Removing strands of hair is still a pain for any photo editor. However, the process has got simpler.  It is as simple as switching the background and achieving the results.

Most editors depend on Photoshop to help them to cut out the hair images from background. With the use of levels, changing of color tones and blending the results are achieved. The steps are fairly simple. Like everyone else, it is best to use the non-destructive method that can leave the original picture intact.

  • Make the facsimile layer in the RGB mode. The duplicate background layer is now ready for the edit. Drag the picture where the hair needs to be trimmed or snipped.
  • The layer on top is inverted. When done correctly, it is bluish or rather ghostly in shade. From the toolbox use image, adjustment, invert in the following order. It is done to find out the discrepancy between the hair and its background. This is important, as both will be severed from each other. This method helps in the least destruction of the original while editing.
  • The blend mode is applied as the next step. Color is selected from the layers palette. The image becomes positive. The background is duplicated one more time. When both the layers are made, they need to be merged.
  • Both layers, which have been merged, are inverted. Linear burn is the next step that is taken again from the blending mode. The new image is now reddish black in color tones.
  • Make another facsimile of the background layer. This new layer is added to the linear burn layer, which has been created previously.

This forms the basic procedure of cut out the hair images from background. The next phase involves on cleaning or brushing up on the edit. No trace of the edit needs to be left. The light areas are retained and the darker areas are removed. This makes a new alpha channel or the mass. By enhancing the red parts, the editor can focus on the finer detailing. Choose the histogram to make the adjustments as the color levels are being used. The slider should only brighten the red areas, so it does not reach the farthest point. With the blue and green channels also the same is done. The unwanted details are now removed from the background. 

Not all pictures with hair may be the same. Hence, the sliders will have to be adjusted according to the need of the problem. Going on further with the process, the replace color option will now be used. Instead of the red now white or any other light shade will be used. Choose the sample from the eye dropper in the menu. The next step is to use the fuzziness and lighten sliders to the farthest point. The saturation has to be minimum. The red alpha channel which appears can be set to B & W. The brush tool is used to make additions to the alpha mask. With the eraser tool one can remove the hair from the shoulder area. The pen tool provides a better path for selection though. Clean the mask and remove the hard edged dark areas.