How to Change Hair Color in Adobe Photoshop,
Therefore, changing hair color in Photoshop is a common technique, and using a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer with a Layer Mask is generally the most flexible and non-destructive method.
How to Change Hair Color in Adobe Photoshop,
Therefore, here’s a simplified breakdown of the steps:
- Duplicate the Background Layer (Optional but good practice):
- Therefore, right-click the background layer and choose Duplicate Layer to work non-destructively.
- Create a Selection/Mask of the Hair:
- In other words, use a selection tool (like the Quick Selection Tool, Lasso Tool, or Pen Tool) to select the hair.
- However, for detailed edges, especially flyaway hairs, you can refine your selection using the Select and Mask workspace (found under the Select menu).
- Therefore, once the selection is good, do not deselect.
- Add a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer:
- In other words, with the hair selection still active, click the New Adjustment Layer icon (half black/half white circle) at the bottom of the Layers panel and choose Hue/Saturation.
- Therefore, Photoshop will automatically apply your selection as a Layer Mask to this adjustment layer, meaning the effect will only apply to the hair area.
How to Change Hair Color in Adobe Photoshop,
- Colorize the Hair:
- In other words, in the Properties panel for the Hue/Saturation adjustment, check the Colorize box.
- However, adjust the Hue, Saturation, and Lightness sliders to find your desired color. You might need to make the color duller or darker than expected for a natural look.
- Refine the Color Blend:
- In other words, in the Layers panel, change the Blend Mode of the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from “Normal” to either Color or Soft Light.
- Color preserves the original shadows and highlights while applying the new color.
- Soft Light often gives a more dramatic, vibrant effect.
- However, if the color is too intense, you can also reduce the Opacity of the adjustment layer.
- In other words, in the Layers panel, change the Blend Mode of the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer from “Normal” to either Color or Soft Light.
How to Change Hair Color in Adobe Photoshop,
- Refine the Mask:
- In other words, click on the Layer Mask thumbnail (the black and white square) on your adjustment layer.
- However, Use the Brush Tool with:
- White to reveal more of the color effect (paint over areas of hair the mask missed).
- Black to conceal the color effect (paint over areas where the color bled onto the skin or background).
Tip: Going from light hair to dark is much easier than going from dark hair to a significantly lighter color like blonde, as dark hair can lose detail in the shadows that Photoshop cannot easily recover.
