Photoshop is a versatile tool for everything from wedding photo retouching to creating polished marketing graphics. One of its most demanding tasks is isolating hair—because hair is wispy, intricate, and easily blended with the background. This guide shows you how to cut hair cleanly and confidently, step by step.
Before You Begin
Hair selection has inherent limits: the finer the hair strands, the harder the job. For best results, choose a high‑contrast image where the hair stands out sharply from its background. Have the new background ready (or leave the canvas transparent) before you start.
Step 1: Roughly Outline the Subject
Start with a broad selection that includes the entire subject. Use any of Photoshop’s selection tools—Quick Selection, Lasso, Marquee, or the Object Selection Tool (introduced in CC 2020). If you prefer an automatic approach, click select subject to let Photoshop detect the main object.
- Lasso Tool: Ideal for a steady hand or tablet. Press L, click near the hair, and drag to create a single closed loop.
- Magnetic Lasso: Best for high‑contrast hair. Right‑click the lasso icon, pick Magnetic Lasso Tool, set a start point, then trace along the hair edge. Delete mis‑placed anchors with Delete or Backspace. Close the loop by clicking the start point.
- Object Selection Tool: Press W, choose Rectangle mode, enable Sample All Layers if needed, tick Object Subtract, then drag a rectangle around the subject. Photoshop will auto‑analyze the selection.
Step 2: Refine the Selection Edge
With a rough selection active, go to Select > Refine Edge (or click the Refine Edge button in the options bar). The dialog offers multiple view modes:
- On White – easiest for visualising edges.
- On Layers – view directly on your background.
- On Transparent – checkerboard for isolated work.
Expand the Radius
Under Edge Selection, move the Radius slider to the right to include more of the wispy strands. Enable Smart Radius to let Photoshop automatically adjust the radius where needed.
Brush‑Based Tweaks
Click the brush icon beside the radius slider to open the Refine Radius Tool and Erase Refinements Tool. Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) to switch between them. Paint over stray hair with the Refine Radius Tool or erase unwanted edges with the Erase Refinements Tool. Use Reveal Layer mode to see the original hair as you paint.
Edge Adjustment Controls
In the Adjust Edge section, the Shift Edge slider expands or contracts the selection. Increase the value to capture more hair; reduce it to remove stray strands. The Smooth, Feather, and Contrast sliders remain at 0 for hair work.
Step 3: Decontaminate Colors
Hair often carries background fringing. In the Output area, check Decontaminate Colors and set the slider to about 50%. Adjust upward if fringing persists.
Step 4: Output the Mask
Choose Output To: New Layer with Layer Mask and click OK. A new layer will appear, masked to the hair. In the Layers panel, you can toggle the mask preview by clicking the thumbnail.
Step 5: Fine‑Tune the Layer Mask
Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) and click the mask thumbnail to view the mask directly. Use the Brush Tool—black to hide, white to reveal—to clean up any remaining imperfections. Return to normal view by clicking the mask preview again.
Result
Congratulations! You now have a crisp hair selection ready for background replacement or compositing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I select hair in Photoshop 2020?
Follow the steps above, beginning with a rough outline and refining via Refine Edge. The Object Selection Tool is available in 2020 and simplifies the initial outline.
How do I copy hair after selection?
After outputting to a new layer, select the layer with Ctrl+A, copy with Ctrl+C, and paste into the same or another document with Ctrl+V.
What about older versions like CS3?
CS3 lacks the Refine Edge dialog. Use the Magic Wand or Lasso for rough selection, then manually paint the mask. For detailed instructions, refer to dedicated CS3 tutorials.
How do I handle wispy hair?
Follow the same process, emphasizing the Decontaminate Colors step to remove background bleed, and use the brush tools to refine fine strands.