It's free to start: every new account gets 5 free credits, enough to fully preview 2 styles from the 200+ library, no credit card required. To get the most accurate preview, upload a clear, front-facing photo with your hair pulled back from your forehead and jawline — the AI reads your hairline and face shape from that image, so the more of it the camera can see, the more accurate the result.

Look for three things when comparing tools: does it map the style onto your actual face shape and hairline rather than overlaying a generic wig image, does it cover both men's and women's cuts in one library, and can you test it before paying. YouCam's generator regenerates hair based on your head shape and lighting instead of pasting on a sticker, covers both genders in the same 200+ library, and gives new accounts 5 free credits — enough to fully preview 2 styles before subscribing.

Use the same photo for every style you test rather than switching photos between attempts — changing the lighting or angle makes it harder to judge results side by side. Generate 3-4 candidates from one photo, then use the before/after compare view to weigh them against each other instead of in isolation.

Yes — after previewing a cut, switch to the hair color tool on the same photo. As a general rule with AI color previews, results read most accurately on hair close to its natural undertone; if your hair is heavily processed or color-treated, the preview near your roots can look slightly different from your mid-lengths, since the tool maps color onto the tone it detects in the photo.

No — the full generator runs in your browser, with no download required. The app adds a few extras on top, like saving looks for offline access, but isn't necessary to try any of the 200+ styles.

Round faces read best with styles that add height and angles — a wolf cut, a long layered bob with side-swept bangs, or an angular pixie balance out soft curves. Avoid blunt, chin-length bobs, which tend to emphasize width. Preview the Wolf Cut or Short Bob from the trending styles above on your own photo before deciding.

Right now: the Old Money Bob (a blunt, no-layers cut that's become the calmer alternative to heavily layered shags), soft mullets, bottleneck bangs (an easier-to-grow-out alternative to full fringe), and textured fades for men. Trends shift roughly every season, so this part of the library is one of the first sections we update — check back if you're after something newer than what's shown.

The generator maps each style to your specific face shape, hairline, and lighting rather than overlaying a generic template, so the preview reflects how the cut or color would actually sit on you. Think of it as a styling reference to bring to your appointment, not a guarantee down to the millimeter — hair thickness and a stylist's technique still affect the final result.

For more on how to test a drastic change before you book a salon appointment, see our guide: Try a New Haircut Before You Commit.

Yes — it runs in your mobile browser with no app required. For the clearest results, upload the original photo from your camera roll rather than a screenshot or a heavily compressed download, since fine hairline detail is the first thing to blur when an image gets compressed.

New accounts get 5 free credits, shared across the whole 200+ style library rather than per style. Each generated style costs 2 credits, so those 5 credits fully cover 2 previews — it's worth narrowing to your top 2 real candidates first, using the quiz or quick-answer table above, rather than spending credits one at a time

Yes. Use "Upload Hairstyle" to add a reference photo — a magazine clipping, a Pinterest save, a friend's selfie — and the AI maps that cut and color onto your own photo. One caveat: if the reference style is noticeably longer than your own hair, the preview can match the color and shape but can't add real length the way extensions would — pair it with the Clip-In Extensions preview for that comparison instead.

Yes. Many salons pull it up on a tablet during the consultation itself, so a client can compare 2-3 candidate cuts on their own face before any cutting starts. Businesses that want this without sending clients to our site can integrate the same engine directly into their own booking flow through the AI Hairstyle API.

It comes down to three things: your face shape, your hair's texture, and how much time you actually want to spend styling it — the same factors a stylist would ask about in a consultation. Take the 60-second hairstyle quiz above for a shortlist built around your answers, then preview each pick on your own photo before deciding.

For a deeper breakdown by face shape with 2026's trending cuts, see our guide: Best Haircut for Your Face Shape.

The biggest trap is choosing a style from a photo of someone with different hair texture or face proportions than your own — the same wavy bob looks completely different translated onto straight, fine hair. That's the gap the quiz and AI preview above are built to close: see the cut on your own texture and proportions, not someone else's.

A strong jawline pairs well with soft, textured layering that rounds off sharp angles — a wavy shag, loose waves, or curtain bangs all work well. Avoid single-length blunt cuts that echo the jaw's straight lines. Try the Wavy Shag or Curtain Wavy styles above.

Oval faces are the most versatile shape — nearly every style works, from a bixie cut to a wolf cut to two braids. With less shape-correcting to do, focus on texture and how much time you want to spend styling it instead — see the quiz above for a shortlist matched to your hair texture and maintenance preference.

A heart shape — a wider forehead narrowing toward the jaw — benefits from styles that balance the forehead and draw attention down toward the jaw and cheekbones: curtain bangs, a chin-length bob, or a pixie. Try the Pixie or Two Braids styles above.

Long faces benefit from styles that add width rather than length — a blunt bob, curtain bangs, or waves that land at the jawline all shorten the face visually. A pixie can also work well if the volume sits at the sides rather than the crown.

Diamond faces — a narrow forehead and jaw with wide cheekbones — do well with styles that soften the cheekbones, like a short bob with soft layers or curtain bangs. Avoid styles that add extra width right at cheekbone height.

A hairstyle preview is usually one step in a longer edit. A workflow that works well: 1) Try on your new hairstyle here first, so the rest of the edit builds around a look you've already confirmed. 2) Run the result through the Photo Enhancer to sharpen detail and fix lighting. 3) Use Background Remover if the original backdrop is distracting. 4) Finish with AI Makeup to match your makeup to the new style, and AI Replace to clean up anything else left in frame. Each tool reuses the same photo, so there's no need to re-upload between steps.