Creating a cartoon hairstyle can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few tips and tricks, you’ll be able to draw hair that looks truly dynamic and realistic. One of the most important elements of creating cartoon hair is the shape. Whether your characters have short, long, wild, or sleek locks, you’ll need to pay attention to how the hair appears in the frame before you begin drawing.
Invoke Dynamics
Rather than thinking of hair as a flat fabric, consider that facial hair has a dynamic flow. Cartoon hair is filled with movements and there’s so much potential to depict character traits. Whether it’s parted to one side or styled in a classic afro, this is your opportunity to make the cartoon come alive and maximize the cartoon potential.
Sketch Lightly
Start by sketching out the primary shape of the hair with light pencil strokes. Once the shape is laid down, give yourself more room to play by lightly sketching individual strands of hair. Focus on capturing the curves and bends of the hair to add texture and depth.
Shade
Use various shades of your chosen color to add natural shadows. When shading cartoon or any other type of hair, think like a painter and try to craft gentle transitions between tones. Experiment with smudging or blending for a more detailed color effect.
Proportion
When drawing hair, consider the laws of proportion. Pay attention to the size of the head in comparison to the size of the hair and make sure that the hairstyle looks natural and believable. If you’re having trouble visualizing the proportions, practice drawing different hairstyles on paper.
Highlight & Darkness
Remember to implement highlights and darkness to the character’s hair. Highlights can make the cartoon character’s hair look vivid, while darkness helps create the illusion of depth. However, don’t go overboard with adding too many points of light and darkness, as this can make your character’s hair look messy.
Hair Lines
Hair is made up of individual strands, so when you are crafting a cartoon hairstyle, consider drawing individual lines to represent the stands. If a character has short hair, the lines should be tight and close together. For medium to long hair, the lines should be more spaced out and have more curves.
Create Depth
Creating realistic depth is key when creating cartoon hair. Use a variety of curvy and straight lines to capture the flow of the hairstyle, and consider using a darker shade near the base of the hair strands to create a shadow-like effect. You can also apply a filter to give your artwork an extra dose of texture and depth.
Experiment
As with any art form, practice makes perfect. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different hairstyles to see what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be too hard on yourself and take your time to draw out the details as perfectly as you can. With some practice, you’ll be drawing hair like a pro in no time.
