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Try a new hair color on your photo before the salon chair
A swatch book shows a strand of hair under shop lights. What you want to know is how copper, ash blonde or a soft black looks around your own face, with your skin and your eyes. In ImageQuarry you upload a photo, select it and ask for the new color in words. Each request becomes a new version and the earlier ones stay put, so you can put three or four shades next to each other and take the one you like to your colorist.
Describe the shade, the depth and the finish, and say what about the face and haircut should stay.
Last updated October 2026
How to try a hair color with ImageQuarry
- 01
Pick a photo where the hair is easy to see
Start from a photo you upload. Even, natural light and hair that is not covered by a hat or hood make the request easier to judge, and a photo that shows the roots and the ends tells you more about a full color than a tight crop of the face.
- 02
Write the color like a colorist would
Name the color family, how light or dark it is, and whether it is warm or cool: a cool ash blonde, a rich chestnut brown with warm undertones, a soft copper. Add what should stay, such as the face, the haircut and the background, and review the new version to see how closely it follows that.
- 03
Line up the options
Ask for one color per version. Earlier versions are kept, so the original and every shade you tried stay in the workspace, ready to compare, choose and download.
Hair color requests to try
Requests you might write. Each one produces a new version that you review against the original.
Going lighter
Moving several levels lighter changes how the whole face reads, so try it before committing to bleach.
A warm change
Copper and auburn shades depend heavily on skin undertone, which is why seeing them on your own photo helps.
Balayage or highlights
Placement matters as much as the color: say where the lighter pieces should go.
Covering grey
If you are deciding between blending grey and covering it, try both on the same photo.
A bold fashion color
Pastels and vivid shades read very differently on dark and light hair, so name the result you want.
Back to natural
After years of dye, many people want to see their natural shade again before growing it out.
What makes a hair color preview useful
Undertone decides the shade
Warm undertones usually suit golden, copper and honey tones, while cool undertones often suit ash and platinum shades. Try one of each to see which side of the wheel flatters you.
Light in the photo matters
Warm indoor light pushes every color toward orange and shade makes hair look darker. A photo taken near a window by day gives a fairer read of the color you asked for.
Placement is part of the color
Roots, face-framing pieces and ends can each carry a different tone. Say where a color should go when you want highlights, balayage or a shadow root.
A preview is not a formula
Your colorist still has to work with your starting color and hair history. Bring the version you chose as a reference image for the conversation, not as a promise of the outcome.
Changes in words, earlier versions kept
You select a version and ask for the change in words; each request creates a new version and the earlier ones stay available.
Wording that works for common hair color changes
| Goal | Common trap | How to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Lighter all over | Result looks flat | Ask for dimension: soft highlights through the top layer |
| Darker all over | Hair looks like a helmet | Ask for a natural dark brown with some shine and movement |
| Red or copper | Too orange or too pink | Name the tone: copper, auburn, cherry, strawberry blonde |
| Grey blending | Reads as dyed | Ask to blend, not cover, and name a soft target shade |
| Pastel or vivid | Patchy on dark hair | Describe the depth you want at the root and at the ends |
| Only the ends | Color spreads to the roots | Say the color starts at the mid lengths and the roots stay natural |
What is an AI hair color change?
It is an edit where you describe a new hair color in words and an AI image editor makes a new version of your photo with that color, while you name what else to keep. ImageQuarry keeps every version so you can compare shades side by side.
It is not a virtual try-on from a dye brand and it does not tell you which product or formula to buy. Use it to choose a direction, then talk to a colorist.
Hair color questions
Can I change my hair color in a photo with words?
Yes. Upload the photo, select it and describe the color, for example a warm honey blonde. ImageQuarry makes a new version with the change and keeps the original next to it.
Will my face and haircut stay the same?
Ask for that in the request: keep the face, the haircut and the background. A request can say what to keep as well as what to change, so review the new version against the original.
How many colors can I compare?
As many as you ask for. Request one shade per version; every version stays with the request that made it, so you can compare them, pick one and download it.
Can I show a photo of the color I like?
Yes. Add a photo of the hair color as a reference. References guide the result; review each version to see how closely it follows them.
Will the salon get exactly this color?
Probably not exactly. Starting color, previous dye and hair condition all change the outcome, so treat the version you pick as a picture to discuss with your colorist.
Do I need a paid plan?
Yes. Every plan is paid: Starter at $9 per month with 100 image credits a month, and Pro adds more monthly usage.
More color and appearance edits
Create an image. Edit it with words. Keep refining.
See the color before you book it
Upload a photo, ask for the shade in words, and keep every version until one feels right.
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