How to Draw Curly Hair

Short Curly Hair

Draw an outline of the head and shoulders.

Visualize the type of hairstyle you like. Decide on what type of curl you wish for your drawing and which direction the curls fall.

Draw an outline of the hair using curly lines.

Add more curly lines to fill up the outline you have drawn.

Erase unwanted lines from your outline and you can also add other details to your drawing like the face.

Color your drawing. If you aren't working with materials you can easily layer lighter colors on top, leave the highest points of the hair without color. These areas would be the top of the head and any major curls.

Add light colored strands of hair where the most light would hit the hair. This would be at the highest points of the curls, especially at the top of the head.

Add shadows to the hair around the part and by the neck. You can also put shadow where the hair overlaps and on any skin next to the hair.

Lighten the hair as a whole where the most light would hit. This again is the top of the hair and some of the larger curls.

Long Curly Hair

Draw an outline of the head and shoulders.

Visualize the type of hairstyle you like. Decide on what type of curl you wish for your drawing and which direction the curls fall. Usually, long curled hair is a bit straightened near the roots while curls are more prominent near the tips.

Draw an outline of the hair using long curved lines. Make sure to make the strands look soft.

Add more curved lines to fill up the outline you have drawn to emphasize the curves of the hair.

Add other details to the drawing like the face and erase unnecessary lines.

Color your drawing. If you aren't working with materials you can easily layer lighter colors on top, leave the highest points of the hair without color. These areas would be the top of the head and any major curls.

Add light colored strands of hair where the most light would hit the hair. This would be at the highest points of the curls, especially at the top of the head.

Add shadows to the hair around the part and by the neck. You can also put shadow where the hair overlaps and on any skin next to the hair.

Lighten the hair as a whole where the most light would hit. This again is the top of the hair and some of the larger curls.