Tutorial for Newcomers on Creating Hair for Electronic Artworks in Illustrations

In the world of digital art, drawing hairstyles for illustrations can be a fun and creative process. Whether you're working on straight or curly hair, this tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to help you bring your designs to life.

Getting Started

The process begins with outlining the character's head using a provided template. Essential tools for digital hair drawing include a drawing tablet, digital drawing app, stylus or drawing pen, paper, an HB pencil, eraser, and a blending stump.

Step 1: Outlining the Character's Head

Start by tracing the character's head using the provided template. This forms the foundation for your hairstyle.

Step 2: Determining the Hairline

Next, the hairline is determined. Measurements vary based on age, gender, and the story you're trying to tell. Remember, each character's hairstyle plays a crucial role in telling their unique story.

Step 3: Sketching in Hair Sections

In Step 3, hair sections are sketched in using basic shapes as outlines. This helps to define the overall shape of the haircut. For short hair or fade haircuts, some areas should remain more transparent to highlight the shape.

Step 4: Filling in the Outline

Fill in the sketched outline with the darkest shade for the hairstyle. This gives your design a solid base to work from.

Straight or Curly, the Process Remains the Same

For straight hairstyles, use digital tools or a blending stump to blend hard edges of lines. This gives your illustration a polished, natural look. For curly styles, blending will come later.

Adding Depth and Dimension

Add individual strands, waves, or coils to create depth and dimension. Varying coil type can help create depth and mirror the real-life appearance of curly hair.

Blending for a More Natural Appearance

Blending some curls can give ponytails a more natural appearance. Remember, the key is to make each hairstyle look as realistic as possible.

Refining the Design

Refine the design by adding colour, highlights, and removing unnecessary shapes or strands. This is your chance to make your illustration truly stand out.

Inspiration Everywhere

Artists draw hairstyle inspiration from real and fictional people. Iconic individuals with memorable hairstyles include Andy Warhol and Princess Leia. Even the recent Pixie Cut worn by Emma Stone, debuted at the 2025 Golden Globes with a new dark red tone, can serve as inspiration.

Embrace the Process

Drawing hair can be overwhelming, but remember it's all about having fun and being creative. So, look in the mirror for self-inspiration when drawing hairstyles and try your hand at new hairstyles on characters with different hair textures, hair colors, hair types, and hair lengths.

The tutorial provided here uses Procreate for demonstration, but the technique can be modified for other mediums. Happy drawing!

Tutorial for Newcomers on Creating Hair for Electronic Artworks in Illustrations