8 Great Smartphone Apps For Checking Out A Change Of Hair Color

There’s nothing quite like having a fresh new look to make you feel young and vibrant.

And one of the easiest ways to do so is by changing your hair color (far cheaper than buying a whole new wardrobe, and way quicker than dropping a dress size).

But you might want to avoid actually changing your hair color until you have a good idea how it might look on you.

Well, you’ll be pleased to hear there’s an easy way to do exactly that, simply by downloading an app, and uploading your photo to it.

Exploring a new hair color has never been easier with the proliferation of smartphone apps that offer virtual makeovers.

These innovative apps leverage augmented reality technology to allow users to experiment with different hair shades and styles, all from the convenience of their mobile devices.

These apps offer a sneak peek into potential transformations by superimposing various colors onto user-uploaded photos or live camera feeds.

Whether you’re curious about a bold change or simply want to visualize subtle tweaks, these smartphone apps provide an engaging and user-friendly way to envision your new look before taking the plunge at the salon.

And if you’re wondering which app is the best for that, you’ve certainly come to the right place. Here we’ll be reviewing 8 such apps altogether.

Our reviews are unbiased and contain both pros and cons.

Then we’re going to top that off with a section where we answer some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.

And without further ado…

In a hurry? Check out our top pick!

Before You Get Started

• Ensure your hair is in good condition before experimenting with new colors. Regularly moisturize, nourish, and maintain your hair to prevent excessive dryness and damage.
• If you plan to use heat styling tools during the color transformation, always use a heat protectant to shield your hair from potential damage.
• Schedule trims every 8-12 weeks to maintain the overall health and appearance of your hair, especially when trying new colors.
•  Dry texture sprays can add volume and hold to your styled hair, preventing it from looking flat. Consider using them to achieve the desired looks.
•  When using styling gels or other hair products for your color transformation, pay attention to your hair’s edges and nape to manage any stubborn flyaways or frizz effectively.

OUR TOP PICK

Hair Color Changer For iPad And iPhone

EDITORS CHOICE

HairS For iPhone

BEST VALUE

Hair Color Changer Real

OUR TOP PICK

Hair Color Changer For iPad And iPhone

Now, the great thing about this hair color changer app is just how precise you can be with creating your desired look…

You simply upload a photo, outline the hair, and then you can pick colors from a photo library or from your camera, and apply with an adjustable brush size and adjustable opacity.

You can zoom in to apply highlights, and then pan out to see how it affects the overall look.

And if you make a mistake, you can simply click on undo and have a do-over.

We also love how you can upload the resulting image to Instagram to see what your friends think.

Pros

• Great customer ratings
• Adjustable brush size & opacity
• Upload images to Instagram

Cons

• Not available for Android or Windows operating systems

Pro Tip

Use natural light for accurate color representation. Step outdoors or stand near a window when trying different hair colors in the app to ensure the shades match real-world lighting conditions for a more realistic preview.

EDITORS CHOICE

HairS For iPhone

Quick Guide to Hair Color Transformation Apps:         

Stunning Makeovers

• Try Before You Dye: Experiment with various hair colors virtually using these apps, ensuring you pick the perfect shade for your next makeover.
• Easy Application: These user-friendly apps make the color transformation process a breeze, allowing you to preview and apply different shades effortlessly.
• Unleash Your Creativity: Discover endless possibilities with these apps, making it easy to transform your hair color and maintain a stunning look with personalized style tips.

This nifty little hairstyle app is free to download. You can upload a photo of yourself, and try it against a new hair color.

And rather than just giving one all over color, you can also try highlight, ombre, sombre, dip dyes.

And once you’ve found a color that you feel looks great on you, you can go ahead and order the exact shade directly from the app and save you a trip to the store.

There aren’t many customer reviews around for this app just yet, but when this article was written, it had only received positive ratings and reviews.

Pros

• Free to download
• Lets you try highlights and dip dyes

Cons

• Not available for Android or Windows operating systems
• Not many customer reviews around because it’s quite a new app

BEST VALUE

Hair Color Changer Real

If you don’t own an iPhone or iPad, and have an Android phone instead, this app is a good choice. It’s free to download, and there are no in-app purchases to worry ab
out.

Again, all you have to do is upload your photo, and you can go ahead and edit the hair in the photo to try out different colors. 

There are over 40 different predefined colors to choose from, and you can then adjust such things as the color intensity, the color brightness, and even the hair smoothness.

