How To Draw Anime Hair Step-By-Step [Video + Illustrations]

Discover the Secrets to Drawing Stunning Anime Hairstyles [Video + Illustrations]

Anime characters are adored for their expressive eyes and unique hairstyles that always stand out. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to draw anime hair, you’re in the right place. In this tutorial, we’ll guide you step-by-step through the process of creating three popular female anime hairstyles and three popular male anime hairstyles.

The Tools You Need to Draw Anime Hair

To ensure a smooth drawing process, we recommend using the following tools:

• An H pencil: Ideal for sketching and creating light, easily erasable lines.
• An HB pencil: A medium-hard lead pencil that leaves darker lines when contouring.
• A kneaded eraser: Soft and pliable, allowing for easy customization of shape and erasing of darker areas.
• Lightly textured paper: Choose this type of paper for easier pencil movement and erasing.

However, remember that these tools are merely recommendations. The most important thing is your desire to learn and practice drawing anime hair. Any pencil and paper will suffice!

How to Draw Female Anime Hair Step-by-Step

In this section, we’ll guide you through drawing three popular female anime hairstyles: a short hairstyle, a ponytail, and a braid with long bangs. Let’s get started!

1. How to Draw a Short Female Anime Hairstyle

Drawing hair can be challenging, especially for beginners. That’s why we’ll break down the process into easy-to-follow steps. Here’s how to draw a short female anime hairstyle:

• Start by drawing the character’s head using an H pencil. Refer to our detailed guide on drawing anime characters’ faces if you need assistance.
  

• Most female anime characters have bangs, so let’s focus on drawing them. Begin at the center of the forehead and move your pencil upwards towards the top of the head. Angle the line towards the ear but stop at the point where the eyebrows end. From there, draw a line that touches the eyebrow and moves up to the center of the forehead. The shape should resemble a wing or an inverted teardrop.
  

• Next, add smaller, similar shapes next to the main wing shape. Gradually make them wider at the top and have the lines converge above the eyebrows.
  

• Continue drawing the bangs by adding another shape, approximately one-third bigger than the previous one. Let the tip touch the right eyebrow.
  

• To complete the bangs, draw the largest shape yet, almost as big as the first shape on the left. This will give the bangs a layered look.
  

• Now, let’s move on to drawing the rest of the girl’s hair. Since we’re aiming for a short hairstyle, the hair should not go past the shoulders. Use the same shapes as the bangs to sketch the hair on the sides and back of the head, maintaining a consistent style.
  

• Remember to add an ahoge, the cute strand of hair that sticks out at the top of some anime characters’ heads. While it’s usually exaggerated, we’ll keep it small and sweet.
  

• To make the hairstyle look cohesive, go over the outline with an HB pencil, contouring the different sections of hair.
  

• Finally, use a kneaded eraser to remove any unnecessary lines that may be hiding behind the hair, such as the cranium outline. Then, use an HB pencil again to enhance the features of the face like the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
  

Congratulations! You have successfully drawn a short female anime hairstyle. Practice these steps to refine your skills and create unique hairstyles.

2. How to Draw a Ponytail Anime Style

Short male hair can be spiky and textured without the need for elaborate steps. Here’s a simple way to draw short male anime hair:

• Begin by drawing the male character’s head. Refer to our previous guide for step-by-step instructions on drawing the head.
  

• Most male anime characters also have bangs, so let’s add those to our sketch. Start by drawing a quarter-moon shape from the top of the forehead to just above the left eyebrow.
  

• Continue adding bangs by drawing similar shapes, gradually becoming wider on the top and converging above the eyebrows.
  

• Now, draw the remaining bangs on the left side of the head, making them longer as they approach the ear.
  

• Complete the bangs by adding a shape that touches the right eyebrow, giving the hairstyle a layered look.
  

• To draw the hair at the back and sides of the head, continue sketching the same shapes as the bangs. Make them shorter on the right side, as the character is facing left.
  

• Draw the hair tie with a bow on top of the ponytail. We drew three petal-like shapes next to each other, positioned above the head crown.
  

• To complete the ponytail, sketch a worm-like shape that starts wide at the hair tie and gradually narrows towards the ends.
  

• Use an HB pencil to go over the hair outline, making it more pronounced. Then, erase any unnecessary lines and refine the facial features.
  

Well done! You have successfully drawn a ponytail anime hairstyle. Practice this technique to create different variations of male anime hairstyles.

3. How to Draw an Anime Braid with Long Bangs

Drawing long hair with a side braid and bangs can add an interesting touch to your character. Follow these steps to draw an anime braid with long bangs:

• Start by drawing the character’s head using the guidelines from our previous tutorials.
  

• Draw an oval shape from the crown of the head to just below the jawline, following the contour of the face. This shape will form the braid.
  

• Add a hair strand that goes from the crown of the head to just above the left eyebrow. This will form the long bangs that fall into the character’s eyes.
  

• Draw another teardrop-like shape to the right of the first one. It should start from the center of the forehead and end just below the eyebrow.
  

• Continue adding teardrop shapes to form the remaining bangs on the right side of the character’s face. Gradually decrease the size of the shapes as you move towards the cheekbones.
  

• Add loose hair strands on the right side of the face, right against the cheek. These strands should give the character a natural and slightly messy look.
  

• Don’t forget to add the characteristic ahoge, a small strand of hair that sticks out at the top of the character’s head. Place it at the very top of the oval shape you drew earlier.
  

• Begin drawing the braid by starting from about two-thirds of the hair at the back of the head. Follow the shape of the previously drawn hair strand and have the first part of the braid end at the nape of the neck. Then, connect it to the hair below the ear.
  

• Continue drawing the braid by adding smaller locks one after another. Make each lock slightly smaller than the previous one to create a sense of depth.
  

• Draw a hair tie with a bow and add some loose strands under it to make the braid appear more natural.
  

• Use an HB pencil to outline the braid, making it more defined. Pay attention to the interlocking sections of the strands to give it a realistic appearance.
  

• Remove any unnecessary guidelines and finalize the drawing by enhancing the facial features with an HB pencil.
  

Congratulations! You have successfully drawn an anime braid with long bangs. Continue practicing to enhance your skills and create even more intricate hairstyles.

Recap on How to Draw Anime Hair

Drawing anime hair may seem challenging, but with practice and patience, you can master various styles. Here’s a recap of the steps involved:

1. Start by sketching the head, following our previous tutorials on drawing anime characters’ faces.
2. For each hairstyle, begin with the basic outline and then add details, such as bangs or parts, using tear or wing shapes.
3. Connect the individual strands to create a cohesive hairstyle.
4. Use an HB pencil to darken and contour the hair.
5. Erase any unnecessary lines and refine the facial features.
6. Practice regularly to improve your skills and explore new hairstyles.

Enjoy the process and let your creativity shine as you create stunning anime hairstyles!