When it comes to my hair, I’m not the most daring about switching up my hue. A little background about my mane: I’ve been blonde for over a decade, and aside from changing the tone every so often or getting a hair gloss, I’m pretty attached to staying in the blonde family. With the days getting shorter and darker, however, I’ve had some extra time on my hands to think about changing my look—namely, my hair color.
Luckily, technology has blessed me with tons of apps and websites that allow me to virtually transform my strands without committing to the real thing. After a bit of research, I pulled up a few of the most user-friendly options and put them to the test. Keep scrolling to see five of my favorites.
The Best Hair Color Change Apps To Try Now
Tip: Before you test any of these apps, make sure you’re in good lighting. This will give you the best results.
My Hair [iD]
My Hair [iD] by L’Oréal Professionnel is like having a personal hairstylist in your pocket at all times—literally. When you first sign on to the app, you’re asked to specify whether you are a pro or consumer. If you’re a pro, the app helps create a personalized color experience for your clients and gives you access to technical guides for achieving the look. If you’re a consumer, on the other hand, My Hair [iD] is one of the most professional virtual try-ons out there: It allows you to explore color trends, give yourself a virtual makeover, and makes it easy to book a consultation in just a few taps.
After I created my profile, it was time to try different hair colors. This app offers everything from shades of red to fantasy colors. I was most impressed by how natural the red shades looked on my blonde hair and almost scheduled an appointment right then and there.
My Hair [iD], free to download.
Matrix 3D Virtual Hair Try On
If there’s one thing Matrix is known for, it’s color—particularly bright, fantasy shades. When I discovered that they offered a virtual way to try on hair colors directly on their website, I was excited to give it a go. You can choose from a variety of shades in the Matrix portfolio, including reds, grays, brunettes, blondes, and dusty pastels. Strawberry Stunna is the gorgeous color pictured above.
The app allows you to either upload a selfie or use a model to test drive your new hue (the latter is great if you aren’t feeling camera-ready). And, if you want to see how different your pretend shade is from your real hue, there’s a split-screen view that lets you compare the two.
Matrix 3D Virtual Hair Try On, free on desktop.
Redken Virtual Hair Color Try On
A quick fact about me: I’m terrified of dyeing my hair dark. While my natural hue is somewhere in the light brown range, I swore off brunette hair after an unfortunate dye job back in high school. So, when I tried the dark brown shade on Redken’s Virtual Hair Color Try On, I was more than a little surprised that I actually liked the outcome. It looked so natural that you could barely tell that it was just a filter on an app. Needless to say, I sent this to everyone I know and told them I actually went dark.
This virtual tool lets you try a range of Redken shades, from neutrals like blonde and brunette to vibrant colors like violet and teal. If you love the results and want to make your faux shade a reality, you can go to Redken’s Salon Locator tab to find a stylist in your area—it’s that simple!
Redken Virtual Hair Color Try On, free on desktop.
Hair Color Dye
The Hair Color Dye app is a bit more complex than the others I’ve tried. Here’s how it works: First, either upload an existing photo in your library or snap a new pic while you’re in the app. Then, use the hair selection tool to highlight your hair and scroll through all of the options until you find one you like. What I liked most about this app was that it allows you to play with color placements like ombré and balayage. While you have to purchase certain shades within the app, there are enough free options to find a commitment-free look that you love.
The hair selection tool takes a bit of trial and error at first, but I ultimately enjoyed the results. While I don’t think I’d ever opt for a cotton candy ombré, it’s fun to play around with vibrant colors I’d never consider trying in real life.
Hair Color Dye, free to download.
YouCam Makeup
Not only does YouCam Makeup let you toy with new hair colors, but it also lets you play around with hairstyles, haircuts, and makeup. After a long night of scrolling through TikTok for inspiration, I was ready to try all of those features and then some. I snapped a pic, uploaded it to the app, and started testing various hair colors. Aside from all-over color, this YouCam also features two-toned hues and lets you amp up the shine of your chosen shade.
Once you’ve found the perfect hair color, you can choose a virtual makeup look from some of the industry’s top brands, including L'Oréal. Just be warned: There are endless possibilities with this app, and you may find yourself trying on various bang styles well into the wee hours of the morning.
YouCam Makeup, free to download.
Next Up: Demi-Permanent Dye Lets You Try a New Hair Color Without the Commitment
Header photo credits: Matrix
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