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What is a Virtual Salon?

S. Gonzales
S. Gonzales

A virtual salon is a website that offers digital makeovers. Users of the website may upload pictures of themselves so that modifications can be made to virtually make over the individuals. Hair, makeup, eye color, and wardrobe may all be changed based on a user's preferences. Advanced virtual salons may even allow an individual to make modifications to facial structures.

Digital salons may appeal to those individuals who wish to see how hairstyle or makeup changes suit them before investing in permanent changes at actual salons. A user may save her favorite modified picture onto her hard drive, print it out and take it to a physical salon to request a makeover that is similar to the one in the picture. In this way, a virtual salon is much more useful than simply flipping through a hairstyles magazine and picking a hairstyle out, since an individual is able to visualize how a specific hairstyle looks on her before scissors touch her hair.

Man with hands on his hips
Man with hands on his hips

While a virtual salon can allow a user to choose individual body parts to modify, some virtual salons may concentrate on overall looks or trends. It is not uncommon to visit a virtual salon and find full makeovers separated by trend or fad. For instance, if a certain celebrity is known for perpetuating a style of dress, a makeover style may bear the name of the celebrity and a click of a button can transform the user's wardrobe to mimic the celebrity's style.

A virtual salon will usually incorporate actual products into its makeovers. For example, if a user chooses to color her lips with particular shade of lip gloss, the virtual salon may recommend a specific brand and color of lip gloss to the user after the change has been made to the user's picture. Links to vendors may also be provided so that the user finds it easy to obtain the product, even if she doesn't live near an authorized dealer.

Those interested in general virtual salons may do well to conduct an Internet search for one. Many general virtual salons exist on the websites of physical beauty salons. They can also be found on hairstylist or cutter websites. However, those who follow wardrobe and contemporary style trends may consider visiting the websites of popular beauty magazines. Many beauty magazine websites offer links to sophisticated virtual salons and may even host their own as a supplement to their magazine.

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      Man with hands on his hips