How Bollywood Uses AI for Viral Hair Looks
Behind the lens with Darshan Yewalekar: How AI tools are being used by top Bollywood stylists to pre-visualise and test celebrity hair looks
29 Jun'25
By Amanda
How Bollywood Uses AI for Viral Hair Looks
In the high-speed world of Bollywood, no look is left to chance. Hair stylists like Darshan Yewalekar, who’ve worked with stars like Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone, are now embracing AI tools to design, refine, and pre-visualise hairstyles before the cameras roll.
Yewalekar is known not just for crafting iconic looks but for treating hair as an emotional and visual story element. Whether it's the texture of a 90s throwback or the sleek glam of a red carpet appearance, he uses AI to sketch, simulate, and sell each strand in advance.
Credit- The better India
What AI Brings to the Salon Chair
AI-powered styling tools have revolutionised how Bollywood hair teams prep for shoots:
- Texture simulation: Visualise how curls, waves, or straight locks behave under lights.
- Style forecasting: AI predicts frizz, volume loss, or shine fade across a shoot day.
- Hair movement mapping: Stylists can simulate wind-blown hair for outdoor scenes or dancer motion sequences.
- Face shape optimization: The AI adjusts styles based on jawline, forehead width, and moodboards for emotion-based scenes.
For example, before Deepika’s Cannes appearance, Yewalekar’s team used AI layering tools to simulate wind movement through different braid types. The look not only went viral but also aligned perfectly with the outfit and vibe.
Darshan’s Secret: Craft Meets Code
"I don’t use AI to replace vision," says Darshan. "I use it to pre-edit the mistakes. It saves time, energy, and uncertainty on set."
He works with motion and tech partners like Admigos to:
- Build character-led hair simulations for period films and futuristic shoots
- Animate transformation reels—like a ponytail-to-bun swap for a dance number
- Preview flyaways, split ends, and bounce level under various lighting rigs
- Collaborate with wardrobe and makeup AI to align full character styling
Yewalekar also uses AI to test hair colour effects on skin tone before applying any dye—a game changer when planning celebrity hair reinventions.
With brands like Admigos, their tech brings cinematic texture to pre-visuals through:
- Layer-by-layer simulations: Individual strand movement vs chunked animation
- Moisture + product mapping: Show how hairsprays or oils affect shine, frizz, and hold
- Lighting simulation: How hair reacts under stage LEDs, moonlight, or midday sun
- Heat styling prediction: Simulate iron waves, curl clumps, or straightening bounce in real time
Why AI Hair Design Is Going Viral
- Transformation Reels: Gen Z and millennial fans love behind-the-scenes content. Stylists now post side-by-side AI drafts and final looks.
- Before/After Swipe Culture: AI simulations make it easy to show how a subtle layer, side fringe, or wave pattern changes the overall vibe.
- Celebrity Trust: Actors are more willing to try experimental styles when they can pre-see the effect. Less guesswork = more bold looks.
- Brand Integration: Tools like Dyson, BBlunt, or L'Oréal can now showcase product effects through animated before/after sequences.
From Film Sets to Instagram Lives
The power of AI hairstyling is not just backstage; it’s becoming content in itself:
- Tutorials Powered by Simulation: AI can now generate styling tutorials where celebrity looks are recreated virtually on user avatars.
- Live Styling Polls: Some stylists offer fan-based input using real-time AI edits, and audiences can vote on which hairdo a celeb should wear to an award night.
- Virtual Hair Trials for Weddings: Stylists are adapting these tools for bridal previews, especially for high-profile clients.
Yewalekar’s team is even exploring AI as a casting aid, showing how different hairstyles affect a character’s believability in a script.
From Hair Concept to Product Shelf
There’s also a commercial opportunity:
- Shampoo Brands: Can showcase results using digital hair simulations post 7-day use.
- Tools: Curling wands or straighteners can be marketed with AR visualisers.
- AI-Powered Salons: Some Mumbai salons are piloting AR mirrors letting customers try celebrity styles virtually before committing.
Imagine walking into a salon and seeing yourself with Kriti Sanon’s beach waves or Ranveer Singh’s messy undercut before a single snip.
The future of hairstyling isn’t scissors—it’s simulation is helping Bollywood stylists bring imagination to life, faster and more confidently than ever before. From pre-visuals to product demos, the blend of creativity and technology is now a must-have in beauty storytelling.
#BollywoodHairAI#DarshanYewalekar#CelebrityHairstyles#HairTransformation#AIHairDesign#AdmigosHairFX
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