Recolorify
Sign inStart free →
TUTORIAL5 min read· Jun 22, 2026

How to Change Hair Color in a Photo Online (Step-by-Step)

Wondering how a new hair color would look before you book the salon? Changing hair color in a photo used to mean careful masking and dodging in Photoshop. An AI hair color changer does it in three clicks and keeps the individual strands, highlights, and shine that make hair look real instead of painted on. Here is how to do it well.

How to Change Hair Color in a Photo Online (Step-by-Step)

Why hair is hard to recolor

Hair is thousands of fine strands with highlights, shadows, and shine that shift across the head. A flat color fill turns all of that into a solid helmet. To look real, the recolor has to keep the lightness variation of every strand while changing only the hue.

Recolorify works in LAB color space, which separates lightness — strands, highlights, and shine — from color. That lets you take hair from brunette to blonde or to a bold fashion shade while the texture and depth survive.

Change hair color in three steps

  • Upload a clear, evenly lit portrait. Good lighting on the hair gives the cleanest result.
  • Hover until the hair highlights, then click it. Skin, eyes, and background stay untouched.
  • Enter a target hex or pick a shade. The preview updates instantly; export a full-resolution image when you like it.

Tips for a believable shade

  • Going much lighter (dark to platinum) is the hardest jump — use an evenly lit photo and check shine areas at 100% zoom.
  • Type an exact hex to match a real dye color or a reference photo, rather than guessing with a slider.
  • Generate several shades from one portrait and export them together to compare looks side by side.

A dedicated tool for hair

For repeat use, start from the dedicated hair color changer, which is preset for strand and shine preservation. It is the fastest way to try a new look before committing.