How To Draw Curly Hair

In this tutorial, nosotros're going to talk over the basics of drawing natural, afro textured hair types in line, including different variations and scenarios. Go along in listen, fifty-fifty with this information, 1 of the best ways to notice a subject area is to do merely that: discover. When in doubt, take a wait at references!

An Introduction to Thick, Coily Hair

Step 1

Hair is often separated into "types". We're going to focus on Type four hair in this tutorial, which tends to be the well-nigh curly and coily.

"Type 4" generally refers to the Andre Walker Hair Typing System. This system is ofttimes used equally a general classification for identifying pilus's attributes (and information technology isn't without its flaws and valid criticisms). It has been farther adapted by and expanded upon by others, equally well. Since this system is widely used and referred to, we'll employ information technology as a starting point in this tutorial.

For reference, Type 1 refers to direct hair, Type ii to wavy, Type iii to curly, and Type 4 to coily. Find how, as you motility across the scale, there is an increase in book and density.

Step 2

Beginning, let's talk near volume. In this instance, I'thousand referring to volume in respect to how much infinite our discipline—in this example, hair—occupies. Y'all might hear the words "thickness" or "fullness" associated with hair'south volume. More often than not speaking, hair in the 4 range tends to exist quite voluminous. Let's expect at this in terms of primary contours, or the outermost silhouette of the hair.

"Afro" as a style is oftentimes visually portrayed as a perfect circle. Withal, as a woman of color with an afro, I tin can tell you—that's non how my hair naturally looks. 1 could style their hair this style, just it's not exclusively how all coily hair looks. Even and so, it's not a plastic sphere or something like that—there is typically texture and variation.

I recommend working with varied lines to achieve contours that feel natural. Let's start with a very geometric concept and find how some varied line piece of work can make for a more organic artful.

Example showing how varied line can create a more natural look

Variations and Considerations

I wear an afro almost every twenty-four hours, myself —it's my favorite look! Here'south a look at the dissimilar ways that my curls, personally, generally vary in advent, based on some uncomplicated, everyday scenarios.

Over again, please note that no 2 people are exactly the same, and neither is their hair! These are my experiences and my take on illustrating this pilus blazon in a stylistic way. Use these insights for inspiration, merely non necessarily as a catch-all replacement for reference.

Pace 1

First, this is how my pilus looks naturally, when dry out, and with minimal product (such every bit styling gels) applied. I tend to accept a lot of volume because my hair is pretty long.

I visually broke this down into more simplistic contours. Discover how it doesn't just "fall downwards". I get a lot of large, cute, fluffy height and width!

Step 2

Parting the hair can besides affect its appearance, weight, and volume. In these examples, the hair has been parted downwards to the scalp. Note how the curls tend to "dodder", and there is an overall fluffy, soft advent to the hair (cute, right?).

When parting coily, thick pilus, you don't necessarily lose volume, fifty-fifty if the scalp is visible.

Step 3

My pilus doesn't necessarily "become apartment" when it'southward wet. Information technology tends to fall more onto my shoulders, merely still keeps some of its volume. Often, I feel like my hair is rather sponge-like in that information technology actually takes a lot to get it thoroughly wet!

For case, my hair might feel a little "limp" if I get caught in the rain, but it doesn't compare to being fully saturated with water in the shower. My hair often takes a long time to dry out, if I allow it to exercise so without any kind of styling tool.

Pace four

Coily hair, especially tighter coils, will often feel "shrinkage". For example, I can pull one of my curls taut, and information technology looks a lot longer. As an example, when pulling the hair dorsum, notice how the volume stays in the "puff" at the back.

Illustration of the concept of shrinkage

Stride 5

Tools similar a flat atomic number 26 can be utilized to straighten natural hair. Notation, however, that the hair looks longer when it'due south styled this way. Again, keep in listen that afro textured pilus is curly—it will often appear longer when those coils are straightened out.

Looking at Unlike Scroll Patterns

Now, let's take a look at what those insights mean in relation to different types of coils in the Type 4 range.

Once more, please go along in mind that no two people are exactly akin, and the aforementioned goes for their hair! Some might be a combination of more than i hair type, and different styling can also change the hair's book and appearance. These insights are meant as a potential frame of reference and not a rigid rulebook.

Step i

Let's first with 4A hair qualities. Mostly speaking, these curls are more probable to have a visible coil design—yous might see pretty, Due south-shaped curls in the hair, for example. Keep in mind, withal, that these curls are still going to exist tight, voluminous curls. Looser curls would likely fall more than in the "Type 3" range.