Pros

• Available on Android and Windows
• 40 different colors to choose from
• Adjustable intensity and brightness

Cons

• Not available on iOS
• Mixed customer reviews

RUNNER UP

Fabby Look: Hair Color Changer

Keep In Mind

• Color Realism: Ensure the app provides realistic color simulations on your hair, considering your current hair color and type for accurate results.
• Skin Tone Compatibility: Pay attention to how the chosen hair color complements your skin tone, as it can significantly impact your overall look.
• Color Fading: Be aware that the app’s virtual colors may differ from real-life results. Some colors may fade faster than expected, so consider long-term maintenance.
• Preparation is Key: Prepare your hair correctly by following app recommendations, such as conditioning or lightening, for the best color transformation results.
• Seek Professional Advice: If you plan a drastic change, consult a hairstylist for expert guidance, as they can provide insights and ensure a successful transformation.

If you’re “dyeing” (pun intended) to see how you would look with a wild new color, then check out this app from Google Play, which is free to download.

What makes this app different from all the rest is how rather than upload a photo and then edit the hair, you can experiment with different hair colors in video mode, and only take a picture when you’re ready.

You can then share the resulting transformation on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat etc.

Pros

• Available on Android and Windows
• Change your hair color in video mode
• Share your images on Instagram etc.

Cons

• Not available on iOS
• Not many colors to choose from

RUNNER UP

Matrix 3D Virtual Hair Color Try On

If you’re looking for a Windows or web browser based app, this is a great choice.

You start by either uploading or taking a picture, or you can select live mode. Then you choose from a selection of different color palettes, then you pick a specific shade, and voilà – a photo of you with a brand-new hair color.

In addition to the usual brown and blondes, you can also select vibrant, pastel, dusky, and even neon hues!

Pros

• Can be accessed via your laptop
• Can be done with a live image
• Choose from all kinds of hues

Cons

• Not available as an Android or iOS app as such, but can be accessed via your phone’s browser

RUNNER UP

Virtual Try-On: The Garnier Hair Color Makeover

Rather than just play around with random hair colors on your phone, this app lets you select colors based on actual hair dyes that exist in real life that you can go ahead and buy in the stores. 

Besides, buying a hair dye to do yourself at home is way cheaper than going to a salon! And you can choose from 5 different ranges.

The app is accessible from any online web browser and is free to use.

Pros

• Can be accessed via your laptop
• Choose from real, top brand hair dyes

Cons

• Not available as an Android or iOS app as such, but can be accessed via your phone’s browser

Pro Tip

For accurate color previews, use the app in natural light to get a realistic representation of how the chosen hair color will look.

RUNNER UP

YouCam Makeup – Selfie Editor

Not only does this app show you how you’d look with a new hair color, but it can give you a whole virtual makeover, complete with makeup and all kinds of retouch tools.

In addition to changing your hair color, you can airbrush your skin, whiten your teeth, plump up your lips, and much more.

Out of all the apps that made our shortlist, it’s this one that has the best customer ratings and reviews. It’s free to download and is available for the Android operating system.

Pros

• Give your photo a complete makeover
• All kinds of tools to create the perfect selfie

Cons

• Some of the in-app purchases are really expensive

RUNNER UP

Modiface Hair Color For iPad & iPhone

This is one of the more well known hair color change apps on the market at the moment, and the images you can get when you upload your photo and try on new hair colors are incredibly realistic.

The biggest drawback to this app is that you have to pay money to add more shades to the palette, which some customers have been very unhappy with.

Pros

• The photos are very realistic

Cons

• Not much good unless you pay for in-app purchases
• There have been a lot of negative customer reviews

Did You Know?

Smartphone apps for hair color transformation often use augmented reality (AR) technology, allowing you to try different hair colors in real time through your phone’s camera, making it easier to visualize your desired look.

Answers To Your Most Frequently Asked Questions

Is There An App To Try Hair Colors?

There certainly is – in fact there are several. Have a scroll back through our app reviews and see which one takes your fancy.

What Is The Best App For Changing Hair Color?

We would argue that the Hair Color Changer for iPad and iPhone is the best app for changing hair color, which is why we made it our number one pick.

How Can I Change My Hair Color In A Picture?

Here’s a link to a YouTube video that explains how to change your hair color in a photo

Wrap Up

So, if you are in the market for a new look, you can test out the suitability of a new color before you go all in.

We think the best app for changing hair color is our number one pick, the Hair Color Changer for iPad and iPhone. But if that’s not right for you, there are plenty of other great ones to choose from. 

Have fun!