How to Draw Hair Like a Pro
Tools
1) Mapping Pen
2) Lasso tool
3) Textured Pen
The Volume and Construction of Hair
Draw the edges and shade this so you can better understand where the hair will hang from.
Mark the center of the skull, I find that knowing this allows the hair to look more organic. Then draw lines indicating if the hair is falling and in what direction.
Simplify the hair using basic shapes. Basic shapes can help you determine the volume and angles. Over time you will have trained your eye to see hair as shapes.
Tip: Use real world references and draw over them to see how the hair breaks into shape
The Shape of Hair
Decide what is the hair texture you are aiming for.
STRAIGHT HAIR
This is the most straight forward, and will be represented by smooth Flowing lines. Straight hair of different lengths have different flows. Short straight hair might be spikey while long straight hair might lay more flat.
• First draw the overall spine of the hair. Reduce the opacity.
• Draw the other two sides of the spine.
• Close the hair at the end, you can keep it straight or add a little curl.
CURLY HAIR
This can be medium - difficult.
To draw curly hair follow the steps.
• Draw a straight hair.
• wrap another hair around it. Make sure to taper the hair towards the end. As all hair gets thinner towards the ends.
• Clean away the straight hair.
TIGHT CURLY HAIR (Afro texture)
For afro textures hair, I focus not on the strand of hair, but I look at it as a whole.
• Study the shape of the hair you want. Break it into geometric shapes.
• They using either of these outlining methods (purple), craft the exterior of the hair.
• Then you can fill the hair in with more texture. This is completely up to you.
Coloring Hair
When coloring hair, you need to understand where your light is coming from.
When you pinpoint your light source, you can decide what type of shine the hair will have, and where the shadows will be.
A) Light source above
B) Light source from the back
C) Light source from the right side
When you understand how to light hair, all you need to do is add color.
And you have drawn hair.
Conclusion
These is a quick tutorial to make the hair you draw look more like hair. Push the boundaries of the tutorial to achieve more stylized hair, or to draw hair in motion. Keep practicing studying and learning from other artists.
Check out my Instagram for more of my works...
https://www.instagram.com/khen_arts/p/CY2i80pgN7t/?utm_medium=copy_link
Also check out my comic on webtoon...
https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/blue-tulips/list?title_no=702978&page=1
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