Applications for changing hairstyles on Android: how to choose and use without errors

Virtually trying on a hairstyle before going to the salon is not only a way to save on a bad haircut, but also a chance to experiment without risk. Smartphones offer dozens of applications that change your hairstyle in a photo or in real time through the camera. However, not all of them are equally accurate: some distort facial features, others require perfect lighting, and others do not support the Russian language at all. Android offer dozens of applications that change your hairstyle in a photo or in real time through the camera. However, not all of them are equally accurate: some distort facial features, others require perfect lighting, and others do not support the Russian language at all.

In this article, we analyzed 15 popular applications for changing hairstyles, weeded out fraudulent and low-quality ones, and then tested the best ones in detail. You'll learn which apps give realistic results, how to avoid mistakes when taking photos for processing, and why some applications ask for access to your contacts (spoiler: it's not always safe). We have also compiled a comparison table with ratings for key parameters - from the accuracy of hair application to the presence of men's haircuts.

How applications for changing hairstyles work: technologies and limitations

Most apps use a combination of neural networks and augmented reality (AR) for applying hairstyles. Algorithms analyze head shape, hairline, and even the texture of your existing haircut to create a natural-looking new look. However, there are nuances:

• 🔍 The quality of the original photo: blurry pictures or photos with contrasting backlight (for example, against the sun) lead to overlay errors. Applications need clear facial contours.
• 🎭 Realism: cheap apps simply “stretch” template hairstyles, ignoring individual features. Top solutions (for example, YouCam Makeup) adapt the volume and color of hair to your type of appearance.
• 📱 Hardware requirements: AR filters in real time require a powerful processor. On budget smartphones (for example, Redmi 9A), such applications will slow down.

Important: not a single application will take into account the structure of your hair (curly, straight, thin). A virtual hairstyle may look perfect on the screen, but in reality it will behave differently - especially with complex styling or coloring.

Top 5 applications for changing hairstyles on Android: comparison table

We selected apps with the highest ratings Google Play (4.5+ stars) and tested them on smartphones Samsung Galaxy S23 i Xiaomi Poco X5. The table below shows the key parameters that influence the choice:

Application	Real time (AR)	Men's haircuts	Russian language	Paid functions	Realism rating (1-5)
YouCam Makeup	✅ Yes	✅ 20+ options	✅ Full localization	Hair color, premium filters	5
Hairstyle Try On	❌ No	✅ 15 options	❌ English only	Removing watermarks	4
FaceApp	✅ Yes (in Pro)	✅ 10 options	✅ Partial localization	All haircuts except basic ones	4
Perfect Corp	✅ Yes	❌ Only women's	✅ Full localization	Additional hair textures	5
Hair Color Changer	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No	All functions are free	3

⚠️ Attention: Applications FaceApp and YouCam Makeup regularly update the hairstyle database, but some styles may disappear from the free version. Before choosing, check the current catalog in the application itself.

Step-by-step guide: how to change a hairstyle in a photo without mistakes

Even the most advanced application will give a bad result if you prepare the original photo incorrectly. Follow this algorithm:

1. Lighting: Take a photo in natural light (near a window) or use a ring lamp. Avoid shadows on the face - they distort the contours.
2. Background: a plain wall (white, beige) or a blurred background in portrait mode. Colorful wallpaper or street bustle will distract the algorithm.
3. Angle: the face should occupy 60-70% of the frame. Shooting from the side or below will lead to overlay errors.
4. Facial expression: neutral or slight smile. A wide open mouth or laughter will distort the proportions.

Taken in good lighting

The background is plain or blurry

The face occupies 60-70% of the frame

Neutral facial expression

Hair pulled back from the face (if long)-->

After uploading the photo to the application:

5. B YouCam Makeup or Perfect Corp first trace the outline faces manually if the algorithm made a mistake.
6. Choose a hairstyle that is close to your current hair length. A sharp transition from long hair to pixie almost always looks unnatural.
7. Adjust Transparency and Overlay (if there are such settings) - this will smooth out the sharp transitions.

Deceptive functions: what you should not waste time and money on

Many applications advertise “unique” features that either do not work in practice or give a comical result. Here's what to ignore:

• 🎨 "AI selection of hairstyles according to face shape": Most apps simply offer random options without analyzing your traits. The exception is Perfect Corp (but even there the accuracy is ~60%).
• 🔄 "Hair animation": in real time the hair will twitch like plastic, and not move naturally.
• 💇 "Simulation of beard growth": looks like a painted mask, especially on dark skin.
• 📸 "Photorealistic selfies": marketing ploy. No application will make a photo indistinguishable from the real one - there will always be artifacts around the edges.

