DailyBean
LQ: 9.6
Recommended Age: 4+
Skills Used: Self-Awareness, Self-Control, Reading, Writing
Toca Hair Salon 4 is an app where children can select a character from a range of options and pretend to cut and style their hair. The user selects a character from the list of options and then has the chance to use a variety of tools including curling and straightening irons, colorful hairsprays, and hair braiders. Before altering their character’s hair, they can wash, towel, and blow dry their hair, simulating the barber/salon experience.
The characters available are both male and female and widely diverse, allowing any child to find a character that they resemble among the options available. The tools for hair styling also reflect the diversity in hair types and allow children to practice with tools that they may not have seen before. When they are done styling and cutting their character’s hair, they can apply makeup to them as well, allowing for more individualization of their character. When they are complete, users can save their characters to a list of their “Favorites.”
Toca Hair Salon 4 is free-to-use but in-app purchases are available. It is currently available on iOS and Android.
Flexibility: Trying something new.
Because of the wide array of styling tools and makeup options, users can really experiment with trying something new. They could try out new hairstyles for themselves before going to an actual haircut or just play around with different tools to see what they do to their character’s hair. For users who struggle with flexibility, this app is a nice way to practice this skill in a low-stakes and fun way. By trying new hairstyles and makeup and face painting, they are introducing some flexibility into the way they play.
Self-Awareness: Understanding our own actions, thoughts and feelings.
For younger children, Toca Hair Salon 4 can be a way for them to learn about the importance of personal hygiene, such as washing and caring for their hair. It can also prepare them for getting their first haircut or come to terms with the unfamiliar feeling of going to a barber shop or salon. Users can also see people with different hair types and styles, adding to their awareness and appreciation for diversity.
All membership plans come with full access to our entire suite of tools learning guides, and resources. Here are a few of the ones we think you’ll like the most: