Barbers Alarmed When Customers Start Asking for AI-Generated Haircuts

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Taper Expectations

Most of us have probably shown a barber a photo of a celebrity and hoped for a similar result. Bringing a picture of David Beckham, however, does not guarantee you will leave the salon looking like the football icon.

These days, some clients are going one step further. Instead of real-life references, they arrive with AI-generated images. Dean Allan, owner of a salon in Edmonton, Alberta, told CBC that this has become increasingly common.

“Usually it’s got a sheen,” Allan explained. “It’s thicker than the average person’s hair.”

Cut Below

The positive side, he noted, is that most clients still recognise the images are not real—at least for now. Yet Allan believes the quality will continue to improve. The expectations these pictures create, however, often have little connection to real hair or facial structure.

AI image generators aim for visual perfection and make no distinction between what is possible and what is not. As a result, the pictures may show hair density, shine or styling that cannot be achieved on a real person. Allan advises stylists to be direct when expectations are unrealistic.

“As a hairstylist, you have to stand your ground,” he said. “If you do not feel comfortable trying to achieve what that client wants, then you need to step back and say ‘you’re not going to be happy with what I produce.’”

Misleading Mirror

While this trend may seem minor compared with other issues surrounding AI, it is still in its early stages. Many people already experiment with apps such as FaceApp and Facetune or online tools that generate hairstyle previews. In the wider fashion and beauty industry, companies including Google and Walmart offer AI features that let users try on clothes virtually. These tools can be convenient, yet they have also been criticised for reinforcing unrealistic beauty standards.

Allan’s advice remains straightforward: treat any image—AI-generated or otherwise—as simple inspiration, nothing more.

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