The pros and cons of using a haircut simulator depend on why someone is using the program. It is often difficult to get an accurate approximation of how a haircut will actually look on a face using a simulator, but if all someone needs is a general idea, then this approach can be very useful. Problems with color are typically more obvious than those with length, although a simulator cannot show how a haircut will look using a person's own hair. Generally, the most important negative feature of using a haircut simulator is disappointment if the haircut does not look as good in reality as in a simulator.
Among the many advantages of using a haircut simulator, having a basic idea of what the haircut will look like is the primary positive feature. A simulator can tell a person how a certain style will frame the face as well as how it will compare to other haircuts. For this to be effective, it is important to try the hairstyle on from multiple angles. Given that these simulators are usually not very accurate and are not used frequently by many individuals, it is usually best to stick to free programs.
The disadvantages of using a haircut simulator mainly surround possible disappointments. There is, of course, no harm in using a free haircut simulator for fun, but when someone builds up his expectations based on the image he has made with a program of this type, the risk for disappointment is high. Different hair types act in different ways in certain cuts, and a haircut chosen in a simulator may be impossible to maintain in reality. These programs also do not typically account for the thickness of hair or the difficulty of dying hair different colors.
One of the major advantages of using this type of program is that it can provide exposure to new and exciting hairstyles. Many simulators have a large database of styles that can be tried on and may even lead to an attractive look that a person has never seen before. Trying on new hairstyles without any risks can be considered a very positive feature of this type of program.
Accuracy is always a problem when using haircut simulators. Different lights and styling techniques will make a person's hair look very different. A simulator also cannot account for styling the same cut in a number of different ways. For people who do not need versatility and who plan on spending time styling their hair, a haircut simulator can be quite accurate, however.