How To Draw African Hair

In this tutorial, nosotros're going to hash out the basics of drawing natural, afro textured hair types in line, including unlike variations and scenarios. Keep in mind, fifty-fifty with this information, ane of the best ways to observe a subject is to practise simply that: observe. When in doubt, take a expect at references!

An Introduction to Thick, Coily Hair

Step one

Pilus is oftentimes separated into "types". Nosotros're going to focus on Type four hair in this tutorial, which tends to exist the virtually curly and coily.

"Type 4" mostly refers to the Andre Walker Hair Typing Organisation. This organisation is often used every bit a full general classification for identifying hair's attributes (and it isn't without its flaws and valid criticisms). It has been farther adapted past and expanded upon past others, as well. Since this organisation is widely used and referred to, we'll use information technology as a starting point in this tutorial.

For reference, Type 1 refers to straight hair, Type 2 to wavy, Blazon 3 to curly, and Type iv to coily. Notice how, as you move across the scale, there is an increase in volume and density.

Footstep 2

First, let's talk most volume. In this example, I'chiliad referring to volume in respect to how much space our subject area—in this case, hair—occupies. You might hear the words "thickness" or "fullness" associated with hair's book. Generally speaking, hair in the 4 range tends to be quite voluminous. Let's look at this in terms of primary contours, or the outermost silhouette of the hair.

"Afro" every bit a style is often visually portrayed every bit a perfect circumvolve. However, as a woman of colour with an afro, I can tell you—that's not how my hair naturally looks. One could fashion their hair this mode, simply it's not exclusively how all coily pilus looks. Even then, it's not a plastic sphere or something like that—in that location is typically texture and variation.

I recommend working with varied lines to reach contours that experience natural. Let's start with a very geometric concept and observe how some varied line work 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 day, myself —it'due south my favorite wait! Here's a look at the different ways that my curls, personally, generally vary in appearance, based on some simple, everyday scenarios.

Again, please annotation that no two people are exactly the same, and neither is their hair! These are my experiences and my accept on illustrating this hair blazon in a stylistic way. Apply these insights for inspiration, but non necessarily equally a take hold of-all replacement for reference.

Step 1

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

I visually broke this downwardly into more than simplistic contours. Notice how it doesn't only "fall downwards". I go a lot of big, beautiful, fluffy height and width!

Step two

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

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

Step three

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

For example, my hair might feel a fiddling "limp" if I become defenseless in the rain, simply it doesn't compare to being fully saturated with water in the shower. My hair oftentimes takes a long time to dry, if I let it to exercise and then without any kind of styling tool.

Footstep 4

Coily hair, especially tighter coils, will oft experience "shrinkage". For example, I can pull 1 of my curls taut, and it looks a lot longer. As an example, when pulling the hair back, observe how the book stays in the "puff" at the back.

Illustration of the concept of shrinkage

Step 5

Tools like a apartment iron can be utilized to straighten natural hair. Notation, however, that the hair looks longer when it'south styled this way. Once again, keep in heed that afro textured hair is curly—it will oft announced longer when those coils are straightened out.

Looking at Different Curl Patterns

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

Once more, delight keep in listen that no two people are exactly akin, and the same goes for their hair! Some might be a combination of more than one pilus blazon, and different styling can also change the pilus's volume and appearance. These insights are meant as a potential frame of reference and not a rigid rulebook.

Footstep 1

Let's kickoff with 4A pilus qualities. By and large speaking, these curls are more likely to have a visible curl pattern—you might see pretty, South-shaped curls in the pilus, for example. Keep in mind, nevertheless, that these curls are still going to be tight, voluminous curls. Looser curls would likely fall more in the "Blazon 3" range.

When drawing this blazon of pilus, I similar to put more than accent on blueprint and menstruum. While all Blazon 4s tend to have a lot of volume, I've personally establish 4As to often be a piddling more than "bottom heavy" towards the shoulders, as the pilus gets longer.

Step ii

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

Step 3

4B hair qualities oftentimes have cute, tight coils that are more densely packed. This hair type tends to have a lot of shrinkage. When looking at the pilus, equally a whole, the curls will often look less divers (unless styled to do and then!). Instead of an South-shape, these coils are frequently associated with a Z-shape.

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

Step 4

Proceed in listen, again, that the curl patterns are generally not as defined in this pilus type, by default. I similar to think virtually this in terms of soft, varied sections.

Step v

4C hair qualities often have even denser curls; these gorgeous coils are voluminous, thick, and frequently take even more shrinkage. In this case, there'southward very little visible curl pattern (unless styled that way).

You lot may have noticed that the curls take gotten tighter with each step, within the 4A, 4B, and 4C scale. That said, I would approach these curls in an even more than "whole" fashion. Put the emphasis on organic contours that simulate a full, soft aesthetic.

Step 6

Over again, keep in listen that nosotros're moving upward a scale here. So 4C represents the tightest curls nosotros're going to look at. The outermost contours aren't quite the same as we saw in 4A. While this volition vary based on hair style and cut, I like to recollect of information technology as more even weight distribution on the skull.

Putting It All Together

Allow's bring everything together in one stylistic cartoon of a grapheme with hair that has 4C, coily qualities.

Stride 1

Start by blocking out the basic features of the facial area. Continue the skull in heed; since voluminous hair tin can accept varied contours that fall far from the skull, I similar to make sure to reference these points. This way, I don't run the run a risk of cartoon a head that has odd proportions.

Step 2

Hairlines, as with whatsoever pilus type, can vary from person to person. For example, yous might observe a squarish shape or a round 1. In this illustration, I'one thousand going to block out a round shape.

Step 3

As with any hair type, information technology'south important not to describe in a haphazard way. Coily hair nonetheless grows outwards and however has a methodology to it.

I've used basic cross contours hither to illustrate how I moving picture the general shape of the pilus. Retrieve of cantankerous contours equally lines that travel beyond a form in iii-dimensional space. We won't necessarily keep these lines in our final drawing, but they can be helpful in observing depth.

Note the lines in blueish that illustrate the direction the hair by and large flows and sits on the head. If, for example, one were to fill up this infinite with randomized lines, information technology would run the take a chance of looking chaotic and unnatural. The bluish infinite is the "front" of the hair.

Stride four

Now that we have a feel for how the pilus sits on the head, let's try parting the pilus. Again, keep in mind that this doesn't hateful a loss of volume, just information technology would change how the volume is distributed.

Step five

Since I'd like the hair to expect thick, with tight, dumbo curls, I'yard not going to focus on individual curls here or presenting a specific blueprint.

Instead, I'one thousand 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 expect more than natural. For example, coily hair isn't directly, and then I like to avert using straight lines.

Step half dozen

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

While dense curls might not accept a clearly visible curl pattern within the hair, I similar to use the hairline as a place where I tin can define some texture and add detail.

Once again, the hair here isn't perfectly straight, so I similar to avoid using straight lines. Varied lines tin can assist visually reinforce the hair's texture.

Step seven

We're non going to wait at value or color in this tutorial (we'll cover that in another one!), but concepts similar texture and depth can still be unsaid with line. But how? How practice you know where to put what lines?

Again, I like to cake out the basic shapes to assistance me understand the form in a three-dimensional infinite. The blue is the front of the hair, the pink is the pinnacle, and the green is the surface area visible by the parting.

Using these as my guide, I could add some additional lines to assistance imply some item.

And There You Have It!

We've created a line drawing of a character with curly, afro textured hair! Use these insights to draw your own characters with varied, coily hair types—and don't be afraid to add your own flair! Analogy can exist expressive and stylistic while still drawing from real-life qualities. Enjoy!