Getting the shading right on hair can feel like the final, magical touch that brings a drawing to life. It’s what turns flat shapes into flowing, silky strands that seem to have volume and light. But it can also be a bit intimidating. Where do you put the shadows? How do you make it look soft and natural instead of a messy scribble?
The good news is that shading hair is a skill you can build by breaking it down into simple steps. It’s less about drawing every single hair and more about understanding how light plays across the larger forms. Let’s walk through a gentle approach that focuses on shape and flow.
Start With the Big Shapes of Light and Shadow
Before you even think about individual strands, look at the hair as a whole. Imagine it’s a solid, three-dimensional object, like a ribbon or a piece of fabric. Where is your light source coming from? The areas facing the light will be brightest, while the areas turning away from it will be in shadow. Use a soft pencil or a light wash of color to block in these large shadow shapes. This initial step establishes the foundation for all the detail to come and immediately gives the hair a sense of form.
Building Texture With Clumps and Strands
Now, let’s introduce texture. Instead of drawing thousands of fine lines, think of hair in smaller groups or clumps. These clumps have their own tiny highlights and shadows. Using your pencil or brush, follow the direction of the hair growth to define the edges of these clumps. Work within the large shadow shapes you created, making some clumps darker and leaving others a bit lighter. This variation is what creates a natural, believable look. Remember, hair isn’t perfect; some strands will escape and flyaways are your friend for realism.
Adding the Finishing Highlights
Highlights are the final step that makes hair appear shiny and soft. The key is to be selective. Place your brightest highlights along the top curves of the hair where the light hits most directly. You can also add a few fine, bright lines along the edges of some of your lighter clumps to suggest individual strands catching the light. Use a kneaded eraser to gently lift graphite for soft highlights or carefully reserve your white paper if you’re using color. A little bit of highlight goes a long way.
Shading hair is a beautiful process of building up layers, from big shapes to fine details. By focusing on the form first and texture second, you can create hair that looks full, dynamic, and real. Grab your sketchbook and give it a try—your drawings are about to get a lot more lifelike.