Customers & Automation
AI Style Preview
Last updated 15 April 2026
AI Style Preview
Show clients what their new look could be before you start. AI Style Preview generates a photorealistic "after" image from a client photo and style description, so clients can see and approve the transformation before sitting in the chair.
Where to find it. Web: Open a customer profile → Style Preview tab. Mobile: Open a customer profile → Style Preview section.
TL;DR
- AI Style Preview generates a photorealistic hairstyle "after" image from a client photo and style description.
- Each generation costs 25 Sparks (25 cents) and requires a PRO subscription.
- The venue Owner must acknowledge consent once before anyone on the team can use Style Preview.
- Unsaved previews expire after 30 days, click Save to keep them permanently on the client's profile.
Overview
AI Style Preview lets you:
- Upload a client's current photo and describe the desired style in text
- Add up to 3 inspiration photos for reference (optional)
- Generate a photorealistic AI preview of the client with the new hairstyle
- Show the preview to the client in a distraction-free fullscreen mode
- Save previews to the client's record for future reference
- Rate preview quality to help improve results over time
Note
AI Style Preview requires a PRO subscription and owner consent. Each generation costs 25 Sparks (Image Generation). See Understanding Spark.
Before you start
Before generating your first preview, the venue Owner must acknowledge consent, client photos are sent to an external AI service for processing.
Owner consent (one-time)
Before anyone on your team can use Style Preview, the venue Owner must acknowledge that client photos will be sent to an AI image service for processing.
- The first time anyone opens Style Preview, a consent banner appears.
- The Owner clicks "Enable Style Preview".
- The consent text reads: "Client photos are sent to an AI image service for processing. Photos are handled securely and never used for model training."
- Once acknowledged, Style Preview is enabled for the entire venue.
Non-owner staff see: "Ask your venue owner to enable Style Preview."
Generating a style preview
Generating a style preview takes five steps: open the client profile, upload a client photo, add inspiration images, write a style description, and click Generate.
Step 1: Open a client's profile
- Go to Customers and select a client.
- Open the Style Preview tab (web) or section (mobile).
Step 2: Upload a client photo
Upload a current photo of the client's hair.
Photo requirements:
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Formats accepted | JPEG, JPG, PNG, HEIC, WebP |
| Maximum file size | 10 MB |
| Best results | Well-lit, hair clearly visible, front-facing |
On mobile, you can take a photo with the camera or choose from the photo library.
Step 3: Add inspiration photos (optional)
Upload up to 3 inspiration photos showing the target style. These help the AI understand the specific look the client wants.
- Web: Three upload slots appear below the client photo
- Mobile: Tap "Add inspiration photo" to add each image (up to 3)
Step 4: Describe the style (optional)
Enter a text description in the "Style description" field.
- Placeholder: "e.g. Soft balayage, shoulder length, beach waves…"
- Limit: 500 characters
If no description is provided, the AI generates a flattering, contemporary style that suits the client's face shape.
Step 5: Generate
Click "Generate style preview". The button shows the cost: "25 Sparks".
Generation takes 10 to 20 seconds. Loading messages rotate while processing:
- "Analysing hair texture…"
- "Applying your style…"
- "Checking the details…"
- "Almost ready…"
The generated preview appears alongside the original photo for easy comparison.
Showing the preview to a client
Use "Show Client" mode to display the preview in a distraction-free fullscreen view, ideal for showing on a phone or tablet during a consultation.
- Web: Click the expand icon (top-right of the preview) to open a fullscreen lightbox with a dark background
- Mobile: Tap "Show Client" to open a fullscreen modal showing the client's name and the preview image
Tap anywhere to exit fullscreen mode.
Saving and rating previews
Save previews to the client's record for future reference, and rate the quality to help improve results over time.
Save to client record
Click "Save" (bookmark icon) to permanently save the preview to the client's record. Saved previews are accessible from the client's profile indefinitely.
- Unsaved: Button shows "Save" with a bookmark outline
- Saved: Button shows "Saved" with a filled bookmark
Quality rating
Rate the preview quality to help improve results:
- Thumbs up ("Good"), the preview looks realistic and matches the style request
- Thumbs down ("Poor"), the preview doesn't look right or missed the mark
Preview expiry
Generated previews that are not saved automatically expire after 30 days. The preview image and associated data are deleted.
