I’m struggling to find a reliable AI hairstyle app that works well for virtual try-ons. The ones I’ve tried give unrealistic results or are too hard to use. Does anyone have recommendations for an easy, accurate app that realistically shows what a new hairstyle would look like?
Honestly, most of the AI hairstyle apps out there are glorified photo filters, but a couple do stand above the rest—barely. YouCam Makeup is the one a lot of people seem to recommend, and for good reason: it does better at blending new styles onto your face so you don’t look like a wax model with a wig slapped on. Another solid one is Facelab, though you have to wade through a bunch of in-app purchases.
That said, don’t expect magic. If you have curly hair and pick a straight style—or vice versa—almost all of these apps will pretend your hair type isn’t a thing. They also tend to freak out if you have bangs, glasses, or non-standard face angles. Half the time it looks like you’re previewing for a role in a low-budget sci-fi movie. Ease-of-use wise, though, both YouCam Makeup and Facelab are pretty okay—much less fiddly than some of the junkier apps (looking at you, random Play Store knockoffs).
Pro-tip: take the photos in good lighting, straight-on, hair pulled back if you can, and expect to laugh at 38% of the results. If you want super-accurate, go annoy a hair salon with a wig session instead. AI isn’t magic, but at least these two won’t completely destroy your hope of a new look.
Honestly, I see where @jeff is coming from with YouCam Makeup and Facelab, but honestly, even they feel like a letdown for anything beyond the most generic straight/parted styles. I’m not sure either of those apps deserve a “best” title, but I do get why people lean their direction—the bar is super low for everything else. That said, I’d actually throw Hairstyle Try On (the one with the somewhat cheesy UI, yeah that one) into the race if you’re just looking for an easy-peasy way to see what you’d look like with a pixie cut or mullet before accidentally embarrassing yourself at a salon. It’s a bit clunky and feels like it hasn’t been updated since 2013, but at least its color overlays are less terrifying than most, and you can quickly swipe through a bunch of lengths.
But let’s be real, none of these apps, YouCam included, seem to understand what wavy hair actually means, or what the heck to do with a non-standard face shape. I once got a “virtual makeover” that gave me a combover and cartoon eyebrows. Not exaggerating. There’s only so much you can do with algorithms pasted over selfies—I mean, c’mon, my hair is brown, not unstable anti-matter, but half the apps made it look radioactive.
If anyone’s found something that lets you upload YOUR face and map actual, customizable textures (not just color), let me know, because I’m desperate to stop traumatizing myself. At this point, I just send screenshots to my friends to get roasted in our group chat. It’s like a beauty filter for your self-esteem. So yeah: maybe YouCam for not hating your life, but have absolutely zero expectations, or try Hairstyle Try On for some extra giggles. AI might run the world, but it’s still failing hard at poodle bangs.
YouCam Makeup, Facelab, and Hairstyle Try On have already gotten decent nods, but if you’re digging for something that won’t disappoint (or at least destroy your sense of self-esteem), here’s a rundown.
YouCam Makeup: Honestly, it’s near the top if you want smooth blending and something that doesn’t look like Steve Buscemi’s deepfake hairpiece. Pros: decent interface, okay blending, does makeup and hair, fairly easy. Cons: If you want wavy hair or anything with actual texture, expect to look like you’re wearing a wig in a wind tunnel. Glasses? Non-central angles? Good luck.
Facelab: Strong on facial tweaks, not so much on genuinely realistic hair maps. Pros: If you want to tweak facial features and hair simultaneously, not bad. Cons: In-app purchases everywhere, and layered effects sometimes get janky.
Hairstyle Try On: Points for speed and for being less terrifying than others color-wise. Pros: quick, lots of laugh value, accessible. Cons: Low on realism, feels like time-traveling to the early 2010s.
Now, if you’re actually hunting for something beyond a meme generator, you’ll quickly learn the answer isn’t in the App Store right now. Most “AI hairstyle” apps have better marketing than tech behind them. A (slight) exception might be the product title ', which you should consider if you find it—though let’s be real, it suffers from some of the same sins: mostly generic cuts, questionable handling of texture, and occasional color disasters. Pros: might offer more customizable overlays or slightly improved mapping. Cons: Still not the leap in technology many promise, and can struggle with unique features (texture! face shape! real-world hair physics!).
Riffing off what the others said: If you’re serious, you’re almost better off consulting with a stylist or even using a simulation tool some salons offer. But for digital fun, low expectations, and a sense of humor required, YouCam Makeup or ’ are your best bets right now, unless there’s a magic app out there not already roasted in these replies.
Bottom line: nothing is perfect. But if you’re after an AI hairstyle app that balances ease-of-use, less horror-movie output, and a decently modern UI, '. Worth a shot—just keep your real-life expectations firmly on the ground.