How to Draw African American Hair
Drawing African American hair can be daunting for artists, but with a few tips and lots of practice, you can learn how to do it like a pro! Drawing African American hair is both a science and an art form. You will need to understand the structure and texture of black hair while also trying to capture the energy and strength it often exudes.
Let’s start by talking about the structure of African American hair. A black person’s hair is coily, and the natural parts of this curl pattern may seem endless, but by breaking these curls down into various shapes, you can create a realistic look. Generally, wavy hair has ‘S’ shapes; curly hair has ’C’ shapes; kinky hair has ’B’ shapes, and frizzy hair has ’U’ shapes.
In order to truly capture the beauty of African American hair, you must also get it to look as natural and textured as possible. This means using different pencil strokes, tones and highlights to create dimension, shine and the feeling of softness through your artwork. To do this, try using a stippling technique for the dark parts of the hair, gradually lightening the shade as you move up the strands. Then, mix in some longer, curved motions for the strands that need definition or texture.
Once you are happy with your pencil work, it is time to bring life to African American hair by using an array of colored pencils or watercolors. This is the fun part! Start out by adding a deep black hue to the darkest parts of the hair then layer different shades of browns, reds and even yellows to create realistic highlights. If you are feeling ambitious and artistic, try adding subtle rainbow highlights throughout the hair to give the look an extra boost of energy.
Now that you have the basics of drawing African American hair down, you are ready to tackle more complex styles. Try mastering various braid styles, afros and even twists to take your artwork to the next level. And as always, practice makes perfect. The more time you spend drawing, the more confident and successful your artwork will become.
Drawing African American Hair with Braids
Drawing African American hair in a braid is no small feat, but with a few tricks, you can become a true braid-master! When it comes to braiding African American hair, it is important to remember that every person’s hair will be unique, so try to capture the individuality of the person that you are drawing.
When constructing the braid, start by blocking in the overall shape of the braid. Use careful stippling for the base of the braid, gradually blending the strokes as you move up the strands. Once you have the general shape of the braid down, you can move on to the more detailed aspects of it.
For the intricate parts of your braid design, try using short, repetitive lines and curved shapes to create the texture. This is where your creativity should really shine through! See if you can capture the unique contours and highlights from each individual strand of hair.
When you are ready to add color to your piece, get creative with hues. You can combine shades of bronze, red, auburn and even golden yellow to create a realistic and energetic look. Then, once you have the right colors down, try playing around with different intensities of the shade to achieve a light, medium and dark tone.
By following these steps and lots of practice, you are sure to become an ace when it comes to drawing African American hair in braids.
Drawing African American Hair with Afros
Achieving a realistic and textured look when drawing African American hair in afro styles can be tricky, but with the right approach, it is certainly doable! When creating an afro, try breaking it down into several sections. Start by drawing a few main parts of the hair then fill in the blank spots with curved lines and circles.
When you are ready to add texture to your afro, you will need to get creative with your pencil strokes. Use overlapping lines and long, curved motions to create volume and a sense of realism. You can even layer different lines to give the hair greater definition.
Once you have the structure of your afro down, you are ready to add the joy of color. African American hair is unique in that it has the potential to be colorful and vibrant. Be sure to pick out shades that will bring your afro to life. Let your imagination roam free with hues of burgundy, copper, mahogany and even pearl white.
By following these steps and lots of patience and practice, you can get good at creating realistic afros in your artwork.
Drawing African American Hair with Twists
Drawing African American hair in twists is both a challenge and a fun adventure! While they may look complicated, the general structure remains the same: two strands of hair looped around each other, starting from the scalp.
Just like with braids, start by lightly sketching the base shape of the twists. Then, you will need to turn your attention to the individual strands by using small curved strokes. Here, you will want to pay special attention to the original angles of the hair and the subtle movements in the twists. With patience and practice, you can create realistic braids that are full of energy.
When you are ready to incorporate color, draw upon the natural hues of black hair. Keep the shadows dark, gradually transitioning to shades of orange, red and yellow. For an extra pop of personality, you can mix in subtle rainbow tones for highlights.
By following these steps, you can learn how to draw African American hair in twists like a pro.
Drawing African American Hair with Wigs
Drawing African American hair in wigs can yield dynamic and interesting results! With the right approach and plenty of practice, you can create unique looks that will really stand out.
When sketching out a wig, you want your pencil strokes to be confident and bold. Start by sketching out the line of the forehead and move onto the hairline. This is the foundation of your artwork and it must be strong. Then, break down the wig into various parts like bangs, side sweeps, and thick strands in the back and layer them together.
Once the shape of the wig is down, use short and curved lines to illustrate the texture of the hair. Be sure to capture the larger curls one strand and at time. That way, you will be able to achieve realistic results with your artwork.
When coloring your wig, draw upon luscious shades of black, brown, burgundy and even blue-black. Experiment with different combinations until you find one that you love. Leave the lightest parts of the wig the same neutral shade and darken the tones as you move around the wig.
By following these steps and lots of practice, you can become a master of illustrating wigs with African American hair.
