Historically, the glossier and more elaborate a woman’s hair, the bigger the bank balance. It wasn’t just style—it was a subtle way of saying, "I’ve got people for that". My first real insight into this expensive hair aesthetic came at a Chelsea salon, sitting in the chair of a then-royal hairdresser, where identikit full-bodied blow-dries floated out the door. In that postcode, hair functioned like a Chanel bag: shorthand for old-money and status that money can't buy.
Today, it’s more about the illusion of wealth than actual money. When I asked Elliot Bute, stylist at Hershesons Fitzrovia, what defines 'moneyed' hair, he was clear: “It’s glossy, healthy and understatedly styled. Texture should be deliberate. Whether it's tousled, wavy, or straight it should always be considered, never chaotic.”
