Bottle Blondes v2.0
January 26, 2009 3:35 PM Subscribe
What's up with all of the dark roots?
Over the last few months I've noticed that more than a few bottle blonde women I know, as well as those I see on TV, appear to be intentionally letting their dark hair root. show.
Is this a new fashion thing? I'd ask one of my acquaintances who evidences this, but that would mean acknowledging that this person isn't a natural blonde.
Over the last few months I've noticed that more than a few bottle blonde women I know, as well as those I see on TV, appear to be intentionally letting their dark hair root. show.
Is this a new fashion thing? I'd ask one of my acquaintances who evidences this, but that would mean acknowledging that this person isn't a natural blonde.
Welcome to the recession.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 3:38 PM on January 26, 2009 [24 favorites]
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 3:38 PM on January 26, 2009 [24 favorites]
As a long-time user of hair dye, and a current blonde with roots all I can say is that I'm increasingly lazy. Maybe your co-hort has reached a similar phase in their lives. Plus, I would not mind at all if you asked me about my hair color. It's not in the least bit embarrasing.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 3:39 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by otherwordlyglow at 3:39 PM on January 26, 2009
I wouldn't say "new," but yeah it's come somewhat into fashion in the last 5 years or so.
posted by drjimmy11 at 3:39 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by drjimmy11 at 3:39 PM on January 26, 2009
There's been a more relaxed sense of style when it comes to hair in recent years. Lower maintenance, or at least the illusion of it.
posted by cmgonzalez at 3:47 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by cmgonzalez at 3:47 PM on January 26, 2009
I haven't got to say "confirmation bias" in a long time! Confirmation bias!
posted by GuyZero at 3:48 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by GuyZero at 3:48 PM on January 26, 2009
A couple of thoughts:
- To keep up with roots, you pretty much have to get your color redone about every six weeks. If you're getting it professionally done, this is a luxury. Doing it yourself is cheaper, but it's a pain in the ass.
- There are now concerns (whether well-founded or not, I don't know) that hair dye may not be safe during pregnancy, so some women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant stop coloring their hair.
posted by scody at 3:48 PM on January 26, 2009
- To keep up with roots, you pretty much have to get your color redone about every six weeks. If you're getting it professionally done, this is a luxury. Doing it yourself is cheaper, but it's a pain in the ass.
- There are now concerns (whether well-founded or not, I don't know) that hair dye may not be safe during pregnancy, so some women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant stop coloring their hair.
posted by scody at 3:48 PM on January 26, 2009
The recession wouldn't explain high profile roots showing like Jessica Simpson's, for example.
posted by cmgonzalez at 3:48 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by cmgonzalez at 3:48 PM on January 26, 2009
Yeah but Jessica's was apparently for a part?
posted by otherwordlyglow at 3:51 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by otherwordlyglow at 3:51 PM on January 26, 2009
it's kind of a pseudo "mall punk" look. I'm thinking I first saw it (on a celebrity) on Avril Lavigne, and maybe Sarah Michelle Gellar c. the early '00s.
posted by drjimmy11 at 3:57 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by drjimmy11 at 3:57 PM on January 26, 2009
The recession wouldn't explain high profile roots showing like Jessica Simpson's, for example.
Unfortunately.
I'm not saying Mrs. Director colors her hair, but if she did she would not allow the roots to expose the truth.
posted by trinity8-director at 4:05 PM on January 26, 2009
Unfortunately.
I'm not saying Mrs. Director colors her hair, but if she did she would not allow the roots to expose the truth.
posted by trinity8-director at 4:05 PM on January 26, 2009
Gag. What a tacky trend.
The first I saw of it was in an advertorial in a Cosmo-esque magazine, with Pip Edwards (some kind of Australian pseudo-celebrity) as the model.
posted by minus zero at 4:18 PM on January 26, 2009
The first I saw of it was in an advertorial in a Cosmo-esque magazine, with Pip Edwards (some kind of Australian pseudo-celebrity) as the model.
posted by minus zero at 4:18 PM on January 26, 2009
Laziness. That's really it for me.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:34 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:34 PM on January 26, 2009
I have been noticing this for years. I feel like it's more common to see blondes with dark roots than without.
posted by amethysts at 4:40 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by amethysts at 4:40 PM on January 26, 2009
it's a trend. like the chipped nail polish trend. the idea behind it being that one is so busy with living life that one doesn't necessarily attend to all the things needed to come off looking perfectly polished. even though it's a studied imperfection.
posted by violetk at 4:44 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by violetk at 4:44 PM on January 26, 2009
I have noticed this for a while too. In fact I only recently put two and two together and realized that this look was the result of dyeing your hair and letting it grow out.
posted by pombe at 4:59 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by pombe at 4:59 PM on January 26, 2009
I started noticing this in 1995 or so. I even remember an Betty and Veronica comic about it. In the story line, Betty is in a fashion show for Veronica, and Veronica makes Betty dye her roots a darker color because dark roots are "the look" ad Betty is a natural blond. Well, Veronica fucks up the dye job royally and dyes Betty's roots GREEN! This sets off an international fashion trend of green roots. The comic had to come out in the mid 90's, because that is when I was reading those comics (shut up) and it was the first story in the digest, so it was a new story (double shut up).
