AI Haircut Preview from Reference Photo

Last updated May 2026

See exactly how any haircut from a reference photo looks on your portrait — no commitment, no appointment needed first.

Upload photo to add haircut

"give me the bob haircut from the reference photo on my portrait — same chin-length, blunt cut line, matching my natural blonde hair color"

Free to try · no sign-up · photos are never shared

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1 free edit every week·packs from $4.99

How it works

Upload your two photos

Drop your portrait into EditThisPic, then click '+ Add reference photo' to upload a photo of the haircut you want to preview. Your portrait should show your current hair clearly. The reference can be from Pinterest, Instagram, a stylist's portfolio, or any photo showing the cut you want. JPG, PNG, WebP up to 7MB each.

Expect: Bob, lob, pixie preview: 25–35 seconds. Layered cuts with complex detail: 35–50 seconds.
Describe the haircut you want to apply

Tell the AI what to do: 'apply the pixie cut from the reference photo to my portrait, matching my natural blonde hair color and keeping the side styling from the reference' or 'give me the bob haircut from the reference photo, same length and layer structure, with my natural hair color.' Include the cut type, and any specific detail you want preserved.

Tip: Adding 'matching my natural hair color from my portrait' prevents the AI from adopting the reference person's hair color. This way you're testing just the cut, not the color.

Copy one of these to get started:

Preview pixie cut from reference photo apply the pixie cut from the reference photo to my portrait — same length, texture, and side styling — matching my natural dark brown hair color
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Preview bob cut from reference give me the bob haircut from the reference photo on my portrait — same chin-length, blunt cut line, matching my natural blonde hair color
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Add bangs from reference photo add the bangs from the reference photo to my current hairstyle — same fringe length and styling, keeping my existing hair length and my natural hair color
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Preview layered cut from reference apply the layered haircut from the reference photo to my portrait — same layer depth, face-framing pieces, and overall length, matching my natural hair color
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2 more prompts

Salon consultation: test before booking give me a realistic preview of the haircut from the reference photo — I want to see if it suits my face shape before I book the appointment, keeping my natural hair color
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Short cropped cut from reference apply the short cropped haircut from the reference photo to my portrait — same nape length, top length, and texture, matching my natural auburn hair color
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Check cut shape, length, and proportions

Compare the result against the reference photo. Check that the overall length matches, the layers or cut shape matches, and the proportions look right on your face. The cut should look proportionally natural — not a geometric copy from the reference person's face pasted onto yours.

See it in action

Long to pixie cut preview

Long dark hair — reference showed a short pixie cut with textured top. AI applied the dramatic length change, matched the dark color, and captured the pixie's texture and side styling from the reference.

Prompt:

apply the pixie cut from the reference photo to my portrait — same short length, textured top, and side styling — matching my natural dark brown hair color

Try This →

Woman with light brown medium-length hair and no bangs — Main Photo

Reference image for AI Haircut Preview from Reference Photo — Reference

Same woman with side-swept bangs added from reference photo — Result

Adding bangs to a no-fringe style

Medium-length hair with no fringe — reference showed side-swept bangs. AI added the bangs from the reference while preserving the existing hair length and color.

Prompt:

add the side-swept bangs from the reference photo to my hair. match the fringe length and sweep direction, but keep my existing hair length and my natural light brown hair color.

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Woman with long wavy blonde hair — Main Photo

Same woman with a sleek chin-length bob applied from reference — Result

Straight bob haircut preview

Long wavy hair — reference showed a sleek chin-length blunt bob. AI applied the dramatic length reduction and the smooth texture from the reference while preserving the natural hair color.

Prompt:

Apply the sleek chin-length bob from the reference photo to my portrait. I want the same blunt cut ends and smooth finish, matching my natural blonde hair color.

Try This →

Quick answers

Do I need TWO photos — my portrait AND a reference photo of the haircut?

Yes. This tool works best with two photos: your portrait showing your current hair, and a reference photo showing the haircut you want to preview. Upload your portrait first, then click '+ Add reference photo' to add the haircut reference. The AI reads the cut length, shape, and texture from the reference and applies it to your portrait.

Can I preview a dramatic haircut like a pixie cut before committing?

Yes — this is one of the best uses for the tool. Upload your current portrait and a reference photo of the pixie cut you want, and get a realistic preview in 30 seconds. This is much faster than booking a consultation appointment or using physical wigs. You can also run multiple variations (different pixie lengths, with or without bangs) by trying different reference photos.

Can I test just adding bangs without changing the rest of my hair?

Yes. In the prompt, say 'add the bangs from the reference photo, keeping my existing hair length and natural hair color.' This tells the AI to add only the fringe while preserving everything else. Works for side-swept bangs, blunt bangs, curtain bangs, and wispy fringe.

How do I make sure the haircut matches the reference, not just approximate it?

Include 'match the exact cut length and silhouette from the reference photo' in your prompt, and use a clear, well-lit reference where the cut is clearly visible. Front-facing or three-quarter angle references give the most accurate cut shape transfer. If the first result isn't precise enough, regenerate with 'more precisely match the reference haircut' added to your prompt.

Can I use this to prepare for a salon appointment?

Absolutely — that's the most practical use. Generate a preview using your reference photo, then save both the original reference and the AI preview to show your stylist. The AI preview shows your stylist how the cut looks specifically on your face shape and hair texture, which is more useful than just showing the reference inspiration photo.

How much does EditThisPic cost?

You get 1 free edit per week — no account needed. After that, one-time credit packs start at $4.99 for 10 edits, valid 12 months, no subscription. Power users who edit daily can pick Studio Membership, a monthly workspace at $49.99/mo for 300 edits. Purchased downloads are clean with no watermark.

Popular use cases

Preview your haircut before you commit

Upload your portrait and a reference photo. Free, no account required.

1 free edit included·Credit packs from $4.99

How it works

Upload your two photos

Describe the haircut you want to apply

Check cut shape, length, and proportions

See it in action

Long to pixie cut preview

Adding bangs to a no-fringe style

Straight bob haircut preview

Quick answers

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Preview your haircut before you commit