AI Hairstyle Try-On from Reference Photo

Last updated May 2026

Upload your photo and a reference image of any hairstyle — see exactly how that style would look on you before you commit to a cut or color.

Upload photo to add hairstyle

"give me the shorter hairstyle from the reference photo, matching my natural hair color, with natural-looking layers and proportional framing for my face"

Release to upload

1 free edit·then from $4.99

Popular use cases:

hairstyle try-on from reference photo
try new hairstyle before salon
celebrity hairstyle preview on my photo
copy hairstyle from Pinterest photo
virtual hair makeover free
salon consultation hairstyle preview
AI hairstyle transformer

1Your photo

2Reference

✓ Result

Your photo

Reference

Result

"Apply this hairstyle to my photo, match my hair color"

Cost: Free No signup required
Time: Instant results in 15-30 seconds
Works on: Any device - browser, phone, tablet, desktop
Powered by: AI-powered photo editing

How it works

Upload your two photos

Drop your portrait into EditThisPic, then click '+ Add reference photo' to upload a photo of the hairstyle you want to try. Your main photo should be a clear portrait where your current hair is visible. The reference can be from Pinterest, Instagram, a magazine, or a celebrity photo. JPG, PNG, WebP up to 7MB each.

Expect: Simple hairstyle transfer: 25–35 seconds. Complex cuts with textured detail: 30–50 seconds.
Describe the hairstyle transfer

Tell the AI what you want: 'apply the hairstyle from the reference photo to my portrait, matching my natural brunette hair color and keeping the style proportional to my face' or 'copy the exact cut, shape, and texture from the reference image, preserving my natural hair color.' Include your hair color and whether to keep or change it.

Tip: For the most realistic preview, say 'match my natural hair color from my main photo' — this keeps your actual color while just changing the cut and style from the reference.

Copy one of these to get started:

Apply exact reference hairstyle preserving hair color apply the hairstyle from the reference photo to my portrait — same cut, shape, and texture — matching my natural dark brown hair color
Try This →

Try shorter hairstyle from reference give me the shorter hairstyle from the reference photo, matching my natural hair color, with natural-looking layers and proportional framing for my face
Try This →

Try celebrity hairstyle from reference photo apply the celebrity hairstyle from the reference to my portrait, keeping my natural hair color and adapting the style to suit my face naturally
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Try Pinterest hairstyle inspiration recreate the hairstyle from the reference photo on my portrait — match the overall shape, layers, and finish, using my natural brunette hair color
Try This →

2 more prompts

Salon preview for dramatic change give me a realistic preview of this hairstyle from the reference on my portrait — I want to see if it suits my face before I book the appointment, keeping my natural hair color
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Try hairstyle with color match from reference apply both the hairstyle and the hair color from the reference photo to my portrait — copy the exact cut, layers, and [balayage / highlights / color] as shown in the reference
Try This →
Compare to the reference for style accuracy

Check that the cut shape, layers, and overall silhouette match the reference. Look at the hairline framing, the length at the back and sides, and the overall volume. A good result should be recognizable as the same style as your reference.
Refine specific areas with markers if needed

If the hairline framing or a specific section doesn't match the reference, tap a marker on that area and add 'refine this section to better match the reference hairstyle — adjust the [bangs / layers / length here].' Most results need only one pass.

Tip: If the overall shape is right but one detail is off (like bangs), use a marker specifically on that detail rather than regenerating the whole style.

See it in action

Lob cut hairstyle preview

Long straight hair — reference showed a shoulder-length lob with face-framing layers. AI applied the cut shape and layering, matched the brunette color, and created a realistic preview of the shortened silhouette.

Prompt:

apply the lob hairstyle from the reference photo to my portrait, same layered shape and face-framing style, matching my natural dark brown hair color

Try This →

Woman with straight blonde mid-length hair — Main Photo

Reference image for AI Hairstyle Try-On from Reference Photo — Reference

Same woman with a textured bob hairstyle from reference photo applied — Result

Textured bob from inspiration photo

Straight mid-length hair — reference showed a textured, slightly tousled bob. AI applied the shorter length, added the tousled texture, and maintained the blonde hair color with a natural look.

Prompt:

Apply the textured blonde bob from the reference photo to my portrait. Replicate the same tousled finish and layered shape.

Try This →

Woman with straight auburn shoulder-length hair — Main Photo

Same woman with a voluminous curly hairstyle from reference applied — Result

Voluminous curly style from reference

Straight shoulder-length hair — reference showed a voluminous curly style. AI transformed the texture, added appropriate volume and curl pattern, while adapting to the subject's natural hair color.

Prompt:

apply the voluminous curly hairstyle from the reference photo to my portrait — same curl pattern and volume, adapted to my natural auburn hair color

Try This →

Detailed Guides by Scenario

Bridal Clients & Wedding Planners

Brides and wedding stylists use this tool to preview real hairstyles from inspiration photos before committing to a salon appointment. Seeing the exact cut and shape on your own face — rather than on a model — removes guesswork and saves costly trial sessions.

