No, head halters are not cruel if used correctly. VCA Animal Hospital adds that head halters for dogs are commonly used as an alternative to neck control collars and have many advantages, such as the following:
Make control easier
Require less physical effort
Some may control barking
Turning the head away from the stimulus can reduce the risk of dog biting.
If your pet has an aggression problem, you should use a muzzle instead of a head halter.