Do you aspire to become a braid-drawing virtuoso? Well, you’re in luck! Drawing braids is not as daunting as it may seem. In fact, there’s a straightforward method to creating braids that allows you to craft them in any shape you desire.
Once you grasp the technique, you’ll find yourself getting carried away, drawing more braids than you initially intended. And that’s not a bad thing! Once you experience the joy of drawing braids and successfully complete your first masterpiece, you’ll be hooked for life.
In this tutorial, we’ll be introducing videos, as sometimes pictures alone aren’t sufficient for conveying the intricacies of the process. So, get ready to dive into the world of braiding artistry!
Step 1: Laying the Foundation
To begin, use an HB pencil to draw two lines that will define the thickness and length of your braid. Then, draw a gentle curve down the middle. These lines serve as the backbone of your braid.
Step 2: Zigzagging your Way Down
Now, along the middle line, draw curvy zigzags all the way down. As you progress, make your zigzags smaller and shorter. Remember, the size of your zigzags determines the individual portions of the braid. Avoid using straight or overly curvy lines, as they tend to make the braid look less natural.
Step 3: Adding Hair to the Braid
Moving on to the hair, draw two curves at the top of your braid that extend beyond the guidelines you created in the previous step. This marks the starting point of the braid, hence the funnel-like shape.
Step 4: Shaping the Braid
Before proceeding, erase the line running down the middle of the braid (through the zigzag pattern). Starting from the left side, draw a curve that connects to the top portion of the hair and ends at every convex corner. Repeat this process for the right side as well. Stay close to the outline created in the first step, but don’t feel restricted by it. To achieve a more natural appearance, deviate slightly from the outline. Refer to the diagram provided to ensure a good flow of hair.
Step 5: Adding Depth and Texture
Now, it’s time to add depth and texture to the braid. Begin by erasing the boundary outlines. Then, use a blunt needle or any sharp edge that won’t puncture the paper to draw invisible hairs. Apply varying pressures to create a range of thin and thick hairs. These indentations in the paper will give the hair a realistic texture and appear as thin white lines when shading is applied.
Determine the light source for the braid and plan areas of light and shadow accordingly. Use an HB pencil to create a gentle gradient, shading into the highlights. Next, use a 2B pencil to darken the shaded areas and add more detail. Experiment with different lead thicknesses by rotating your pencil. For darker hair, you can use a 4B pencil to achieve the same effect. Check out the video tutorial for additional guidance.
Step 6: Perfecting the Details
This step is where the fun truly begins! Grab a 0.5mm mechanical pencil with 4B lead or an ultra pointy 4B pencil (use a harder pencil for light-colored hair) to add intricate details. Simply go over the areas where you previously planned the light and shadow. Press harder in certain areas to create more visual interest. Maintain distinct boundaries between the groups of hair when working around the zigzags. If needed, darken the zigzags slightly to enhance clarity.
If you wish to create super shiny hair, keep the highlights clean and white. On the other hand, if you prefer a more subdued look, shade over the highlights using an HB pencil after completing the detailing process.
Step 7: Tailoring the Tail
It’s time to draw the tail of the braid. To achieve a natural flowing appearance, use a single curve to mark the direction and center of the tail. The curve should be smooth and possess a natural curve that mimics the movement of real hair.
Step 8: Adding Texture to the Hair Tie
To give the hair tie a distinct texture, employ a shading technique that differs from the rest of the hair. Create a fuzzy texture by using a squiggly motion while shading the hair tie. Like Step 5, use a needle to draw invisible hairs, and then shade the areas in shadow using HB, 2B, and 4B pencils.
Step 9: Fine-tuning the Details
Now, it’s time to focus on the smaller details once again. Divide the hair into individual groups and shade each section one after the other, starting with the darker areas and moving towards the lighter ones.
Step 10: Adding the Finishing Touch
If you desire an even more natural look, take a 0.5mm pencil and add loose hairs sporadically, especially around the hair tie.
Explore the possibilities! The provided examples illustrate cool shapes you can create, which are particularly useful for drawing hairstyles featuring winding braids, such as milkmaid braids, halo braids, and even heart-shaped designs. Let your imagination run wild!
Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep honing your skills and experimenting with different styles. Before you know it, you’ll become a master of drawing braids!