Saved previews do not expire and persist in the client's record indefinitely.
Previous previews
View a client's Style Preview history from their profile:
- Web: Toggle between "New preview" and "History" in the Style Preview tab header
- Mobile: Previous previews appear in a "Previous previews" section below the generation controls (up to 5 most recent)
Each history entry shows the generated image, date, and whether it was saved or rated.
Rate limits
To prevent abuse, Style Preview has per-venue rate limits:
| Action | Limit |
|---|---|
| Photo uploads | 30 per hour per venue |
| Generations | 20 per hour per venue |
If you hit a rate limit, wait a few minutes before trying again. The error message shows how long to wait.
Role access
Any team member with venue access can generate previews. Owner consent is required only once to activate the feature for the entire venue.
| Action | Owner | Manager | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acknowledge consent (one-time) | Yes | No | No |
| Generate style previews | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Upload client photos | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Show Client fullscreen mode | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Save previews to client record | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rate preview quality | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Delete previews | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| View preview history | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Platform differences
| Feature | Web | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Photo upload | File picker (click to browse) | Camera or photo library (Expo ImagePicker) |
| Inspiration photos | 3 upload slots shown | "Add inspiration photo" button, up to 3 |
| Show Client mode | Fullscreen lightbox (dark background) | Fullscreen modal with client name |
| Preview history | "History" toggle in tab header | "Previous previews" section (up to 5) |
| Top-up prompt | "Insufficient Spark balance. Please top up your wallet." | "Top up your wallet on web." |
| Consent banner | Inline with "Enable Style Preview" button | Card with orange border, owner-only CTA |
Privacy and security
- Client photos are sent to the AI image service (Google Gemini) for processing only, they are not used for model training
- Photos are stored in a private storage bucket with signed URLs (1-hour access tokens)
- Unsaved previews are automatically deleted after 30 days
- All sessions are linked to specific venues and clients, cross-venue access is prevented
- Owner consent is audited with a timestamp and user ID
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Ask your venue owner to enable Style Preview" | The venue Owner must acknowledge the consent banner before anyone can use Style Preview. Only the Owner sees the "Enable Style Preview" button. |
| "Style Preview is a PRO feature" | Style Preview requires a PRO subscription. Upgrade from Settings → Billing. |
| "Insufficient Spark balance" | Each generation costs 25 Sparks. Check your wallet balance on Settings → Billing and top up if needed. |
| Generated image doesn't look right | Try adding a more specific text description, or add inspiration photos. The AI works best with clear, well-lit client photos and detailed style descriptions. Rate the preview as "Poor" to help improve future results. |
| "Rate limit exceeded" | You've hit the generation limit (20 per hour per venue). Wait a few minutes before trying again. |
| Preview disappeared from client record | Unsaved previews expire after 30 days. Always click "Save" on previews you want to keep permanently. |
| Camera not working on mobile | Camera access requires a native build (EAS build). If using an OTA update, try selecting from the photo library instead. |
| Upload fails | Check that the photo is under 10 MB and in a supported format (JPEG, PNG, HEIC, WebP). Try compressing the image or taking a new photo. |
FAQ
Does AI Style Preview require owner consent?
Yes. The venue Owner must acknowledge the consent banner before anyone on the team can use Style Preview, client photos are sent to an AI image service for processing. The Owner clicks "Enable Style Preview" once, and the feature is then active for the entire venue.
How much does AI Style Preview cost?
Each generation costs 25 Sparks (25 cents). PRO venues receive a monthly Spark allowance based on billable bookable team members; additional Sparks are drawn from your prepaid wallet. See Understanding Spark (AI Credits) for allowance details.
How long do generated previews last if I don't save them?
Unsaved previews expire automatically after 30 days and are permanently deleted. Previews you save to a client's record are kept indefinitely, click "Save" (bookmark icon) immediately after generating any preview you want to keep.
Why was my client's photo rejected?
The AI rejects photos that are too dark, blurry, or where the client's hair is not clearly visible. Retake the photo in good lighting with the client's hair untied and front-facing for best results.