How To Draw Afro Textured Hair

In this tutorial, we're going to discuss the basics of drawing natural, afro textured hair types in line, including different variations and scenarios. Keep in heed, even with this data, 1 of the all-time ways to detect a subject is to practice just that: find. When in incertitude, take a wait at references!

An Introduction to Thick, Coily Hair

Step 1

Hair is oft separated into "types". We're going to focus on Blazon 4 hair in this tutorial, which tends to be the well-nigh curly and coily.

"Blazon 4" generally refers to the Andre Walker Pilus Typing System. This system is often used as a full general classification for identifying hair's attributes (and it isn't without its flaws and valid criticisms). It has been further adapted by and expanded upon by others, as well. Since this organization is widely used and referred to, we'll use it as a starting point in this tutorial.

For reference, Blazon 1 refers to straight pilus, Type 2 to wavy, Type 3 to curly, and Type four to coily. Find how, equally you lot move across the scale, in that location is an increment in volume and density.

Step 2

Get-go, let's talk nearly volume. In this example, I'm referring to volume in respect to how much space our subject—in this example, hair—occupies. Yous might hear the words "thickness" or "fullness" associated with hair's volume. Generally speaking, hair in the 4 range tends to exist quite voluminous. Let'southward await at this in terms of primary contours, or the outermost silhouette of the hair.

"Afro" as a style is ofttimes visually portrayed as a perfect circle. Nonetheless, every bit a adult female of colour with an afro, I can tell you—that's not how my hair naturally looks. Ane could style their hair this way, just it's not exclusively how all coily pilus looks. Even then, information technology'southward non a plastic sphere or something like that—there is typically texture and variation.

I recommend working with varied lines to reach contours that feel natural. Allow's start with a very geometric concept and observe how some varied line work can make for a more organic aesthetic.

Example showing how varied line can create a more natural look

Variations and Considerations

I wearable an afro almost every day, myself —information technology's my favorite look! Here's a await at the unlike means that my curls, personally, generally vary in appearance, based on some simple, everyday scenarios.

Once again, please notation that no two people are exactly the same, and neither is their hair! These are my experiences and my take on illustrating this hair type in a stylistic way. Apply these insights for inspiration, but not necessarily as a catch-all replacement for reference.

Pace i

First, this is how my hair looks naturally, when dry, and with minimal product (such every bit styling gels) applied. I tend to have a lot of volume because my pilus is pretty long.

I visually bankrupt this down into more than simplistic contours. Notice how it doesn't just "autumn downwards". I become a lot of big, beautiful, fluffy height and width!

Pace 2

Parting the hair can also affect its appearance, weight, and volume. In these examples, the hair has been parted down to the scalp. Note how the curls tend to "clump", and there is an overall fluffy, soft appearance to the hair (cute, right?).

When parting coily, thick pilus, yous don't necessarily lose volume, fifty-fifty if the scalp is visible.

Pace 3

My hair doesn't necessarily "go flat" when it's wet. It tends to fall more onto my shoulders, merely nonetheless keeps some of its volume. Oftentimes, I feel like my pilus is rather sponge-like in that it really takes a lot to get information technology thoroughly wet!

For example, my hair might experience a trivial "limp" if I get defenseless in the rain, only it doesn't compare to being fully saturated with h2o in the shower. My hair ofttimes takes a long fourth dimension to dry out, if I allow it to do so without any kind of styling tool.

Pace four

Coily hair, peculiarly tighter coils, will often experience "shrinkage". For case, I can pull one of my curls taut, and information technology looks a lot longer. As an example, when pulling the hair back, observe how the volume stays in the "puff" at the back.

Illustration of the concept of shrinkage

Step 5

Tools like a flat iron can exist utilized to straighten natural hair. Note, however, that the hair looks longer when information technology'south styled this way. Once again, go on in mind that afro textured hair is curly—it will often announced longer when those coils are straightened out.

Looking at Different Curl Patterns

Now, permit'due south take a wait at what those insights hateful in relation to dissimilar types of coils in the Type 4 range.

Once more, please proceed in mind that no two people are exactly alike, and the same goes for their hair! Some might be a combination of more than i hair type, and different styling can also change the pilus'southward book and appearance. These insights are meant as a potential frame of reference and not a rigid rulebook.

Pace one

Let's starting time with 4A hair qualities. Generally speaking, these curls are more likely to have a visible scroll pattern—you might see pretty, S-shaped curls in the hair, for example. Keep in mind, however, that these curls are still going to be tight, voluminous curls. Looser curls would likely fall more in the "Type three" range.

