Dyeing your hair is a way of life for many, but deciding to change your hair color can also be intimidating. Mobile app stores are full of options to play with hair and makeup, but some of these apps are buggy, filled with advertisements, and offer limited functionality. We researched the best hair color apps to find the best ones to help you visualize your future look.

Best for a Realistic Look: Hair Color Dye

If you want to try out a unique hairstyle, Hair Color Dye lets you choose from a huge variety of varied and vibrant hair colors. Upload a photo and swap out your overall hair color, or paint only certain areas by hand. For example, add a stripe of neon blue to your bangs, or see how you’d look with red tips.

  • Place color where you want.

  • Select hair areas to edit.

  • Realistic results.

  • Share your new hair color via text or social media.

  • Easy to use with a variety of colors.

  • Available only for iOS.

  • Some colors cost an additional 99 cents.

This app gets great marks for ease of use, color variety, and easy-to-follow instructions. This iOS-only app is free, but some colors cost an additional 99 cents through an in-app purchase.

Best 3D Hair Color Technology: Style My Hair

L’Oreal’s Style My Hair is a free, flexible, and accurate hair color-change app. It has options that range from natural blondes and browns to more avant-garde pinks and purples.

  • Choose from tons of color palates.

  • 3D technology shows a new color in motion.

  • Directs you to a L’Oreal professional salon.

  • Offers tips, tricks, and trends.

  • No option for seeing what a haircut would look like.

With 3D technology, see how your new hair color looks as you move around, flip your hair, and run your hands through your tresses. If you like a look, share it with friends and get their opinion. When you’re ready to commit to a color, the app directs you to a nearby L’Oreal professional to make it happen.

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Best for African American Women’s Hair: Black Hair for Women

The Black Hair for Women iOS app is designed to cater specifically to colors, styles, and cuts for Black women’s hair. Upload your photo and easily try on various styles and cuts in an array of colors, from natural tones to vibrant, fun hues. Upload your photo, try out new looks, and save or share with friends.

  • Focuses on Black women’s hair.

  • Try on hair colors, styles, and cuts.

  • Adjust color, brightness, and saturation.

  • All styles are professionally edited.

  • No Android version yet.

Black Hair for Women is free, but upgrading for $2.99 eliminates ads. Spend 99 cents for add-on packs with additional short and braided hairstyles.

Best for Whimsical, Trendy Colors: Fabby Look

Fabby Look is a fun, fast-loading, realistic hair color app, even if its color choices are centered around unrealistic colors. If you’d like to see how you’d look with blue, purple, pink, magenta, platinum, and other fun colors, this is the app for you. Check out your new hair color in a photo you upload, in real time, or in a video, and share your fabulous new look with friends on Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, and more.

  • Try on unique, trendy hair colors.

  • Experiment with color in real time.

  • Try on color in videos as well as photos.

  • Realistic results.

  • Not as many color choices as some other apps.

This app is free and gets extra points for ease of use and fast results.

Best for Selfies: YouCam Makeup-Magic Selfie Cam

YouCam Makeup-Magic Selfie Cam is more than a hair color-changing app. Calling itself a virtual makeover app and beauty camera, YouCam uses augmented reality to overlay various hair colors and try out new hairstyles.

  • Augmented reality applies color automatically.

  • References actual hair dyes to take to a stylist.

  • Try out makeup and facial enhancements.

  • Fun selfie filters for social media.

  • Must upgrade to Premium to take advantage of all features.

Smart facial detection applies makeup looks in real-time or on photos and selfies. Retouching tools smooth out your skin, whiten teeth, add a smile, or adjust facial shape and features. More than 200 special effects turn your selfies into a #mood!

The app is free, but you’ll need to upgrade to a paid version to take advantage of the advanced features.

Best for Men and Women: Hairstyle Magic Mirror

Hairstyle Magic Mirror comes in a free version (Lite) as well as a $4.49 Premium version that unlocks additional hairstyles, colors, and other features. This app lets you choose a male or female character to use, or take a photo and upload your picture to style. Traditionally masculine and feminine hairstyles let anyone try out any style that appeals to them, along with an array of colors.

  • Huge array of hairstyles and color variations.

  • Easy-to-use interface.

  • Hairstyles for men and women.

  • Create your own color.

  • Hairstyle library is continually updated.

  • If your face shape isn’t oval, it’s hard to fit the hairstyles properly.

  • Need the paid version to use all styles and colors.

The facial-detection feature works much better on the paid version, allowing you to improve the final result by dragging the hairs’ anchor points.

Most Social Hair Color Changing App: Hair Zapp

Hair Zapp offers more than 500 hairstyle and color combinations in its free version, with hundreds more if you upgrade to the $4.49 Premium version. Compare favorite looks side by side and consult the Hair Zapp community for advice.

  • Originally developed for hairstylists.

  • Compare favorite styles and colors side by side.

  • High-resolution imaging.

  • Premium features for hairdressers.

  • Get feedback from the Hair Zapp community.

  • The free version has ads.

  • Update to a paid version for enhanced features.

The styles and colors are unique, and the app’s community forum is a fun feature that differentiates this app from others. If you’re a hairdresser, upgrade for stylist-specific features, including client-management tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is there a filter to change hair color for Instagram? Yes, Instagram has tons of appearance-altering filters. Learn how to search for Instagram filters that can change your hair color and other physical features.
  • Is there a filter to change hair color for Snapchat? Yes, there are many Snapchat filters that alter your appearance, including your hair. Learn how to apply Snapchat filters to change your hair color and other physical traits.

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