When drawing this blazon of hair, I like to put more emphasis on pattern and flow. While all Blazon 4s tend to have a lot of book, I've personally constitute 4As to oftentimes be a picayune more "bottom heavy" towards the shoulders, as the hair gets longer.

Pace 2

I like to focus on accentuating those curls when drawing this hair type. We're not working with value or color in this tutorial, simply these aspects can still be implied with line.

Step 3

4B hair qualities ofttimes take beautiful, tight coils that are more densely packed. This hair type tends to accept a lot of shrinkage. When looking at the hair, as a whole, the curls will often look less divers (unless styled to do so!). Instead of an S-shape, these coils are oft associated with a Z-shape.

Once more, I've blocked out elementary, principal contours, but this fourth dimension, notice how the volume is a little "higher" on the caput.

Step 4

Proceed in mind, again, that the roll patterns are by and large non as defined in this pilus blazon, by default. I like to call up nigh this in terms of soft, varied sections.

Stride v

4C hair qualities oft have even denser curls; these gorgeous coils are voluminous, thick, and oft have even more shrinkage. In this case, there's very little visible ringlet blueprint (unless styled that way).

You may have noticed that the curls accept gotten tighter with each pace, within the 4A, 4B, and 4C scale. That said, I would arroyo these curls in an fifty-fifty more "whole" fashion. Put the emphasis on organic contours that simulate a full, soft aesthetic.

Step 6

Again, keep in mind that we're moving up a scale here. And so 4C represents the tightest curls we're going to wait at. The outermost contours aren't quite the same as we saw in 4A. While this will vary based on hair style and cutting, I like to think of it as more even weight distribution on the skull.

Putting It All Together

Allow'southward bring everything together in i stylistic drawing of a character with hair that has 4C, coily qualities.

Step 1

Start by blocking out the basic features of the facial expanse. Keep the skull in listen; since voluminous hair tin can take varied contours that fall far from the skull, I like to make sure to reference these points. This way, I don't run the take chances of drawing a head that has odd proportions.

Blocking out the basic features of the facial area

Footstep 2

Hairlines, equally with any hair type, tin can vary from person to person. For case, yous might observe a squarish shape or a round i. In this illustration, I'm going to block out a circular shape.

Step 3

As with whatever hair type, it's important not to depict in a haphazard manner. Coily hair still grows outwards and still has a methodology to it.

I've used basic cross contours here to illustrate how I film the general shape of the pilus. Think of cross contours as lines that travel across a form in three-dimensional infinite. We won't necessarily keep these lines in our final drawing, but they can exist helpful in observing depth.

Note the lines in blue that illustrate the direction the hair mostly flows and sits on the head. If, for example, i were to fill this space with randomized lines, it would run the run a risk of looking chaotic and unnatural. The blue space is the "front end" of the hair.

Step four

At present that nosotros have a feel for how the pilus sits on the head, permit's try parting the pilus. Over again, continue in mind that this doesn't mean a loss of volume, but it would change how the book is distributed.

Footstep 5

Since I'd like the hair to expect thick, with tight, dense curls, I'm not going to focus on private curls here or presenting a specific pattern.

Instead, I'm going to put the emphasis on establishing soft "clumps" of hair. I recommend keeping organic lines and shapes in mind—varied lines are going to look more natural. For instance, coily hair isn't straight, so I like to avoid using straight lines.

Step six

Just like the outer silhouette of the hair, the hairline could benefit from organic variations in line that further reinforce the movement and texture of the hair.

While dumbo curls might not have a conspicuously visible curl pattern within the pilus, I like to use the hairline every bit a identify where I tin define some texture and add detail.

Once more, the hair hither isn't perfectly straight, and so I similar to avert using directly lines. Varied lines can help visually reinforce the hair's texture.

Step 7

We're not going to look at value or colour in this tutorial (we'll cover that in another ane!), simply concepts similar texture and depth can notwithstanding be unsaid with line. Just how? How do y'all know where to put what lines?

Again, I like to block out the basic shapes to assistance me empathise the form in a three-dimensional space. The blue is the forepart of the hair, the pinkish is the acme, and the green is the surface area visible past the parting.

Using these as my guide, I could add some additional lines to help imply some particular.

And At that place Y'all Have It!

Nosotros've created a line cartoon of a character with curly, afro textured hair! Use these insights to draw your ain characters with varied, coily pilus types—and don't be afraid to add together your own flair! Illustration tin be expressive and stylistic while all the same drawing from real-life qualities. Enjoy!