When drawing this type of pilus, I like to put more emphasis on pattern and flow. While all Type 4s tend to have a lot of volume, I've personally found 4As to oftentimes exist a petty more "bottom heavy" towards the shoulders, every bit the hair gets longer.

Footstep ii

I like to focus on accentuating those curls when cartoon this hair type. We're not working with value or color in this tutorial, just these aspects tin still exist implied with line.

Step 3

4B hair qualities often have beautiful, tight coils that are more than densely packed. This hair blazon tends to have a lot of shrinkage. When looking at the pilus, as a whole, the curls will often look less divers (unless styled to do so!). Instead of an S-shape, these coils are often associated with a Z-shape.

Once again, I've blocked out simple, primary contours, merely this fourth dimension, find how the volume is a petty "higher" on the head.

Footstep 4

Keep in listen, again, that the curl patterns are by and large not as defined in this hair type, past default. I like to remember nearly this in terms of soft, varied sections.

Step 5

4C hair qualities often take fifty-fifty denser curls; these gorgeous coils are voluminous, thick, and often accept even more shrinkage. In this case, there's very little visible curl pattern (unless styled that way).

Yous may have noticed that the curls have gotten tighter with each step, within the 4A, 4B, and 4C scale. That said, I would approach these curls in an even more "whole" fashion. Put the emphasis on organic contours that simulate a full, soft aesthetic.

Pace 6

Once again, keep in mind that we're moving upwards a calibration here. So 4C represents the tightest curls nosotros're going to wait at. The outermost contours aren't quite the same every bit we saw in 4A. While this will vary based on hair style and cut, I similar to call up of it as more even weight distribution on the skull.

Putting It All Together

Let'south bring everything together in one stylistic drawing of a character with hair that has 4C, coily qualities.

Step 1

Showtime by blocking out the basic features of the facial area. Keep the skull in listen; since voluminous hair can have varied contours that fall far from the skull, I like to make sure to reference these points. This way, I don't run the risk of cartoon a head that has odd proportions.

Pace 2

Hairlines, as with whatever hair type, tin can vary from person to person. For example, you might observe a squarish shape or a circular one. In this illustration, I'm going to block out a round shape.

Step 3

As with any hair type, information technology's important not to draw in a haphazard fashion. Coily hair notwithstanding grows outwards and still has a methodology to it.

I've used basic cross contours here to illustrate how I picture the general shape of the hair. Recollect of cantankerous contours as lines that travel across a course in three-dimensional space. We won't necessarily proceed these lines in our terminal cartoon, but they can exist helpful in observing depth.

Note the lines in blueish that illustrate the direction the pilus mostly flows and sits on the head. If, for example, one were to fill this space with randomized lines, it would run the risk of looking cluttered and unnatural. The blue space is the "front" of the pilus.

Stride iv

At present that we have a experience for how the pilus sits on the head, let's endeavour parting the pilus. Again, keep in heed that this doesn't mean a loss of volume, but information technology would change how the book is distributed.

Pace five

Since I'd similar the hair to look thick, with tight, dense curls, I'm not going to focus on individual curls here or presenting a specific pattern.

Instead, I'yard going to put the emphasis on establishing soft "clumps" of hair. I recommend keeping organic lines and shapes in mind—varied lines are going to await more natural. For example, coily hair isn't straight, then I similar to avoid using straight lines.

Step six

But like the outer silhouette of the hair, the hairline could benefit from organic variations in line that farther reinforce the movement and texture of the hair.

While dense curls might not accept a clearly visible coil design within the hair, I similar to utilise the hairline as a place where I can define some texture and add together item.

Again, the pilus hither isn't perfectly directly, so I like to avoid using direct lines. Varied lines tin help visually reinforce the hair's texture.

Step 7

We're non going to look at value or color in this tutorial (we'll cover that in another one!), but concepts like texture and depth can nevertheless exist implied with line. But how? How do y'all know where to put what lines?

Over again, I like to block out the basic shapes to help me understand the form in a three-dimensional infinite. The bluish is the front of the pilus, the pink is the peak, and the green is the surface area visible by the parting.

Using these as my guide, I could add some additional lines to help imply some particular.

And There Yous Have It!

Nosotros've created a line drawing of a character with curly, afro textured hair! Apply these insights to draw your own characters with varied, coily hair types—and don't be agape to add your own flair! Illustration tin be expressive and stylistic while still drawing from real-life qualities. Enjoy!