AR hair preview technology renders your target density over your actual scalp image, showing what treatment outcomes would look like before you commit to a procedure. Patients who use visual goal-setting tools during treatment planning report 25% higher satisfaction at treatment completion. Here is how to use it effectively.
What AR Hair Preview Does
The augmented reality preview in myhairline.ai takes your current scalp photograph and overlays additional hair density in thinning zones. It is not a generic simulation. The system uses your actual hair characteristics, including color, diameter, growth direction, and curl pattern, to render strands that match your existing hair.
You select a target density (measured in FU/cm2) or a graft count, and the AR engine shows what that level of restoration would look like on your specific head shape and hair type.
The result is a realistic before-and-after preview generated from your own data rather than from stock images of other patients.
Step 1: Capture Your Current State
Start by uploading a set of photos following the standard myhairline.ai protocol. The AR preview requires:
- A top-down photo of your crown area
- A frontal hairline photo
- Photos of both temple zones
- Consistent overhead lighting
The AI processes these images to create a density map of your current state. This map becomes the "before" layer in the AR preview. Zones with lower density will be the areas where the AR engine adds simulated hair.
Step 2: Set Your Target Density
Choose your target density based on one of these approaches:
| Approach | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Graft count target | Enter a specific graft number and the AR distributes them across your thinning zones | Patients with a surgeon's recommendation |
| Density target | Set a FU/cm2 goal for each zone | Patients comparing treatment options |
| Norwood stage target | Select a target Norwood stage and the AR calculates the density needed | Early-stage patients |
| Custom zone targeting | Manually select which zones to fill and by how much | Patients prioritizing specific areas |
For realistic expectations, keep these graft ranges in mind:
| Current Stage | Typical Graft Range | Achievable Density Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Norwood 2 | 800 to 1,500 | Return to near-full density |
| Norwood 3 | 1,500 to 2,200 | Significant restoration |
| Norwood 4 | 2,500 to 3,500 | Good coverage, some thinning may remain |
| Norwood 5 | 3,000 to 4,500 | Noticeable improvement, prioritize frontal zone |
| Norwood 6 | 4,000 to 6,000 | Coverage restoration, may need multiple sessions |
Learn more about setting realistic targets in our guide on setting density goals for tracking.
Step 3: Review the AR Preview
Once you set your target, the AR engine renders the preview in seconds. Review the output critically.
What to look for:
- Does the hairline look natural? Overly straight or low hairlines appear artificial.
- Is the density in the crown realistic? Crown restoration is harder to achieve than frontal work.
- Are the temples filled to a degree that matches your age? A 45-year-old with a 20-year-old's hairline looks unnatural.
- Does the overall result look balanced? Density should taper naturally at the edges.
Adjust and iterate. The preview is interactive. Slide the density target up or down and watch the result change. Most patients find that a moderate density target looks more natural than maximum density.
Step 4: Compare Multiple Scenarios
The AR preview becomes most valuable when you compare different treatment paths side by side.
Scenario comparisons to try:
- FUE at 2,000 grafts vs. 3,000 grafts
- Frontal-only restoration vs. frontal plus crown
- Surgery alone vs. surgery plus finasteride maintenance
- Current state vs. 12-month minoxidil projection
Each scenario generates a separate preview image. Save them all and compare directly. This exercise often reveals that a moderate approach yields 80% of the visual benefit at 60% of the cost and risk.
Step 5: Export for Your Surgeon Consultation
Export your preferred AR preview as a shareable report. The export includes:
- Your current density map with FU/cm2 readings per zone
- The AR-rendered target image
- A side-by-side comparison view
- The graft count and distribution used in the simulation
- Your hair characteristics (diameter, color, density baseline)
Bring this to your hair transplant consultation. Surgeons find it far easier to align on expectations when the patient has a visual reference. Instead of vague requests like "I want my hair back," you can point to specific zones and density targets.
For the full consultation preparation guide, see our hair transplant decision and recovery guide.
Step 6: Track Actual Results Against Your AR Preview
After treatment, continue uploading photos at your regular tracking intervals. The myhairline.ai dashboard will overlay your actual density recovery against the AR preview target.
At 6 months post-transplant, the first meaningful comparison becomes possible. By 12 to 18 months, the final result is visible. Graft survival rates of 90 to 95% mean the actual outcome should closely approximate the AR preview if the graft count was accurate.
This feedback loop also helps you decide whether a second session is worthwhile. If your actual result at 12 months reaches 85% of the AR target, you can generate a new AR preview showing what an additional 500 to 1,000 grafts would add.
Limitations to Understand
The AR preview is a planning tool, not a promise. Several factors can cause actual results to differ:
- Graft survival variation. While 90 to 95% is typical, individual results vary based on surgeon skill and post-op care.
- Hair characteristics change. Ongoing androgenetic alopecia may thin native hair surrounding the transplanted area, altering the overall appearance.
- Growth direction unpredictability. Transplanted hair sometimes grows at slightly different angles than the AR simulation predicts.
- Donor area limits. The AR preview does not account for donor area depletion. A safe extraction limit of 45% of available donor follicles constrains what is achievable.
Use the AR preview to set informed expectations, then track actual outcomes to refine your plan over time.
Start visualizing your hair restoration goals at myhairline.ai/analyze.
Medical disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. AR previews are simulations and do not guarantee treatment outcomes. Consult a qualified hair restoration surgeon for personalized treatment planning.