Salon Clients Researching a Big Cut

Anyone considering a dramatic cut — a pixie, bob, or major length change — can use a photo of the style they saved from Instagram or Pinterest to see it on themselves first. This helps them walk into the salon with confidence instead of second-guessing the decision in the chair.

Costume Designers & Theater Performers

Stage performers and costume teams use reference photos of period or character hairstyles to visualize how a specific look lands on a cast member's actual face before production begins, without wigs or lengthy fittings.

If something looks off

The hairstyle shape doesn't match the reference closely enough

Why: The AI may have blended styles rather than copying the reference precisely.

Try:

apply the reference hairstyle more precisely — copy the exact silhouette, layer placement, and hair framing as shown in the reference photo

Try This →

Tip: Adding 'precisely' and 'exact silhouette' tells the AI to treat the reference as a hard constraint rather than soft inspiration

Hair color changed when I only wanted the style to change

Why: The AI adopted both the style and color from the reference.

Try:

apply only the hairstyle and cut from the reference — keep my exact natural hair color from my portrait, do not change the color

Try This →

Tip: Explicitly say 'do not change the color' to prevent the AI from blending reference color into the result

The cut looks flattering in the reference but awkward on my face

Why: Face shape and hairline vary between people, and the AI may have applied a geometric copy rather than adapting the style.

Try:

adapt the hairstyle from the reference to better suit my face shape — same overall style but adjusted to be proportionally flattering

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Tip: Adding 'adapted to my face shape' gives the AI permission to make proportional adjustments

Reference hairstyle texture isn't matching

Why: The reference shows curly, wavy, or textured hair but the AI applied a smoother version.

Try:

preserve the [curly / wavy / textured] nature of the hairstyle from the reference — add the correct texture and volume matching the reference photo

Try This →

Tip: Name the specific texture: 'loose beach waves', 'tight curls', 'feathered layers' — these are more reliable than relying on the reference alone

AI changed wrong area or edited the face

Why: Without a marker, the AI may interpret an ambiguous prompt broadly.

Try: Tap a marker on your hair/head in the portrait, then regenerate with the same prompt to focus the edit on the hair only

Try This →

Tip: For hair edits, placing a marker on top of your head in the portrait confirms you want the hair area targeted

Hairline around the forehead looks unnatural

Why: The hairline is the most visible edge of a hairstyle and takes the most precision to composite naturally.

Try: refine the hairline framing around the forehead to look natural and match the reference style exactly

Try This →

Tip: Tap a marker right on the hairline area and use the targeted fix prompt for the best result

Quick answers

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

Yes. This tool is specifically designed for two-photo hair try-ons: your portrait plus a reference photo showing the hairstyle you want to apply. Upload your portrait first, then click '+ Add reference photo' to add the hairstyle reference. Without the reference, the AI can only work from a text description, which gives less accurate style matching.

Can I try any hairstyle I find online as a reference photo?

Yes. Any clear photo showing a hairstyle works — from Pinterest, Instagram, a magazine scan, a celebrity photo, or a stylist's portfolio. The AI reads the cut shape, layer structure, and texture from whatever reference you upload. The reference person's hair color doesn't need to match yours — the AI can apply the style while preserving your natural color.

How accurate is the hairstyle preview compared to a real salon result?

The AI provides a realistic visual approximation — it accurately represents the overall shape, length, and proportions of the reference style. It's not a perfect simulation of every strand, but it's accurate enough to judge whether a style suits your face and decide whether to book an appointment. Think of it as a high-quality preview rather than a photorealistic guarantee.

Can I test multiple different hairstyles to compare them?

Yes. Upload your portrait once and run separate generations with different reference photos. Each takes about 30 seconds. You can then compare the results side-by-side to decide which direction to take to your stylist. This works well for deciding between major style changes like a bob vs. a lob vs. keeping length.

Will the hairstyle look natural on a different face shape than the reference?

The AI applies the style proportionally to your face. In most cases, it adapts naturally. For styles that are very specific to a particular face shape (like bangs that frame a very wide vs. narrow forehead differently), add 'adapt the framing to my face shape' to give the AI flexibility to make the result look more natural rather than geometrically copying.

How much does EditThisPic cost?

You get 1 free edit per week — no account needed. After that, credit packs start at $1.99 for 3 edits. Monthly plans start at $4.99/mo for 15 edits with unused credits rolling over. All edits are full resolution with no watermark.

Popular use cases

Try your reference hairstyle now

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 hairstyle transfer

Compare to the reference for style accuracy

Refine specific areas with markers if needed

See it in action

Lob cut hairstyle preview

Textured bob from inspiration photo

Voluminous curly style from reference

Detailed Guides by Scenario

Bridal Clients & Wedding Planners

Salon Clients Researching a Big Cut

Costume Designers & Theater Performers

If something looks off

Quick answers

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Popular use cases

Try your reference hairstyle now