Toca Hair Salon Me – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Toca Hair Salon Me

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2020

82%

WISE Score

3.3

App Store

A safe, playful digital salon where kids can experiment with wild hairstyles, makeup, and outfits—then wash it all away and start over.

Toca Hair Salon Me

app

Everyone, 2020

82%

WISE Score

3.3

App Store

A safe, playful digital salon where kids can experiment with wild hairstyles, makeup, and outfits—then wash it all away and start over.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Toca Hair Salon Me is exactly what you'd expect from Toca Boca: a gentle, colorful, open-ended digital toy that lets kids play salon without the mess (or the regret). It's not going to teach your kid algebra, but it does encourage creative experimentation and self-expression in a totally safe, ad-free environment.

The ability to upload photos of yourself or your dog and give them a rainbow mohawk is genuinely fun, and the shampoo station is a nice touch for kids who want to reset and try again. The main thing to watch for is younger kids getting inspired to grab real scissors—have a quick chat about pretend vs. real, and you're golden.

It's a solid pick for preschool and early elementary kids who love dress-up and creative play. Just know it's part of a subscription service (Piknik), so factor that into your decision.

Age Fit

Best for ages 4–9. Younger preschoolers will love the tactile, colorful play, while older elementary kids can experiment with more complex styles. By age 10, most kids will have moved on to more sophisticated creative tools or real-world styling interests.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Toca Boca apps are known for gentle, open-ended play with no winning or losing. The app encourages creative self-expression through hairstyling, makeup, and dress-up without judgment or competitive elements. The tone is playful and supportive—kids can experiment freely and wash everything away at the shampoo station for a fresh start. No chaotic pacing, no mean characters, just pure creative exploration.

Imaginative

Strong creative sandbox with hair cutting, dyeing, curling, face painting, makeup application, outfit selection, and photo booth features. Kids can insert their own photos or those of family/pets, which adds a personal, imaginative layer. The open-ended nature invites experimentation with color, style, and self-expression. However, it's still a fairly contained digital toy—not building complex worlds or narratives, just styling characters.

Safe

Toca Boca is COPPA-compliant with no third-party advertising, and the app has strong privacy protections. Kids Mode is available. No in-app purchases beyond the subscription model (Piknik), which is parent-controlled. One minor note from parent reviews: some concern that the app could inspire kids to cut their own hair or grab curling irons, but this is more about real-world supervision than digital safety. No toxic social features, no manipulative loops, no ads.

Enriching

This is primarily entertainment and creative play—kids practice fine motor skills, color theory, and self-expression. There's value in experimenting with personal style in a consequence-free environment. However, it's not teaching reading, math, problem-solving, or deeper cognitive skills. It's a digital toy that encourages creativity but doesn't offer much beyond that. Fun and expressive, but not particularly enriching in the educational sense.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Open-ended creative play with no wrong answers—kids can try bold styles without real-world consequences
Insert photos of yourself, family, or pets for personalized styling fun
From Toca Boca, a trusted studio known for ad-free, privacy-respecting apps
Encourages experimentation with color, texture, and self-expression in a judgment-free zone
The shampoo station lets you reset and start fresh anytime—no permanence anxiety

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What to Watch For

Requires a Piknik subscription for full access (one subscription covers multiple Toca Boca/Sago Mini apps)
Some parents worry it might inspire kids to grab scissors or curling irons IRL—supervise younger kids and talk about pretend vs. real
It's a digital toy, not an educational app—don't expect reading, math, or deep learning

Conversation Starters

"What's the wildest hairstyle you've created? Would you ever try that in real life?"
"If you could change your hair to any color tomorrow, what would you pick?"
"Why do you think people like to change their hair or makeup? What does it say about them?"
"What's your favorite part—the hair station, makeup, or picking outfits?"

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