My Experience with Prookie: Hair Style Face Shape
Last Tuesday was chaos. Between packing lunches and finding a lost soccer cleat, I realized my hair appointment was in two hours and I still had no idea what to ask for. My last cut made me look like a tired librarian, and I was dreading another expensive mistake. In a moment of desperation, I grabbed my iPhone 14, opened Prookie, and took a quick selfie in my messy kitchen. Ten seconds later, it told me I have an oval face shape. I spent the next twenty minutes scrolling through “easy care” and “shoulder-length” filters. I settled on a layered lob, used the AR to see it from every angle while I was unloading the dishwasher, and saved it. Showing that picture to my stylist completely changed the conversation. She got it right away. For the first time in years, I walked out happy, with a cut that actually works for my morning routine.
Features Worth Noting
The face shape tool is scarily accurate. It pegged me as oval, which made sense of why certain styles from my past were total fails. The library is huge, but the filters are what saved me. I could sort by length, “for moms,” and even “low maintenance,” which felt like it was made for someone like me. The AR try-on is the best part. My daughter thought it was hilarious to see me with pink hair, but it let me walk around and see how a cut would look in real light, not just a perfect photo. I love that I can save styles to a folder. I have one called “Maybe Someday” for wild colors and another, “Serious Options,” with the practical cuts I’m actually considering. It makes the whole process feel organized and less overwhelming.
What Needs Work
Some of the longer, fancier hairstyles in the preview look a bit fake and stiff, like a helmet. It’s fine for getting the shape, but don’t expect it to show perfect texture. The app also really, really wants you to go Pro. I get it, they need to make money, but the pop-ups suggesting premium styles can feel pushy, especially when I’m just trying to browse quickly during a free minute. I also wish there were more “everyday mom” examples in the library—less influencer-perfect hair and more realistic, wash-and-go styles. A few looked like they needed a full hour of styling, which isn’t happening before school drop-off.
Pricing
You can do a lot without spending a dime. The face scan, the main hairstyle library, and the AR try-on are all free. I’ve used it for over a month for two haircuts and haven’t paid anything. There is a Pro subscription that unlocks more colors and trendy cuts. I saw the prompt, but the free stuff has been plenty for my needs. It’s nice not to hit a wall where you can’t use the good features without paying. For a free app, it feels generous.
Developer Notes
The app store page shows they update it regularly. I got one update since I downloaded it that added a bunch of new shag and curtain bang styles. I haven’t had to contact support myself, but I skimmed the reviews. Some people complained about bugs, but others said the team was responsive. For a free app from a smaller team, that seems pretty standard. They seem to be listening and adding content, which is a good sign.
Security & Privacy
This was my main concern before letting an app scan my face. I read their privacy policy. It says they process your photo on your device to create the AR model and don’t store your personal images on their servers. That made me feel better. They do collect some anonymous usage data, like which hairstyles are popular. I downloaded it from the official Apple App Store. For an app that needs camera access, their policy seems straightforward and not overly invasive, which is important for family phones.
How does the face shape detection tool work in Prookie?
You just take a quick selfie, and within about ten seconds the app analyzes your face shape—like oval, round, or square. In the review, it accurately identified the user's oval face, which helped explain why certain past haircuts didn't work for them.
Can I see what a hairstyle will look like on me in real time with the AR try-on?
Yes, the AR try-on lets you view a hairstyle from every angle as you move around, even while doing everyday tasks like unloading the dishwasher. It shows how the cut will look in real lighting, not just a perfect photo, though very long or fancy styles can look a bit stiff.
The app keeps asking me to upgrade to Pro—is there a way to reduce those pop-ups?
Unfortunately, the free version has frequent prompts encouraging you to go Pro, which can be annoying. You can try dismissing them each time, but the best way to avoid interruptions is to consider the Pro subscription if you plan to use the app regularly.
Why do some hairstyles in the preview look fake or helmet-like?
That's a known limitation—longer or more elaborate styles can appear stiff and lack realistic texture in the preview. It's still helpful for understanding the overall shape and silhouette, but don't expect it to perfectly show how the hair would actually move or fall.
How does Prookie compare to other hairstyle try-on apps like YouCam Makeup?
Prookie stands out for its very accurate face shape detection and practical filtering options like 'low maintenance' or 'for moms,' making it ideal for busy people. However, YouCam Makeup offers a broader range of beauty features beyond hair, while Prookie's AR try-on can sometimes look less realistic with complex styles.
