Supplies Needed For Drawing Hair
To embark on the journey of drawing hair, it is essential to gather the right supplies. While professional artists have an array of tools at their disposal, beginners can start with the basics:
- Paper: Opt for sketch pad paper or drawing paper, as they are better suited for capturing the intricacies of hair compared to regular office paper.
- Pencils: Grade B or 2B pencils work well for drawing hair, as they provide the desired level of darkness and control.
- Eraser: An eraser serves a dual purpose, not only for erasing mistakes but also for creating highlights and adding depth.
- Blending Tools: To achieve a more realistic look, consider using a blending stump or blending tortillon to blend and smudge the pencil lines.
Different Hair Styles To Draw
Just like in real life, every head of hair is unique and varied. To start your journey in drawing hair, it’s best to begin with the fundamentals. Here are a few basic styles to get you started:
- Curly
- Kinky
- Straight
- Braids
- Buns
How to Draw Hair: Easy Drawing Projects
When drawing hair, it’s essential to match the style of art you’re using. Whether you prefer anime or a more realistic approach, there are various tutorials available to guide you. Here are some simple drawing projects to help you learn how to draw hair:
Male Anime Hair
Male anime hair is known for its simplicity and ease of drawing. Anime Outline provides a comprehensive guide on how to draw the most popular male hairstyles in anime.
Female Anime Hair
Envato Tuts offers a tutorial that covers various styles of female anime hair. Once you master these basics, you can move on to more complex anime hairstyles.
Realistic Male Hair
Drawing realistic hair can be challenging, but Easy Drawing Tips makes it look easy with their detailed step-by-step guide.
Realistic Female Hair
If you want to create beautiful and lifelike female hair, WikiHow provides a simple tutorial on how to draw realistic long hair that can help you get started.
How to Draw Cartoon Hair
Cartoon hair offers versatility and simplicity. Easy Drawing Guides offers a straightforward tutorial on how to draw cartoon hair, which can be applied to various styles.
How to Draw Pigtails
Drawing pigtails becomes easy once you understand how the hair leading up to and spouting out of the hair tie should lay. Jey Ram’s guide provides a direct approach to drawing pigtails.
How to Draw Ponytails
If you can draw pigtails, drawing a ponytail should be a breeze. Jey Ram’s tutorial on how to draw a ponytail offers a step-by-step guide for beginners and intermediates.
How to Draw Braids
While braids may be one of the easiest hairstyles in real life, mastering them in the art world takes practice. Wonder Street’s braid tutorial is a helpful resource to bookmark.
How to Draw Facial Hair
Facial hair presents its own unique challenges. Artist’s Network teaches you how to draw mustaches, incorporating principles that can be applied to drawing all facial hair.
How to Draw a Bun
To draw a bun, starting with a ponytail and finishing it differently is the key. Jey Ram’s tutorial offers valuable guidance for beginners and intermediates.
How to Draw African-American Hair
Hairstyles in the 4A range and beyond are challenging to draw, but It’s AJ Art explains how to tackle this type of hair in their video tutorial.
How to Draw Hair Under a Hat
If you want to draw a character wearing a hat, studying how anime characters wear hats can provide valuable insights. Anime Outline offers a useful tutorial on how to draw hats on hair.
How to Draw Shaved Head or Stubble
Drawing stubble is a skill that can be applied to drawing a shaved head. Jonny J Atter Art provides a pencil art tutorial that demonstrates how to draw stubble effectively.
How to Draw Hair Texture
Capturing hair texture in your drawings can be a challenge. Kirsty Partridge Art’s in-depth video tutorial can help you understand the nuances of hair texture and how to depict it accurately.
How to Draw Anime Hair Chibi Style
Chibi anime hair features a cute and tiny frame, similar to regular anime hair. Usa-kun’s Manga & Anime Art Lab offers a video tutorial that walks you through the process of drawing chibi character hair.
How to Draw Realistic Hair Step-By-Step
Realistic hair is awe-inspiring to draw but also the most challenging. Each artist considers specific features and steps to create realistic hair. Here’s a breakdown of the process:
Realistic Hair Features
While there are numerous features to consider when drawing realistic hair, most fall within these four categories:
Volume
All hair possesses volume, but the amount of volume varies from one head of hair to another. It’s crucial to incorporate volume from the beginning and maintain it throughout the drawing process.
Flow
The flow of hair refers to the way it lays or falls. Observe real-life examples and pay attention to how each strand of hair cascades naturally.
Shadows And Highlights
Mastering shadows and highlights is quite challenging. It requires practice as you aim to capture how light interacts with a three-dimensional object, such as hair.
Texture
Drawing hair texture is relatively easier compared to other aspects of realistic hair. Since individual hairs can be drawn separately, take your time, especially when starting out, to achieve the desired texture.
How to Draw Realistic Hair Steps
Follow these steps to create stunningly realistic hair:
Step 1 – Add Volume
Begin by sketching the head and then add heightened areas around it. Remember that hair doesn’t lay flat on the scalp but instead grows upwards and outwards.
