how to draw african american hair

In this tutorial, nosotros're going to discuss the basics of cartoon natural, afro textured hair types in line, including different variations and scenarios. Keep in listen, fifty-fifty with this information, one of the best ways to observe a discipline is to practise but that: find. When in doubt, have a await at references!

An Introduction to Thick, Coily Hair

Step ane

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

"Blazon four" mostly refers to the Andre Walker Hair Typing System. This system is frequently used as a general classification for identifying hair's attributes (and it isn't without its flaws and valid criticisms). It has been farther adapted by and expanded upon by others, also. Since this system is widely used and referred to, we'll use it as a starting point in this tutorial.

For reference, Type i refers to straight pilus, Blazon 2 to wavy, Blazon 3 to curly, and Type 4 to coily. Notice how, as you motion across the scale, there is an increment in volume and density.

Footstep two

Starting time, let's talk nearly volume. In this case, I'one thousand referring to volume in respect to how much infinite our subject—in this instance, hair—occupies. You might hear the words "thickness" or "fullness" associated with hair'due south volume. Generally speaking, hair in the 4 range tends to exist quite voluminous. Allow's look at this in terms of principal contours, or the outermost silhouette of the hair.

"Afro" as a style is often visually portrayed as a perfect circle. Still, as a woman of color with an afro, I tin can tell you—that'due south not how my hair naturally looks. One could style their hair this way, but it'southward non exclusively how all coily pilus looks. Even then, it'south non 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 observe how some varied line work tin make for a more organic aesthetic.

Example showing how varied line can create a more natural look

Variations and Considerations

I wear an afro almost every day, myself —it's my favorite look! Hither's a look at the different means that my curls, personally, generally vary in appearance, based on some uncomplicated, everyday scenarios.

Again, delight note 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 way. Use these insights for inspiration, merely non necessarily equally a catch-all replacement for reference.

Step ane

Outset, this is how my hair looks naturally, when dry, and with minimal production (such equally styling gels) applied. I tend to have a lot of volume because my pilus is pretty long.

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

Step two

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

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

Step three

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

For case, my pilus might feel a little "limp" if I become caught in the rain, only it doesn't compare to being fully saturated with h2o in the shower. My hair often takes a long fourth dimension to dry, if I allow information technology to do and then without any kind of styling tool.

Pace 4

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

Illustration of the concept of shrinkage

Footstep v

Tools similar a flat fe can be utilized to straighten natural pilus. Annotation, however, that the pilus looks longer when it's styled this manner. Again, go along in mind that afro textured hair is curly—it volition oft appear longer when those coils are straightened out.

Looking at Unlike Coil Patterns

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

Over again, please keep in heed that no two people are exactly alike, and the same goes for their hair! Some might be a combination of more than one hair type, and dissimilar styling tin also change the hair's volume and appearance. These insights are meant equally a potential frame of reference and not a rigid rulebook.

Step 1

Let's beginning with 4A hair qualities. Mostly speaking, these curls are more likely to take a visible curl pattern—you might run across pretty, South-shaped curls in the hair, for example. Go along in mind, however, that these curls are still going to exist tight, voluminous curls. Looser curls would likely autumn more in the "Type three" range.

When drawing this blazon of hair, I like to put more emphasis on design and flow. While all Type 4s tend to have a lot of volume, I've personally found 4As to frequently be a little more "bottom heavy" towards the shoulders, as the pilus gets longer.

Step 2

I similar to focus on accentuating those curls when drawing this pilus type. We're not working with value or color in this tutorial, but these aspects can nonetheless be implied with line.

Footstep 3

4B hair qualities often have cute, 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 oftentimes expect less defined (unless styled to do and then!). Instead of an S-shape, these coils are often associated with a Z-shape.

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

Step 4

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

Step 5

4C hair qualities often take even denser curls; these gorgeous coils are voluminous, thick, and oft have even more shrinkage. In this example, there'south very picayune visible scroll pattern (unless styled that fashion).

Yous may have noticed that the curls take gotten tighter with each stride, within the 4A, 4B, and 4C calibration. That said, I would arroyo these curls in an even more than "whole" way. Put the emphasis on organic contours that simulate a full, soft aesthetic.

Step 6

Over again, keep in mind that we're moving up a calibration here. So 4C represents the tightest curls we'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 retrieve of information technology equally more even weight distribution on the skull.

Putting It All Together

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

Step ane

Showtime by blocking out the bones features of the facial expanse. Keep the skull in mind; since voluminous hair can have varied contours that autumn far from the skull, I like to brand sure to reference these points. This style, I don't run the risk of cartoon a head that has odd proportions.

Blocking out the basic features of the facial area

Stride 2

Hairlines, as with any hair type, can vary from person to person. For example, you lot might discover a squarish shape or a round ane. In this analogy, I'chiliad going to block out a round shape.

Step 3

Every bit with any hair blazon, it'southward of import not to draw in a haphazard mode. Coily hair still grows outwards and still has a methodology to it.

I've used basic cross contours here to illustrate how I picture the general shape of the hair. Call up of cantankerous contours as lines that travel beyond a grade in iii-dimensional space. We won't necessarily keep these lines in our final drawing, just they tin be helpful in observing depth.

Note the lines in blue that illustrate the direction the hair generally flows and sits on the head. If, for example, ane were to fill this space with randomized lines, it would run the take a chance of looking cluttered and unnatural. The blue space is the "front" of the pilus.

Footstep 4

Now that we take a feel for how the hair sits on the head, let's effort departing the hair. Once again, proceed in mind that this doesn't mean a loss of book, but it would change how the volume is distributed.

Step 5

Since I'd like the pilus to look thick, with tight, dense curls, I'm not going to focus on individual 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 listen—varied lines are going to expect more natural. For instance, coily hair isn't straight, so I like to avoid using straight lines.

Step 6

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 dense curls might not take a clearly visible ringlet blueprint within the hair, I like to utilize the hairline equally a place where I can ascertain some texture and add detail.

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

Step vii

Nosotros're not going to wait at value or color in this tutorial (nosotros'll embrace that in some other one!), simply concepts like texture and depth can still exist implied with line. But how? How do you know where to put what lines?

Once more, I like to block out the basic shapes to help me sympathise the form in a three-dimensional infinite. The blue is the front of the pilus, the pink is the top, and the green is the surface surface area visible by the parting.

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

And There You Have It!

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