Introduction
This comprehensive tutorial will teach you how to draw various male hairstyles step by step. Each hairstyle is accompanied by detailed pencil drawing examples and explanations, making it easy for you to replicate the looks.
Hairstyle Examples
The tutorial covers the following male hairstyles:
- Natural Looking Hair
- Combed Hair
- Spiky Hair
Before we begin, it’s important to note that light pencil strokes should be used in the line drawing phase of each hairstyle. This allows the lines to blend seamlessly into the shading. In the examples, the lines have been slightly darkened for clarity purposes.
Additionally, it is recommended that you carefully read the drawing instructions for the first hairstyle, even if you plan on drawing a different one. This hairstyle provides the most detailed explanation, while subsequent examples offer slightly less detail to avoid repetition.
How to Draw Natural Male Hair Step by Step
Step 1 – Draw the Head
Begin by sketching a simple outline of the head without any hair. This preliminary step helps you estimate the volume the hair should have and prevents drawing mistakes. Please note that facial features are not covered in this tutorial. If you need guidance on drawing a male face, refer to our “How to Draw a Male Face Step by Step Tutorial.”
Step 2 – Draw the Hairline
After drawing the head, add a guideline for the hairline as shown in the example. This line serves as a reference for determining the height of the hair clumps in the next step.
Step 3 – Draw an Outline of the Hair
Over the head and hairline, draw the main shape of the hair without focusing on small splits and folds. Emphasize the larger defining shapes of the chosen hairstyle. Once completed, erase the parts of the head covered by the hair.
Step 4 – Add Some Details
Start adding larger details and folds to the hair, splitting it into smaller clumps.
Step 5 – Finish the Line Drawing
Add additional details, such as smaller waves and individual hair hints, to complete the line drawing of the hairstyle.
Step 6 – Begin Applying Shading
In this step, use light strokes to create shading that flows along the direction of the hair clumps. Avoid blending too much and allow some visibility of the pencil lines in the mid-tone areas. Leave the highlight areas white and make the shading slightly darker in the shadowed regions. The goal is to establish the overall flow of strokes and differentiate between light, mid-tone, and shadowed areas.
Step 7 – Intensify the Shading
Gradually darken and smoothen the shading by adding additional layers of strokes. Applying shading gradually helps avoid mistakes and allows for adjustments in the darkness of each area. This step provides better control over the overall contrast between the mid-tone and shadowed sections.
Step 8 – Finish the Hair Drawing
Continue layering your strokes to darken the hair further. As the final touch, add quick strokes around the hair tips to suggest individual hair strands. Apply more pressure to the pencil and swiftly pull your hand away from the paper while drawing each stroke. This technique creates soft and realistic-looking hair ends.
How to Draw Combed Male Hair Step by Step
Step 1 – Draw the Head
As with the previous example, start by drawing the basic outline of the head without any hair.
Step 2 – Draw the Hairline
Add a guide line for the hairline, similar to the previous hairstyles.
Step 3 – Draw an Outline of the Hair
Over the head and hairline, draw a basic outline of the combed hair without including intricate details. While drawing, allow parts of the hair to overlap the guide line to achieve a natural look. Erase the hairline guide and the covered areas of the head.
Step 4 – Add Some Details
Add larger inner waves and folds to the main outline of the hair.
Step 5 – Finish the Line Drawing
Complete the line drawing by adding the finer details of the folds and curves.
Step 6 – Begin Applying Shading
Apply light shading strokes along the folds of the hair, following the general direction of the waves. The purpose of this step is to establish the direction of the shading strokes and identify the highlights, shadows, and mid-tone areas.
Step 7 – Intensify the Shading
Darken and smooth out the shading by adding another layer of strokes, slightly darker than the previous layer. Gradual shading application helps prevent mistakes and enables easy adjustments if needed.
Step 8 – Finish the Hair Drawing
Further darken the shading by layering more strokes. To create the appearance of individual hairs, add quick strokes around the tips of the hair. Apply more pressure to the pencil and quickly pull your hand away from the paper. This technique produces realistic-looking hair strands.
How to Draw Spiky Male Hair Step by Step
Step 1 – Draw the Head
Once again, sketch the basic outline of the head before adding the hair.
Step 2 – Draw the Hairline
Include a guide line for the hairline, similar to the previous hairstyles. In this example, the hairline plays a prominent role, so accuracy is vital.
Step 3 – Draw an Outline of the Hair
Over the head and hairline, draw the main outline of the spiky hair. For a natural appearance, allow the hairline to be slightly wavy and asymmetrical. At this stage, focus on the overall shape of the hairstyle without including individual hair details. Erase the hairline guide and the covered areas of the head.
Step 4 – Add Some Details
Introduce lines that divide the hair into distinct clumps. As the hair is styled with gel, it tends to form larger clumps. Ensure that the overall direction of the hair follows towards the right side of the drawing.
Step 5 – Finish the Line Drawing
Add sharp ends to the hair clumps, erasing any unnecessary lines from the previous steps.
Step 6 – Begin Applying Shading
Apply light shading strokes along the direction of the hair clumps, following the same generic lighting conditions as in the previous examples. Create visible strokes to simulate individual hairs and distinguish highlights, shadows, and mid-tone areas.
Step 7 – Intensify the Shading
Darken and smoothen the shading by adding another layer of strokes. Strive for a balance between visible strokes and smooth transitions between the light and dark areas of the hair.
Step 8 – Finish the Hair Drawing
Darken the hair further and add small strokes along the edges to suggest individual hair strands protruding in different directions. Apply slightly more pressure to the pencil and swiftly pull your hand away from the paper when creating these strokes. This technique adds a natural touch to the drawing.
Conclusion
Drawing hair can be challenging, but by following the step-by-step instructions in this tutorial, you can simplify the process. Begin with a rough outline of the hairstyle and gradually work on the smaller details. When shading, apply it in multiple layers of strokes.
Drawing your artwork gradually and in steps helps minimize mistakes and reduces the need for corrections. For drawing female hair, please refer to our “How to Draw Hair Step by Step Tutorial.” For more general drawing tips and best practices, explore our “Beginner Guide to Learning to Draw.”