So, to get back to my answer: Confirmation Bias, with a dash of Recessionista!
posted by piratebowling at 5:03 PM on January 26, 2009
So, to get back to my answer: Confirmation Bias, with a dash of Recessionista!
posted by piratebowling at 5:03 PM on January 26, 2009
I can only speak for myself. My roots are showing because I've been putting off the visit to the salon for too long. It costs over $100, and given the recession, I've been pretty concerned about reducing the debt I'm carrying. So I'm spending more on paying that off than I'm feeling comfortable spending, right now, on clothes or hair.
Recession is a good enough answer for me. But there are always people letting their roots go, partly to see what their natural color looks like these days and whether they might like to go with that for a change. So confirmation bias is likely at least some of the answer, too.
posted by Miko at 5:07 PM on January 26, 2009
Recession is a good enough answer for me. But there are always people letting their roots go, partly to see what their natural color looks like these days and whether they might like to go with that for a change. So confirmation bias is likely at least some of the answer, too.
posted by Miko at 5:07 PM on January 26, 2009
It's a trend that started in the 90s, even. I remember there being blip entertainment show segments about Melrose Place, even.
posted by Nattie at 5:28 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by Nattie at 5:28 PM on January 26, 2009
Thirding that the "trend" started in the 90s, but the regular, non-celebrity women just haven't bothered/afforded/had time to go to the salon.
posted by desuetude at 5:47 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by desuetude at 5:47 PM on January 26, 2009
A lot of people aren't trying to look like they're natural blondes. A little bit of root points out, paradoxically, that you put a lot of time and energy into your hair. Also, it is edgy if you are boring.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:06 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:06 PM on January 26, 2009
Another anecdotal data point for you. I am currently sporting roots because in the current economic climate, with layoffs looming, it doesn't really seem prudent to me to spend several hundred dollars a year to be blonde.
However, it never actually occurred to me that people might think I WANT my hair to look this way. That's a bit concerning.
posted by christie at 8:05 PM on January 26, 2009
However, it never actually occurred to me that people might think I WANT my hair to look this way. That's a bit concerning.
posted by christie at 8:05 PM on January 26, 2009
I've never thought much about it, but I have often enjoyed it when my roots begin to show. It gives the color some depth, and I don't think it's tacky. I think it's more tacky to expect women to run to the salon every 6 weeks like clockwork, lest they be perceived as buying into some "tacky trend."
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 10:41 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 10:41 PM on January 26, 2009
Here's something I'm curious about: If you're one of the women who isn't getting things touched up because it costs too much money... why not spend one last time and have your hair put back to it's natural color? It would seem that a last expenditure of $100 for the dye job that would put an end to future dye jobs (and prevent you from looking -really- weird when your roots are now 6 inches grown out!) would be the most practical thing to do?
posted by JFitzpatrick at 6:22 AM on January 27, 2009
posted by JFitzpatrick at 6:22 AM on January 27, 2009
If you're one of the women who isn't getting things touched up because it costs too much money... why not spend one last time and have your hair put back to it's natural color?
Can't see a reason to. I don't care that much about the roots showing, and it doesn't look "really weird" if you haven't gone from chestnut brown to platinum. I really like the highlights I get, and I'm not a big fan of my natural color. I'll endure it, but I don't want to pay someone for a fake version of it.
To be worth the expense, hair color would have to a be a bigger deal than it is for me. It's a luxury, not a crucial part of my identity.
posted by Miko at 6:50 AM on January 27, 2009
Can't see a reason to. I don't care that much about the roots showing, and it doesn't look "really weird" if you haven't gone from chestnut brown to platinum. I really like the highlights I get, and I'm not a big fan of my natural color. I'll endure it, but I don't want to pay someone for a fake version of it.
To be worth the expense, hair color would have to a be a bigger deal than it is for me. It's a luxury, not a crucial part of my identity.
posted by Miko at 6:50 AM on January 27, 2009
JFitzpatrick, while not a woman, I'd say that it's because the dying will continue, just with less frequency. For many people, their natural color may be something grey or less brilliant that isn't going to be as evident with some root showing, but would be obvious with fully grown-out hair.
posted by mikeh at 6:58 AM on January 27, 2009
posted by mikeh at 6:58 AM on January 27, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 3:38 PM on January 26, 2009