To learn how to draw hair, draw the outline of the hair around the head first, add a part, then let the hair fall down each side. A few strand lines that follow the direction of the hair make it look real without drawing every hair.
Most beginners draw hair as lots of tiny lines. This guide teaches the easier way: big shapes first, then a few flowing lines. The free PDF has the step sheet, a tracing page, a practice grid and a coloring page with long, straight hair.
What’s in the free PDF
- Step-by-step sheet with 6 numbered steps; new lines are black, earlier lines are grey
- Tracing page with a large hair drawing in light grey to trace over
- Practice sheet with a small reference and two boxes with a light grid
- Coloring page with the finished hair drawing in bold outlines
How to draw hair step by step
- Face and neck. Draw an oval for the face and two short lines under it for the neck.
- Hair outline. Draw a big curve around the top of the head, a little above and outside the face. Hair sits on top of the head, so leave a gap.
- Part and sides. Pick a spot near the top for the part. From there, draw one curve that sweeps down to the left temple and one that sweeps down to the right. Erase the top of the face oval that is now covered by hair.
- Long hair. On each side, draw two long lines that fall past the shoulders: one on the outside and one next to the face. Join them at the bottom with a zigzag for the ends.
- Strand lines. Add a few lines that start at the part and follow the curve of the hair, plus one long line down each side. Keep them in the same direction as the hair.
- Face. Draw two eyebrows, two eyes with dark pupils and a small smile.
The key to good hair is direction: every strand line follows the path the hair would take from the part to the ends. Fewer lines in the right direction look better than many random ones.
Hair drawing: common mistakes and fixes
- The hair is glued to the head. Draw the hair outline a little above the face; hair has volume.
- Too many lines. Use five or six strand lines, not fifty. Let the shape do the work.
- Lines go every direction. Start each strand at the part and curve it the same way as the outline.
- Flat, straight ends. Finish long hair with a zigzag or a few points so the ends look natural.
Trace, practice, then color
Trace it first
If drawing freehand feels hard, start with the tracing page. Go over the grey lines with a pencil, pressing lightly, and you learn the shapes and their order without worrying about mistakes. Then try again on the practice sheet.
Practice on the grid
The practice sheet has a small finished hair drawing for reference and two boxes with a faint grid. Count how many squares wide and tall the reference is, then draw your hair drawing the same way. The grid keeps the parts the right size next to each other.
Color the finished drawing
Color the hair with one base color, then go over the strand lines with a darker shade of the same color. Leave a thin white stripe near the top for shine.
Hair drawing tips
- For short hair, stop the outline at the ears instead of letting it fall past the shoulders.
- For a ponytail, pull all strand lines toward one point at the back and add a hair tie.
- For curly hair, use small loops and C shapes on the outline instead of a smooth curve.
- Practice the hair outline on the grid until both sides look even.
Download the pages one by one
Prefer a single page? Click a link to open the full-size image, then print it or save it. The PDF with all pages and a cover is in the download box.
- How to draw hair: step-by-step sheet (PNG)
- Hair tracing page (PNG)
- Hair practice sheet with grid (PNG)
- Hair coloring page (PNG)
More face drawing: how to draw an eye, how to draw anime eyes, how to draw lips and how to draw mouths. For a full figure, see how to draw a person.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to draw hair?
Draw the big shape first: an outline around the head and down the sides. Then add a part and a few strand lines that follow the same direction.
How do you draw realistic hair?
Think in sections, not single hairs. Draw the outline, split it into a few big locks, then add a darker shade where locks overlap.
How do you draw long hair?
Let two lines fall from each side of the head past the shoulders, one outside and one next to the face, and finish the ends with a zigzag.
How do you draw curly hair?
Use the same steps but build the outline from small loops and C shapes, and draw the strand lines as spirals instead of smooth curves.
