using one at home. A build-up of purple shampoo can make your hair more brittle and very dull-looking. Top tip: always follow a purple shampoo with a second wash with a nourishing shampoo.

We love: Redken Colour Extend Blondage Shampoo, £21.51

• Use a deep conditioning treatment every week: Preferably with bond-building technology. The combination of that with moisturising and nourishing ingredients will ensure your ends stay hydrated and less prone to breakage.

We love: Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask, £22.40

• Always heat protect your hair: Aside from the damage that hot tools can do in terms of breakage if you use them without a heat protectant, they can also cause your colour to fade faster – same with UV rays from the sun. Spritz a good heat protectant on after every wash, and again before styling, to get the most out of your salon colour.

We love: Bumble and bumble Heat Shield Thermal Protection Mist, 12

Anais Gallagher says some fans need to appoint young people for summer shows like dad Noel’s Oasis Live 25 tour.

Anais Gallagher says she goes to her dad Noel for advice cos the Oasis songwriter is the “most level headed person” she knows.

The daughter of the Oasis star Noel Gallagher also used a new interview to hit back at the ‘Nepo Baby’ tag, insisting only Noel’s money helped her and not his reputation because she has not gone nto the music industry.

What you see is what you get, according to Anais. They put in a lot of effort. I would always turn to my father for advice or assistance; it’s funny that a 90s rock star is like my most sane person. He is unquestionably my life’s guiding principle.

Like thousands of other people, Anais is looking forward to the Oasis Live 25 tour.

She continued, “This year will be pretty busy.” I want to learn how to take pictures on movie sets. And personally? Keep in mind to take my supplements and drink plenty of water so I don’t get too many hangovers after all the Oasis concerts.

Noel’s daughter Anais and his first wife Meg Matthews are both influential photographers and influencers, and she wants to pursue portraiture on set in the future. She credits Jill Furmanovsky with having a significant influence on Oasis and has taken some well-known photos of the place over the years.

Anais told Hello! that she was born a Gallagher with privileges. “My financial stability, not my dad’s fame, is what I’ve been given,” says Fashion magazine, adding that “all my privilege and in quotation marks is my luck.” Because their father is a layer or politician, I attended school with many wealthy people who probably had the same level of privilege as I did.

My father paid for my university education, as my father did. Since I was given money to live on, I was able to afford a job while I was a student. He would buy me a new camera if I needed one to aid in my studies. My life was made simpler by all of those than by my friends, who had to struggle while studying. However, he writing Wonderwall didn’t really help me because I’ve never been a musician. Despite having money, Yes. “

Anais also criticized some of the more recent fans of Oasis for being aggressive and dismissive of younger fans.

She said, “I see this all the time, where someone will post a funny video or a cover song and people will say, [Oasis] would hate this. You detest this, no, no.

“Sometimes, people insert this hyper-aggressive masculine ideology into my dad and uncle’s character,” they say.

They are actually much more accepting than their fans are.

She added: “People really love to hate on anything that young women like and it’s really fascinating to me that young women want to go and see Taylor Swift and they’re criticised because apparently it’s not cool or it’s embarrassing – and then young women want to go see Oasis and they’re not allowed.

Where can young women take up space, then? As a huge music fan myself, I was told by some that “you weren’t around” because many of the bands I liked had already left or were already dead by the time I came to see them.

For the first time since the band split on July 4 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Noel and Liam will join forces. As part of the tour, dates will be held in Dublin, London, and Manchester.