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
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply