How to Draw Curly Hair: Step-by-Step Guide for All Skill Levels

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Drawing curly hair can feel intimidating, especially if you’re aiming to capture its volume, texture, and natural flow realistically. Curly hair doesn’t follow straight lines—it spirals, coils, frizzes, and flows in all directions. Whether you’re drawing tight coils or loose beach waves, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

How to Draw Curly Hair

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to draw curly hair for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced artists. You’ll learn the structure of curly hair, techniques for sketching, shading, and detailing, and how to avoid common mistakes.

Why Curly Hair Is Different from Straight or Wavy Hair

Curly hair has a unique structure that impacts how it falls and reflects light. Unlike straight hair, which flows in a uniform direction, curls bounce, loop, and lift off the scalp.

Key characteristics of curly hair:

  • Volume and lift: Curls often stand away from the scalp.
  • Twists and coils: The direction of each curl matters.
  • Light and shadow play: Highlights and shadows change rapidly along the curls.
  • Texture: Curly hair often looks softer and more complex than straight strands.

Understanding these traits is essential before putting pencil to paper.

Tools You’ll Need to Draw Curly Hair

While you can draw curly hair with any tool, certain materials offer better control over texture and contrast.

  • Graphite pencils (2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B)
  • Blending stump or tissue
  • Eraser (kneaded and hard)
  • Sketch paper or digital drawing tablet (if preferred)
  • Optional: charcoal for dramatic shading

Digital artists should use textured brushes to mimic pencil strokes and curly strands.

Understanding Different Curl Types

Before drawing, determine what kind of curl pattern you’re aiming to represent.

Type 2: Wavy Hair

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Waves are loose “S” shapes. They lie flatter on the head and have minimal volume.

Key features:

  • Subtle curves
  • Less lift
  • Shine can appear in broader patches

Type 3: Curly Hair

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These curls form spiral shapes. They’re bouncy, voluminous, and range from loose loops to tighter coils.

Key features:

  • Defined curls
  • Medium-to-high volume
  • Multiple highlight and shadow zones per curl

Type 4: Coily or Kinky Hair

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Tightly coiled curls with significant density and texture. Coils may shrink or cluster.

Key features:

  • Zigzag or corkscrew shapes
  • Dense shadows and light patches
  • Requires more layering and detailing

How to Draw Curly Hair: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Let’s break down the process of drawing curly hair into simple, manageable steps.

Step 1: Start with the Head Shape and Hairline

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Draw the basic head shape, including the scalp and a rough facial guide if you’re doing a portrait.

Tips:

  • Don’t ignore the hairline; it’s where curls emerge.
  • Lightly sketch the shape of the hairstyle. Think of it like a cloud or silhouette of the final look.

Step 2: Plan the Flow and Curl Pattern

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Use directional lines to show the movement of the curls. These lines act as guides.

Tips:

  • Follow gravity unless the curls are styled upward.
  • Vary the line direction to create a natural look.
  • Think of curls as a ribbon or spiral staircase—they loop and turn.

Step 3: Begin Sketching Loose Curls

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Sketch large, loose curls using curved lines or “S” shapes.

Tips:

  • Don’t over-detail at this stage.
  • Keep the hand light and relaxed.
  • Allow some curls to overlap to suggest volume.

Step 4: Add Tighter Ringlets and Coils

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For tighter curls, use smaller spiral lines or spring-like coils.

Tips:

  • Group curls in clusters rather than isolating each one.
  • Add variation in thickness and shape.
  • Remember that tighter curls take up more vertical space than horizontal.

Step 5: Layer and Add Depth

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Curls don’t sit in one layer—draw overlapping strands and clumps.

Tips:

  • Use “C” and “S” shapes in different sizes.
  • Lightly shade behind foreground curls to suggest depth.
  • Think about how the light hits each group of curls.

Step 6: Add Shading and Highlights

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Shading gives curls their texture and three-dimensionality.

Tips:

  • Use short, curved strokes that follow the curl pattern.
  • Highlight the outer curves and shade the inner loops.
  • Use a kneaded eraser to pull out subtle highlights.

Step 7: Define Strands and Add Texture

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Now that the overall structure is clear, go in and add detail.

Tips:

  • Use a sharp pencil or fine digital brush.
  • Add flyaways and loose strands around the edges.
  • Avoid drawing every strand—suggest texture instead.

Step 8: Final Touches

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Step back and look at your drawing. Adjust shadows, refine highlights, and clean up any rough areas.

Tips:

  • Use blending tools to smooth transitions.
  • Add volume if the hair looks too flat.
  • Use contrast to make curls pop.

Drawing Curly Hair from Different Angles

Perspective plays a big role in how curls appear.

Front View

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  • Curls may fall symmetrically on both sides.
  • Center parting or fringe curls add balance.
  • Volume builds outward from the crown.

Side View

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  • Curls stack from the scalp and curve toward or away from the face.
  • Layering is key to showing depth from this angle.
  • Ear-level curls create natural movement.

3/4 View

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  • Offers the best depth challenge.
  • Curls should move in three dimensions—forward, to the side, and back.
  • Foreground curls should be darker or more detailed than background ones.

Tips for Drawing Realistic Curly Hair

Here are extra techniques to take your curly hair drawings to the next level:

  • Vary line weight: Heavier lines in shadows, lighter in highlights.
  • Use negative space: Let the paper show through for shine.
  • Don’t be too neat: Curls are messy—embrace it.
  • Practice from references: Use real hair photos to observe natural curl behavior.

Drawing Curly Hair in Different Mediums

Graphite or Pencil

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Ideal for detailed shading. Use blending stumps to create smooth transitions and depth.

Charcoal

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Perfect for dramatic and bold hair textures. Offers high contrast but less precision.

Digital Art

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Use pressure-sensitive brushes for varying strand width. Layer your strokes and use opacity brushes for highlights.

Ink

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Better for stylized curly hair. Focus on line direction, negative space, and silhouette.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Drawing All Curls the Same

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Uniform curls look unnatural. Add variation in size, shape, and direction.

Ignoring Hair Volume

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Curly hair doesn’t lie flat. Make sure your drawing includes puff, lift, and bounce.

Over-Shading Every Strand

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Too much shading can flatten the image. Let your highlights shine.

Forgetting the Hairline

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Curls grow from somewhere. Always map out the hairline before adding volume.

Practice Exercises to Improve

  • Draw different curl types (loose, spiral, kinky)
  • Sketch 10 hair silhouettes in under 10 minutes
  • Copy real-life curly hair from reference photos
  • Try shading with only two pencils (2B and 4B)
  • Layer curls from back to front for realism

Final Thoughts

Curly hair is one of the most expressive and rewarding textures to draw. It challenges your understanding of volume, flow, and light—but it also offers so much creative freedom.

Start with simple curls and gradually work your way up to complex hairstyles. Whether you’re drawing realistic portraits, stylized characters, or comic book illustrations, mastering curly hair will expand your artistic skills in surprising ways.

And remember: curls don’t follow the rules. Let them twist, loop, and bounce with energy. With enough practice, you’ll not only draw curly hair—you’ll feel it.

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