How to Draw Realistic Hair

 

 How to Draw Realistic Hair (Step by Step for Beginners)

Learn how to draw realistic hair with pencil! This tutorial breaks down the process of sketching smooth, flowing hair strands and natural shading for lifelike portraits.

🖌️ Introduction:

Hair can make or break a portrait — it adds style, emotion, and realism.

Whether it’s straight, curly, or wavy, drawing hair is all about flow and texture, not just lines.

In this post, you’ll learn how to draw hair step by step, and discover how to make it look alive.

✏️ Step 1: Outline the Head and Hair Shape

Start with a light outline of the head.

Then sketch the hair volume — focus on the outer shape before the details.

> 💡 Tip: Don’t draw strand by strand yet; think of hair as “clumps” of light and dark areas.

✏️ Step 2: Divide Hair into Sections

Draw long guiding lines that show the flow direction of the hair.

Divide it into main sections — front, side, and back.

This gives your drawing rhythm and natural movement.

✏️ Step 3: Add Light Pencil Strands

Use soft, quick strokes to draw hair strands in each section.

Vary your pressure to create both light and dark strands.

> ✨ Artist’s Idea: Try using mechanical pencil for sharper individual strands.

✏️ Step 4: Start Shading the Dark Areas

Identify where shadows fall — usually under layers or behind the head.

Use a 4B or 6B pencil to darken these zones.

Blend softly to make transitions smooth.

✏️ Step 5: Add Highlights and Shine

Use an eraser to gently lift out light lines for hair highlights.

These highlights make the hair look silky and natural.

> 💡 Pro Tip: Keep highlights in the direction of the hair flow.

✏️ Step 6: Final Touches

Add a few flyaway strands to make it more realistic.

Blend softly one last time — but don’t over blend or you’ll lose texture.

🎨 Materials Used:

HB pencil (outline)

2B–6B pencils (shading)

Kneaded eraser (for highlights)

Tissue / blending stump

🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Drawing every strand separately — it looks fake.

Making all tones the same — real hair has contrast!

Forgetting to follow flow direction.