Step 2 – Create a Part
Choose whether you want a side part or a middle part, and mark it subtly. The part will guide the rest of the drawing process.
Step 3 – Frame the Face
Draw a few strands of hair around the face and indicate where you want the bangs. Even if you choose not to include bangs, mark any hair that touches the face.
Step 4 – Create a Flow
Use just a few lines to establish the flow of the hair. Start from either side of the part and work your way down to the ends, ensuring that some pieces only go halfway.
Step 5 – Lift the Front
Front hair always has some lift. Observe how the hairline indicates where the hair grows from, and another line shows where it begins to fall.
Step 6 – Start Adding Texture
Begin adding texture to your drawing, but don’t go overboard. This step should give you a clear vision of the final result.
Step 7 – Divide the Strands
Depending on the hair’s texture—curly, straight, or kinky—divide the hair into strands. Strands are smaller, distinct sections of hair that naturally group together.
Step 8 – Divide the Hairs
This step requires patience, as each hair or pair of hairs should be drawn separately to create realistic strands.
Step 9 – Start Shading
Shading is a challenging skill to master for any artist. When drawing hair, use darker shading for the part and underneath, while adding highlights throughout the top.
Step 10 – Finish Texture and Shading
With the shading and texture nearly complete, follow your artistic instincts to add the finishing touches. Flow with the process and let your creativity guide the final stages.
How To Draw Curly Hair
Curly hair requires a different approach when it comes to drawing. The unique texture and added volume call for a specific set of instructions:
Step 1 – Draw a Large Outline
When sketching curly hair, begin by lifting the outline far above the head to capture its natural voluminous nature.
Step 2 – Frame the Face
To achieve a realistic look, frame the face with faint lines on either side that indicate where the curls will fall.
Step 3 – Squiggle the Lines
Squiggle and add more lines to the initial outline, capturing the intricate curls and waves of the hair.
Step 4 – Create Strays
Curly hair often boasts stray hairs. Draw a few near the part and additional ones that curve outwards to the sides, adding to the natural appeal.
Step 5 – Fill In the Base
Add plenty of curls throughout the frame of the curly hair, ensuring they interlock and flow seamlessly.
Step 6 – Balance As You Go
While drawing curly hair, strive for balance, but avoid making it too perfect. Achieving a natural look means finding the right balance without veering into the territory known as the “Christmas tree look.”
Step 7 – Connect the Strands
Join each curl at the bottom by creating strands, accentuating their individuality while maintaining overall cohesion.
Step 8 – Shade
Once the strands are complete, focus on individual hairs and add shading to add depth and dimension to the curls.
Best Pencils To Use For Sketching Hair
When drawing hair, the choice of pencils can greatly impact the outcome of your work. Here are some of the best pencils to consider for various aspects of hair drawing:
- Best for Base: B Pencil
- Top Pencils for Light Shading: 2H to 5H
- Best for Dark Shadows: 6B
Common Mistakes When Drawing Hair
Avoid these common mistakes that many artists make when attempting to draw hair:
- Rushing: Take your time and pay attention to detail.
- No Highlights: Ensure that you include highlights to create dimension and realism.
- Flat Shadows: Add depth to your drawing by incorporating shadows that vary in intensity.
- No Blending: Use blending tools, such as blending stumps or tortillons, to smooth and blend pencil lines.
- No Movement: Hair should have a sense of movement, so avoid making it appear stiff and static.
Tips For Drawing Hair
Consider these valuable tips to enhance your hair drawing skills:
Use Varying Highlights/Shading
Create depth by employing different levels of pressure and pencils to add shading and highlights. This technique will give your hair more dimension compared to using only one pencil and a single pressure.
Imagine the Color
Even if you draw in black and white, imagining the hair with color can help you create more realistic depth and shading.
Use a Reference
When drawing hair, refer to photos or observe real-life examples to fill in any gaps in your imagination. A reference can provide valuable guidance and inspiration.
Become a Hypothetical Cosmetologist
Understanding how hair should naturally lay and how it is cut is crucial for creating realistic hair. Take the time to study the characteristics of different hairstyles to achieve mastery.
FAQ
Why Is Drawing Hair So Hard?
Drawing hair poses a challenge due to its intricate depth and texture. Hair is far from flat, and even when drawing cartoon versions, creating a three-dimensional element is essential.
What Is The Easiest Hair Style To Draw?
Straight or slightly wavy cartoon hair is generally the easiest style to draw. Realistic hair proves to be more challenging due to its intricate details.
How Do I Practice Drawing Hair?
To practice drawing hair, all you need to do is start. Begin with basic materials like paper and pencil, and gradually experiment with different techniques. Compare your progress over time to see how far you’ve come.
Conclusion
Becoming proficient in drawing hair takes time and patience. Just like any other skill, it requires practice. By understanding the step-by-step process and gaining familiarity with various hair types, you’ll find that each artwork you create surpasses the previous one.
Remember, the key to mastering hair drawing lies in observing real-life examples, experimenting with different techniques, and allowing your creativity to shine. So grab your pencils, embrace the challenge, and let your artistic journey unfold with each stroke of the pencil.
