Toca Hair Salon 4 - Toca Boca

App Review

This review of Toca Hair Salon 4 was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 22 March 2021.

About the app

This section contains details about the app provided by an ACCM Reviewer.

ACCM review

This review of Toca Hair Salon 4 contains the following information:

• The level to which the game was reviewed
• App description
• Reviewers comments
• In App purchasing
• Online information
• Gambling
• Advertising and product placement
• Gender stereotypes and sexual references
• Coarse language
• Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents
• Other

The level to which the game was reviewed

All characters were used.

App description

Toca Hair Salon 4 is an updated version of the previous app which now includes the option to purchase several extra items such as bundles or individual items of makeup, candy, clothes etc. (See in-app purchases for more information). It is a role play app set in a hairdressing salon, in which the player can choose from 12 different characters to style their hair. The player can use scissors, razor, clippers, hairbrush and comb to cut and style the hair. They can then colour the hair using a wide range of varying colours. Then there is the option to style the hair using crimpers, straighteners, curling irons etc.

The game is easy and fun to use and encourages creativity and style.

The home page has access to the shop, Toca News and parent information which has to be accessed by entering your year of birth. Note that anyone over the age of 14 (Born in 2007) can access these areas.

Reviewers comments

Toca Hair Salon 4 is a fun app for children to try out their hairdressing skills by cutting, colouring and styling a character’s hair. The free version of the app is limited to these activities and it often moves to a beauty parlour which is locked and can only be entered by purchasing extras such as makeup and face paint. The players are often teased with these extras which include various settings such as underwater, a farm, summer and Halloween. Advertising of these extras is frequent and annoying. However, the app can be played offline which would avoid this occurrence of advertising.

It is concerning that children over the age of 14 can access the shop to purchase items, and the Internet via the Developer’s website and parents need to be aware of this.

The app requires permission for it to function properly to access photos and media on the device it’s being played on. The app will not open if this is denied.

In App purchasing

There is In-App purchasing in this game, examples include:

• A Starter bundle can be bought for $7.99
• Sunny bundle for $2.99
• Halloween bundle for $5.99
• Makeup bundle for $5.99
• Individual items such as Spooky for $1.49
• Candy for $1.49
• Underwater for $1.49
• Summer for $1.49
• Farm $1.49
• Weather for $1.49
• Breakfast for $1.49

Please note:These items are displayed at start of play and often throughout play.

Online information

There is some online connectivity, such as:

• Access to the shop and Playstore
• Access to the developer’s website
• Access to further apps by the same developer.

Access to these areas requires the user to enter their year of birth and anyone over the age of 14 is permitted access.

Gambling

At the time of review, the reviewer found no simulated gambling content. If you discover simulated gambling content in this app, please contact us with the details so we can update our review.

Advertising and product placement

There is advertising in this game, including:

• Advertising of other apps by the same developer is on the home page and available in the Toca news (accessed by the year of birth lock).

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

None noted.

Characters in the app are both male and female.

Coarse language

None noted.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

Young children could be tempted to try out their 'hairdressing skills' at home.

Other

N/A.

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