⚠️ Warning: Applications that promise a “free premium version for inviting friends” often collect your data (including photos) to sell to advertising networks. For example, HairStyle Changer Pro in 2023, she got into a scandal due to the leak of user photos.

Alternative methods: when applications are not enough

If virtual fitting does not give a clear idea of ​​the future haircut, try these methods:

• 🖌️ Hand drawings: take a photo in profile and draw the contours of a new hairstyle with a marker on paper. This will help the hairdresser understand your idea.
• 📺 YouTube tutorials: look for a video with a step-by-step haircut of the chosen style. For example, the channel Brad Mondo examines the trends of 2026.
• 🤖 AI generators: services like DALL·E 3 or MidJourney can generate your photo with a new hairstyle using text description. The downside is that the result is often too “smooth.”

The service is useful for men's haircuts BarberEvo —it shows what the haircut will look like in 1-2 weeks (with the temples grown back). This is relevant for styles like fade or undercut, where transitions are important.

How to do a test drive of a hairstyle in a salon for free?

Many salons offer a “stylist consultation” (15-30 minutes), where the hairdresser can show you on a mannequin or your hair, what the haircut will look like. Check by phone whether they provide such a service - it is often free when you sign up for a haircut.

Security: what permissions can be given to applications

When installing apps for changing hairstyles, you will be asked to access:

Permission	Why necessary	Can I refuse
Camera	For taking photos/videos in real time	❌ No (main function)
Files and media	Loading photos from gallery	✅ Yes (select photos manually)
Contact	For "social functions" (not needed)	✅ Yes (refuse)
Location	Targeted advertising	✅ Yes (refuse)

Be especially careful with applications that ask:

• 📱 Access to SMS - this is a sign of fraud (often disguised as “account verification”).
• 🔑 Administrative rights —not a single legitimate application for haircuts requires them.

⚠️ Attention: If, after installing the application, you notice that the battery has begun to drain faster or unknown subscriptions have appeared, immediately uninstall the app and check your smartphone with an antivirus (for example, Malwarebytes).

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to change your hairstyle in a video and not in a photo?

Yes, but with reservations. Applications like YouCam Makeup or FaceApp Pro support video processing, but:

• The length of the video is limited (usually up to 10 seconds).
• The quality drops when you move your head - hair can “float”.
• Processing takes 3-5 times longer than a photo.

For Instagram Stories it is better to use built-in AR filters (for example, Hair Color from L'Oréal).

Why does the application not see my hair in the photo?

Common reasons:

1. Hair blends into the background (for example, dark hair on a dark background). Solution: take a photo on a contrasting background.
2. The hairstyle is too complex (braids, dreadlocks, African weaves). Solution: select an application with a manual tracing mode (for example, Perfect Corp).
3. Low resolution photo. Solution: take a new photo with a resolution of at least 12 MP.

Are there special applications for men's haircuts?

Yes, but the choice is limited. The best options:

• Men’s Hairstyle Try On — 50+ haircuts, including pompadour and buzz cut.
• Barber Shop 3D —a haircut simulator with length adjustment in different zones.
• YouCam Makeup (in the "Men's Styles" section) - there are options with a beard.

Please note: men's applications often require payment for premium styles (from 200 ₽).

Is it possible to save the result without a watermark?

In most free applications, the watermark is removed only after purchasing the premium version. Workarounds:

• Take a screenshot of the screen (the quality will deteriorate).
• Use the tool Crop in the gallery to cut out the sign.
• The watermark disappears if you share the photo in Stories (but remains in the saved file). FaceApp The watermark disappears if you share the photo in Stories (but remains in the saved file).

⚠️ Do not use apps to remove watermarks - they often contain viruses.

How to transfer a virtual hairstyle to a real photo so that did it look natural?

Follow this algorithm:

1. In the application, select a hairstyle that is as close as possible to your current hair length and texture.
2. Adjust Brightness and Contrast overlays so that the hair does not looked “glued on.”
3. Export the photo to Snapseed or Lightroom and add a slight blur along the edges of the hairstyle (tool Mask).
4. If sharp transitions are visible, use a brush with low opacity to smooth out the edges.

💡

Naturality is 80% dependent on the correct lighting in the original photo. If the shadows fall unevenly on the face, even a perfect overlay will look fake.