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Add Hair highlights · Free

Add Highlights to Hair in Photo

Describe the hair change you want. AI handles it naturally.

Dark hair without highlights
Before
→
Dark hair with balayage highlights
After

Add Highlights to Hair in Photo

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free • No signup

Popular use cases:
  • add hair highlights
  • AI hair highlights editor
  • photo hair highlights tool
  • free hair highlights editing
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

  1. Upload your photo

    Upload a clear, front-facing portrait. Good lighting on the face and visible facial features give the AI the best foundation for hair highlights editing. JPG, PNG, WebP up to 7MB.

    Expect: Most edits complete in 20-45 seconds. Complex changes may need 1-2 refinements.

  2. Describe your edit

    Type what you want: 'Add natural-looking balayage highlights to the hair.' Be specific about details for best results. The AI understands natural language — no technical skills needed.

    Tip: Mention the specific hair texture you want: 'smooth', 'textured', or 'glossy'.

    Copy one of these to get started:

    Balayage Add natural balayage highlights with lighter tones blended through the mid-lengths and ends
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    Sun-Kissed Add subtle sun-kissed highlights around the face and crown
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    Foil Highlights Add traditional foil highlights with even, consistent lighter streaks throughout
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    Blonde Money Pieces Add blonde money piece highlights framing the face on both sides
    Try This →
    4 more prompts
    Caramel Highlights Add warm caramel highlights throughout dark brown hair
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    Subtle and natural blend add hair highlights with subtle natural blending that matches the original photo's style
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    With specific positioning add hair highlights in the center of the frame with balanced proportions
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    Dramatic effect version add hair highlights with dramatic lighting and vivid details for maximum impact
    Try This →

  3. Review the result

    Zoom in on facial details — check that skin tones look natural, edges blend seamlessly, and no artifacts appear around the hairline, jawline, or eyes. Use the before/after slider to compare.

  4. Refine if needed

    If specific facial features need adjustment — asymmetric eyes, unnatural skin smoothing, or hairline artifacts — tap markers on those spots and describe the fix. Fine-tune until the result looks like a natural photo.

    Tip: Markers are optional. Try without them first — the AI usually gets it right.
Try it free ↓

Add Highlights to Hair in Photo

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free • No signup

"Showed my stylist the AI highlight preview. She matched it perfectly. Best salon visit ever!" @HighlightGoals

See it in action

Dark hair without highlights
Before
->
Dark hair with balayage highlights
After

Balayage Preview

Natural balayage highlights added to dark hair.

Prompt: Add balayage highlights through mid-lengths and ends
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Hair without highlights
Before
->
Hair with blonde money piece highlights
After

Money Piece Highlights

Blonde face-framing highlights added.

Prompt: Add blonde money piece highlights framing the face
Try This →

Detailed Guides by Scenario

📷

Home & Interior Design

Preview how hair highlights would look in a room or space before committing to a purchase or renovation.

Common Scenarios

  • Visualizing hair highlights in a living room, bedroom, or office before buying
  • Creating client mockups that show hair highlights in their actual space
  • Comparing different placements of hair highlights in renovation plans

Best Practices

  • Upload a well-lit, straight-on photo of the room for the most realistic result
  • Specify the size and position — e.g., 'add a large hair highlights on the left wall'
  • Match the room's lighting in your prompt: 'warm lighting' for evening shots, 'natural daylight' for window-lit rooms
📷

Creative & Social Content

Use hair highlights to create eye-catching content for social media, digital art, or personal projects.

Common Scenarios

  • Adding hair highlights to photos for unique social media posts that stand out in feeds
  • Creating fantasy or composite images that incorporate hair highlights for art projects
  • Making holiday or themed content by placing hair highlights in seasonal photos

Best Practices

  • Be specific about the style — 'realistic hair highlights' vs. 'illustrated hair highlights' gives very different results
  • Use reference images when you want the AI to match a particular look
  • For social content, try unusual placements that create a surreal or humorous effect
📷

Professional & Marketing Use

Incorporate hair highlights into marketing materials, presentations, and product catalogs without expensive photo shoots.

Common Scenarios

  • Adding hair highlights to product mockups and marketing banners
  • Creating presentation slides that show hair highlights in context
  • Building a catalog of variations that feature hair highlights in different settings

Best Practices

  • Use high-resolution source images — marketing materials demand sharp details
  • Keep brand guidelines in mind: specify colors and style that match when adding hair highlights
  • Generate multiple versions and A/B test which placement performs best in ads

If something looks off

AI changed the wrong area

Why: The AI couldn't determine exactly which area you meant from the description alone.

Try: Tap a marker on the specific area you want to edit, then regenerate with the same prompt
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Tip: Markers tell the AI exactly where to focus. Use them when description alone is ambiguous.

Result looks unnatural or blurry

Why: The AI may need more specific guidance about the look you want.

Try: Add natural-looking balayage highlights to the hair, ensure natural lighting and sharp details that match the rest of the photo
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Tip: Adding 'natural' and 'realistic' to your prompt helps the AI prioritize believability.

Hair edges look jagged or cut out

Why: Individual hair strands weren't properly rendered, creating a hard, unnatural boundary.

Try: Regenerate with 'smooth, natural hair edges with realistic flyaway strands'
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Tip: Mention the specific hair texture you want: 'smooth', 'textured', or 'glossy' for best results.

New hair color looks painted on

Why: The color was applied uniformly without the natural variation of real hair.

Try: Add 'natural hair color with subtle highlights, lowlights, and variation throughout'
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Tip: Specify 'with natural highlights and depth' so the color doesn't look like a flat overlay.

Hairline transition looks unnatural

Why: The boundary between the new hairstyle and the forehead/face looks abrupt or fake.

Try: Regenerate with 'natural hairline transition with baby hairs and soft edges'
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Tip: Baby hairs and a soft hairline make the difference between 'edited' and 'natural' looking hair.

Quick answers

What types of highlights can I preview?

Balayage, foil, baby lights, money pieces, ombre, sun-kissed — any highlight technique.

Is it free?

Yes. Free highlight preview with no signup.

Can I show the result to my stylist?

Yes. This is one of the top use cases — previewing and communicating your desired look to your colorist.

Will it match my natural hair?

Yes. The AI adds highlights that complement your existing hair color and texture.

Can I add highlights to dark hair?

Yes. Highlights on dark hair are very popular — caramel, honey, and auburn tones work beautifully.

Does it look realistic?

Yes. The highlights follow natural hair flow patterns and light refraction.

Can I add hair highlights on my phone?

Yes. EditThisPic works in any mobile browser -- iPhone, Android, tablet. No app download needed.

What photo formats does the add highlights to hair in photo tool support?

JPG, PNG, WebP, and HEIC. Upload any common photo format and EditThisPic handles the rest.

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