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. New accounts start with 5 free credits — enough to fully preview 2 styles from the 200+ library before deciding whether to unlock more.

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.

Face shape is the starting point, but it interacts with your hair's texture and how much volume a cut adds. As a general pattern: rounder faces often benefit from styles that add height or angles, like a wolf cut; square faces from softer layering, like a wavy shag; and heart-shaped faces from styles that balance a wider forehead, like curtain bangs. For a shortlist built for your specific shape instead of general rules, use the face shape detector or the hairstyle quiz above.

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.

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.

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.