Spring has finally arrived, the trees are blooming, the birds are chirping, and you … you are bored and can't understand why everyone seems to be so happy around you. After all, everything is the same, just that it got warmer and sunnier, people certainly didn't change and you surely can't get out of the dullness that surrounds you.

So here's the solution: if you're a guy, take your friends out for a wild evening, (try to) come on to girls and have fun. If you're a girl, it's a little more complicated, but I'll try to summarize it all to: 'Get a new haircut! Now! GO!'

However, due to your enthusiasm, you might end up with an extravagant hairstyle that will be out of fashion by the end of the week or that will look nasty, to put it mildly, once you get home (I'm sure you know exactly this situation), so here's another solution: make sure your new hairdo fits your face and/or personality using Hair Master, that is, the software application called Hair Master. This is a computer program that you can use to try on several hairstyles before rushing in to the closest or the 'trendiest' salon for a total makeover.

Now, I'll explain how exactly Hair Master works: first of all, you need to find a picture of yourself, your face looking as clear as possible. After this, launch Hair Master and open that specific image from within the main window. At this point, you have two options: you either choose to explore the predefined styles offered by the application (which you can easily adjust) or you can select each item individually to create the ideal look. Personally, I recommend the first choice, especially if it's for the first time you run the application because it will help you get an insight on all the strengths of Hair Master.

And I have reached the point where I have to give details about each 'strength.' After loading your photo, you will need to select lips and eyes position (very easy to do, as long as you remember to right click your mouse to specify the right eye and the right corner of the lip), choose the gender and tick the 'Use predefined settings' box, then the really fun part will begin: pick your hairstyle!

You needn't be afraid or shy to try on new styles, you can simply explore each of them (after all, there are only 12 options) and settle for the one that brings out the best in your features: the eyes, the nose, the mouth or maybe the ears. Also, I should mention that you can remove the parts of each of the suggested styles by using the layer manager (you can access it by pressing the second icon in the lower right corner). You can leave it open and each time you are not satisfied, just select that specific layer and press the 'Delete' button (or the DEL key on your keyboard). Speaking about the layers, I have noticed you have the possibility to rotate them, and this is at least strange because hair has only one way to sit on people's heads.

Moving on, we reach the part where you are free to let your imagination go wild and play around with makeup and accessories, thus creating a specific look for every social occasion. If you like a model, but you're not too crazy about the colors, don't worry, Hair Master has everything covered - you can use the painting tools (found under the Tools section) to adjust not only the shades, but also the brightness, contrast and even transparency (for the accessories, presumably).

When it comes to changes, I need to emphasize one of the functions of Hair Master: it allows you to comb (!) your hairstyle, that is, straightening it or creating waves, everything that crosses your mind in terms of styling.

Since I don't want to be accused of discrimination, I will say that Hair Master can be used by men too, not only women; as a matter of fact, you can even test some children's haircuts to make sure you won't traumatize their childhood with an ugly hairdo. So, everyone will benefit when using Hair Master, and most certainly your 'entourage' will appreciate your new hair stylist.

The Good
I was amazed at the numerous changes you can bring to the predefined hairstyles, so that you are bound to find exactly the combination that best suits your desires. Furthermore, you can try on various types of makeup, including shapes and colors for your eyebrows, therefore your change will be dramatic (in the good way).

The Bad
Unfortunately, when launching Hair Master, your computer will start using up a lot of RAM, so try to close down all the other running applications, unless you really need them. Also, I can't really understand why is it that the layer manager only selects one eye, one ear or one earring, when it is quite obvious that if you want to remove one item, you will most probably want to remove the other one as well.

Another disturbing aspect is the fact that the left pane for displayed hairstyles will not show them correctly once you scroll them downwards or upwards. This error will make some of them disappear and will change their order.

The Truth
Hair Master is an extensive tool that you can use to make sure your new hairstyle will make a difference for your social life. Although you can only try on 12 haircuts, you can adjust their colors and appearance according to your preferences, then save the output and ask your friends for advice. If you don't mind the 'Demo Version' watermark, you will surely have a great time choosing your new look.





Here are some snapshots of the application in action: