How To Draw Black Hair

In this tutorial, we're going to discuss the nuts of drawing natural, afro textured hair types in line, including unlike variations and scenarios. Proceed in heed, even with this information, ane of the best ways to observe a bailiwick is to practice just that: observe. When in doubt, take a look at references!

An Introduction to Thick, Coily Hair

Step 1

Hair is frequently separated into "types". We're going to focus on Type 4 pilus in this tutorial, which tends to be the most curly and coily.

"Type 4" generally refers to the Andre Walker Pilus Typing System. This system is often used as a general classification for identifying hair'southward attributes (and it isn't without its flaws and valid criticisms). It has been further adapted by and expanded upon by others, besides. Since this organization is widely used and referred to, nosotros'll utilise it as a starting bespeak in this tutorial.

For reference, Type 1 refers to directly hair, Type ii to wavy, Type 3 to curly, and Type four to coily. Find how, every bit you move across the calibration, there is an increase in volume and density.

Step two

Showtime, allow's talk almost volume. In this case, I'one thousand referring to book in respect to how much space our subject—in this example, hair—occupies. Yous might hear the words "thickness" or "fullness" associated with hair'due south book. Generally speaking, hair in the 4 range tends to be quite voluminous. Let'due south wait at this in terms of main contours, or the outermost silhouette of the hair.

"Afro" as a manner is ofttimes visually portrayed as a perfect circle. All the same, as a woman of color with an afro, I can tell you—that's not how my hair naturally looks. One could style their pilus this manner, but information technology'south not exclusively how all coily hair looks. Even and so, it's not a plastic sphere or something similar that—there is typically texture and variation.

I recommend working with varied lines to accomplish contours that feel natural. Let'due south start with a very geometric concept and find how some varied line work tin can make for a more organic artful.

Example showing how varied line can create a more natural look

Variations and Considerations

I vesture an afro almost every 24-hour interval, myself —it's my favorite look! Here's a expect at the different ways that my curls, personally, generally vary in appearance, based on some simple, everyday scenarios.

Once again, please notation that no two people are exactly the same, and neither is their hair! These are my experiences and my take on illustrating this hair blazon in a stylistic fashion. Use these insights for inspiration, merely not necessarily as a catch-all replacement for reference.

Step 1

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

I visually broke this down into more simplistic contours. Find how information technology doesn't just "fall downwards". I get a lot of big, beautiful, fluffy height and width!

Step 2

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

When departing coily, thick hair, you don't necessarily lose book, even if the scalp is visible.

Step three

My hair doesn't necessarily "become flat" when information technology's wet. It tends to fall more than onto my shoulders, but still keeps some of its volume. Often, I feel similar my pilus is rather sponge-like in that it really takes a lot to get it thoroughly moisture!

For example, my hair might feel a picayune "limp" if I get caught in the pelting, simply it doesn't compare to being fully saturated with h2o in the shower. My pilus often takes a long time to dry, if I allow it to do and then without whatever kind of styling tool.

Step 4

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

Illustration of the concept of shrinkage

Stride 5

Tools like a flat atomic number 26 can be utilized to straighten natural pilus. Annotation, however, that the hair looks longer when it's styled this way. Once again, keep in mind that afro textured hair is curly—information technology will often appear longer when those coils are straightened out.

Looking at Unlike Roll Patterns

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

Again, please continue in mind that no ii people are exactly alike, and the aforementioned goes for their pilus! Some might be a combination of more than one hair type, and different styling tin also modify the hair'southward volume and appearance. These insights are meant as a potential frame of reference and non a rigid rulebook.

Step one

Permit'southward first with 4A hair qualities. Generally speaking, these curls are more likely to take a visible curl pattern—you might see pretty, Due south-shaped curls in the hair, for case. Keep in mind, however, that these curls are still going to exist tight, voluminous curls. Looser curls would likely fall more in the "Type iii" range.

When drawing this type of hair, I like to put more than emphasis on pattern and menses. While all Type 4s tend to accept a lot of volume, I've personally constitute 4As to often be a picayune more "bottom heavy" towards the shoulders, as the hair gets longer.

Step 2

I like to focus on accentuating those curls when drawing this hair blazon. We're not working with value or color in this tutorial, just these aspects can nevertheless be unsaid with line.

Step 3

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

Again, I've blocked out simple, main contours, but this time, notice how the volume is a little "higher" on the head.

Step 4

Keep in mind, again, that the coil patterns are more often than not not as defined in this hair type, by default. I like to think about this in terms of soft, varied sections.

Step v

4C pilus qualities often take even denser curls; these gorgeous coils are voluminous, thick, and often accept even more shrinkage. In this case, at that place'due south very little visible scroll pattern (unless styled that way).

Y'all may have noticed that the curls have gotten tighter with each pace, within the 4A, 4B, and 4C scale. That said, I would approach these curls in an even more "whole" way. Put the accent on organic contours that simulate a full, soft artful.

Step 6

Again, keep in listen that we're moving up a scale here. So 4C represents the tightest curls we're going to expect at. The outermost contours aren't quite the same equally we saw in 4A. While this will vary based on hair style and cut, I similar to think of it equally more even weight distribution on the skull.

Putting It All Together

Allow's bring everything together in ane stylistic drawing of a graphic symbol with hair that has 4C, coily qualities.

Step ane

Offset past blocking out the basic features of the facial expanse. Go along the skull in listen; since voluminous pilus can have varied contours that fall far from the skull, I like to brand sure to reference these points. This way, I don't run the run a risk of drawing a head that has odd proportions.

Blocking out the basic features of the facial area

Stride two

Hairlines, as with whatever hair blazon, tin can vary from person to person. For example, you might detect a squarish shape or a circular one. In this illustration, I'm going to block out a circular shape.

Step three

As with any pilus type, it's important not to draw in a haphazard fashion. Coily hair still grows outwards and withal has a methodology to information technology.

I've used basic cross contours hither to illustrate how I moving picture the general shape of the hair. Think of cross contours every bit lines that travel across a class in three-dimensional space. We won't necessarily continue these lines in our last drawing, but they can exist helpful in observing depth.

Note the lines in bluish that illustrate the management the hair generally flows and sits on the head. If, for instance, i were to make full this infinite with randomized lines, it would run the hazard of looking chaotic and unnatural. The blue space is the "front" of the pilus.

Step iv

Now that we have a experience for how the hair sits on the head, let's endeavor parting the pilus. Once more, keep in mind that this doesn't mean a loss of book, merely it would change how the volume is distributed.

Step 5

Since I'd like the hair to look thick, with tight, dense curls, I'm not going to focus on individual curls hither or presenting a specific blueprint.

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

Stride half dozen

Just similar 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 non have a clearly visible curl pattern within the hair, I like to utilize the hairline as a place where I can define some texture and add particular.

Again, the hair here isn't perfectly straight, so I like to avoid using straight lines. Varied lines can help visually reinforce the hair's texture.

Step 7

We're non going to await at value or color in this tutorial (we'll comprehend that in some other one!), but concepts similar texture and depth tin still be unsaid with line. But how? How practise yous know where to put what lines?

Again, I similar to cake out the basic shapes to assist me understand the form in a three-dimensional infinite. The blue is the front end of the hair, the pink is the tiptop, and the green is the surface expanse visible past the departing.

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

And In that location Yous Accept It!

Nosotros've created a line drawing of a grapheme with curly, afro textured hair! Utilise these insights to draw your own characters with varied, coily hair types—and don't be afraid to add your ain flair! Illustration tin can be expressive and stylistic while still drawing from existent-life qualities. Enjoy!