Hair Drawing: Step-by-Step Tutorial & Easy Ideas

Want to draw hair that actually looks right? Start with a light proportion framework and build from there. This page covers the full process — nine steps from first line to finished drawing — followed by hair drawing ideas in every style: easy, cute, realistic, and a few you probably haven't tried.

Difficulty Hard
Time ~25 min
Tools Pencil, eraser, paper
Starts with a light proportion framework

Hair drawing — hand-drawn hair illustration with ink lines and soft colors

How to Draw Hair Step by Step

Step 1 of 9

Head and shoulder guides

Draw a light circle for the head in the upper middle of the page, then a wide oval below it for the shoulders.

See the full sheet

Head and shoulder guides
Draw a light circle for the head in the upper middle of the page, then a wide oval below it for the shoulders.
Face and neck
Trace a plain rounded jaw and chin on the lower head circle, with no eyes or mouth, then draw the shoulder and neck outline below it.
Part line
Draw one short diagonal line near the top of the head to mark where the hair will part to one side.
Hair crown
Draw a rounded hair shape covering the top of the head from ear to ear, slightly larger than the skull, following the part line.
Left hair mass
From the left side of the crown, draw a wavy strand of hair falling past the shoulder with two gentle outward bulges.
Right hair mass
Mirror the left side by drawing a matching wavy strand of hair falling from the right side of the crown past the shoulder.
Strand lines and wisps
Add a few thin parallel lines inside each hair mass to suggest strands, then a few short flyaway wisps near the part and hair ends.
Ink the lines
Go over every kept line with dark ink, then erase the light head circle and shoulder oval guides.
Color the hairstyle
Fill the hair warm brown, the skin a light tan, and the shoulders' clothing a soft gray.

Hair Drawing Ideas to Try Next

Once the basic hair clicks, run it through these variations — each one practices a different skill while staying on a subject you already know.

Hair in profile silhouette
One side-view outline filled solid black — profile practice with a dramatic result.
A back-view hair
No face required: hair, shoulders, and posture carry everything. The most confidence-building people drawing there is.
Hands holding something small
A mug, a phone, a flower — drawing hands WITH objects is easier than empty hands, and endlessly useful.
A gesture-pose minute study
Set a timer for 60 seconds and capture just the motion line and weight — repeat five times, keep the best.
A cozy bundled-up figure
Big coat, big scarf, small visible face — winter clothing hides anatomy while you practice everything else.

Hair Drawing Styles: Easy, Cute & More

Anime Hair Drawing

Try the manga-inspired style: expressive eyes, dynamic lines, cel-style shading. Same nine steps as above — simply simplify or stylize the final pass.

Browse more anime ideas →

Tips for Better Hair Drawings

Eyes sit at the vertical middle of the head — everyone places them too high at first. Measure it once on any photo and you’ll never unsee it.
Draw the spaces between features, not just the features. The distance from nose to mouth matters more than the nose or the mouth.

Not feeling hair today?

Let the generator pick your next subject — filtered by mood and difficulty.

🎲 Random Drawing Generator

Hair Drawing FAQ

What is the easiest way to draw hair?

Start with a light proportion framework, keeping your lines light. Refine the outline, add the defining details, then erase the construction shapes. The nine-step method above breaks this down — most people get a recognizable hair on their very first try with it.

How long does hair drawing take?

A simple hair drawing takes about 25 minutes following this tutorial. A quick doodle version can be done in two or three minutes, while a detailed, fully-shaded study might take an hour. Speed comes with repetition — the second attempt is always faster than the first.

What supplies do I need for hair drawings?

Just a pencil, an eraser, and any paper. An HB pencil for construction lines and a 2B for final outlines is a nice upgrade, and colored pencils or markers finish it off — but nothing on this page requires special supplies.

Why is drawing hair so hard?

Hair drawings usually go wrong at the proportion stage, not the detail stage. The fix is to spend more time on the basic shapes (steps 1–2) and check them before adding anything else — and use the tip above, which addresses the single most common hair mistake.