High-Maintenance Hair Looks Are Firmly Outdated In 2024

As we progress further into 2024, there are certain trends you can feel free to wave goodbye to and others you should be making space for. When it comes to hair, the first thing we're cutting out of our lives is high-maintenance hair looks — the ones that keep you stressed and your stylist busy. Instead, say hello to the low-maintenance hair of your dreams.

High-maintenance hair, which includes cool-toned blonds and bright highlights, is strictly a thing of the past, and we owe it to the clean girl aesthetic. The laidback, natural beauty approach that has permeated our social media feeds has let us revel in the ease of low-effort beauty routines, and we're starting to get comfy. In fact, according to hairstylist Rena Calhoun, styles with less bleach are becoming increasingly prominent in 2024. "Whether it's adding more dimension in a blond or going brunette entirely, low-maintenance color is the name of the game," she shares with Vogue. Rather than spending all our time at the salon, the goal is to look chic and expensive without putting in too much effort (which happens to be another way to nail quiet luxury style). 

While you don't need to leave the bleach-blond looks and beachy highlights completely in the dust, you can't deny that their upkeep (and price point) are no fun. Plus, clean girl beauty dictates that less is better in every aspect of your life. So, frame it this way — low-maintenance base colors and blendable highlights look just as pretty without any of the downsides.

Celebrities and influencers alike seem to be changing their hair dramatically in ways that are not only true to their style but also much more in tune with their natural beauty. Hairstylist Gregory Russell notes this change to Vogue, saying, "I've been seeing a lot of clients and friends returning to their natural color or close to it." And others, while not giving up the blond entirely, are letting their roots breathe with a subtler balayage or even babylights. It seems that the artificial, unattainable looks of years past are coming to an end.

If you want an example of a successful high-maintenance to low-maintenance hair transition, just look at Emma Chamberlain. Less than a year ago, she decided to get rid of her platinum blond bob in favor of embracing her brunette roots (literally). "Bleaching my hair [blond] made my hair fall out," Chamberlain admitted to People in December 2023. Now, she rocks a chocolate cherry color that looks breathtaking on her, is easier to maintain, and brings out the piercing blue of her eyes.

Instead of your usual high-maintenance hair color, which comes with monthly upkeep and a steep price point, ask your hairstylist for something that adapts better to your hair routine. Hairstylist Dafne Evangelista tells Cosmopolitan that she's noticed people "going more natural" when it comes to blond in particular, either adding in warmer hues or going back to basics entirely. "I've had a lot of blond clients growing out their natural hair a bit," she explains. We know a full-on platinum blond has been the defining hair color for years now, but things are changing for the better, not only for the health of your actual hair but also for the overall look. While there's a blond shade out there for everyone, platinum blond is not universally flattering. Though not exactly an exciting truth, the reality is your natural color is the only one guaranteed to suit you perfectly, so don't be afraid to rock it. 

If you do want to introduce some color or bleaching, you can still make this look low-maintenance by avoiding beginning your highlights from the root. Instead, have your highlights blend subtly upward, or opt for a soft balayage instead. According to colorist Jessica Gonzales, balayage is one of the least high-maintenance highlights. "The grow-out is less obvious with balayage highlights, you can go months without touching it up," she says.