This tutorial illustrates how to draw anime and manga pilus with twelve step by step drawings of mutual anime and manga hairstyles for a female graphic symbol.

Cartoon Anime & Manga Hair

Anime hair different hairstyles drawing examples
Anime pilus with unlike hairstyles drawing examples

Anime pilus is often based on real hairstyles simply tends to be drawn in clumps rather than individual strands. One skillful reason for this is that if you are drawing multiple frames of animation or multiple panels of a manga it will simply be too fourth dimension consuming to draw anything overly detailed.

A good approach to drawing anime hair is to carve up it into several dissimilar parts such as the forepart, sides and dorsum/meridian (equally volition exist shown for each hairstyle below).

For drawing characters that can go along with these hairstyles encounter:

How to Depict Anime Characters Tutorial

For more on drawing anime pilus you can also see:

  • How to Draw Anime Male person Hair Step by Step
  • How to Describe Anime & Manga Male & Female Hair

Drawing Long Anime Pilus

Anime long hair drawing breakdown
Anime long hair drawing breakdown

Long directly pilus is probably one of the most mutual hairstyles in anime and is adequately easy to draw.

Above yous tin see the breakdown of the long hair cartoon example into:

  • Red – Front Hair
  • Dark-green – Side Hair
  • Blue – Back/Top Hair

You tin can apply a like breakdown to drawing other hairstyles as well. Thinking of the hair this way can make the drawing process a lot easier to manage.

Keeping this in heed we can move on to the bodily drawing process.

Anime long hair step by step drawing
Anime long hair footstep past step drawing

Step 1

Start past outset making a drawing of the caput and an indication of the hairline. While in this particular hairstyle the hairline is less important every bit information technology's full covered by the hair it can even so help you lot better judge the overall length and position of the front end and side hair sections. Make the head/hairline drawing fairly light and then you can easily erase parts of it afterwards.

Pace 2

Draw the hair right over the meridian of the head and hairline as in the example above.

For this particular hairstyle where the front section of the hair has been cut adequately curt y'all can draw it in relatively modest pointy clumps.

Make the "side hair" fairly long with information technology'southward overall shape slightly curved. You tin also dissever it into several smaller clumps towards the ends.

Draw the meridian part o the "dorsum hair" pretty much following the shape of the head (a bit of a distance away from information technology) so widening until it's finally subconscious backside the shoulders.

Footstep 3

Erase the parts of the head hidden past the hair and add a few lines to show the inner folds of the front and back hair. Yous will generally desire to position these folds in between the hair clumps as that is where these will usually tend to form in real hair.

Stride iv

Next add some folds in the "back hair" to give a bit more definition of it's shape as well so that information technology does not only look like a flat cut out.

You can as well add some basic shading to brand the hair stand up out a little bit more once you lot end the line drawing.

Drawing Short Anime Pilus

Anime short hair drawing breakdown
Anime curt hair drawing breakup

The short hair cartoon instance to a higher place is fairly similar to the long hair with the pilus over again broken down into three basic parts of front end, sides and back.

The bodily breakdown of the cartoon process can be equally follows:

Anime short hair step by step drawing
Anime curt pilus step by step drawing

Step one

Again start the short hair drawing with the caput and hairline. Same as the previous example the hairline volition non be as important hither as it is in other hair styles but tin can still be helpful.

Step 2

Yet over again very similar to the long hair depict the "front hair" department with a set of small clumps. For this particular example the hair will be a bit more messy so the clumps will curve more than in unlike directions. If you desire neater looking hair you lot can draw them the aforementioned equally the first example.

Stride 3

Same equally before erase any parts of the head hidden by the hair and draw the bottom portion of the dorsum hair. Generally it'south a proficient idea to leave this section of the pilus for the concluding role of the line drawing equally in the forepart view of the head it volition exist in the back backside near of the other parts of the hair. If you try and describe it get-go y'all without the other hair to sort of "frame" its position you will probably end upwards with some overlapping lines and take to do actress erasing.

Pace 4

Add the inner fords (only one in this instance) and if yous like, some basic shading.

Drawing Trimmed Anime Hair (Hime Cutting)

Anime hime cut hair drawing breakdown
Anime "Hime Cutting" pilus drawing breakup

For trimmed hair draw the hair clump with flat ends that look like they've been cut off by sissors.

For a neat look the different hair clumps should more often than not exist drawn pointing in the same direction as the clumps next to them and whatsoever shifts in direction should be gradual.

Anime hime cut hair step by step drawing
Anime "Hime Cut" hair footstep past footstep drawing

Step 1

Start by drawing the hair and indicating the hairline. For the "Hime Cut" the hairline will again exist covered by the pilus.

Footstep 2

For the initial drawing of the actual hair yous can commencement with the sides followed by the back. You can point the front section of the hair with but one line.

Step 3

Now describe in some minor splits into the front and side parts of of the hair to make them wait more natural. Erase the line in between the splits when you are washed. You lot tin can also erase any parts of the head that are covered by the hair.

Step 4

Finally again similar to the first instance add some lines to the hair in the back to evidence information technology's various inner folds. Try and depict these with fairly random spacing and slightly varying curves. If you space everything evenly and brand all the curves trace one another too closely the pilus volition not look very natural.

Drawing Long Messy Anime Hair

Anime long messy hair drawing breakdown
Anime long messy hair cartoon breakdown

The long messy pilus is somewhat similar to the commencement example but with some extra hair clumps. Once more information technology can exist divided upward into 3 parts similar all the other examples and then far.

Describe the long messy hair equally follows:

Anime messy hair step by step drawing
Anime messy hair step by pace cartoon

Step ane

Every bit the other examples start past first drawing the caput and hairline. Cartoon the hairline will help yous make sure that none of the splits betwixt the hair clumps for the "front hair" become too far upwards.

Stride 2

To brand the hair await more messy draw the front hair clumps pointing into unlike directions and of varying shapes and curves. You can depict some that are wavy and some that juts curve in i management.

Draw the very middle portion of these clumps reaching farther down. Yous can do the same with the outer clumps on the sides of the front department. This will again requite more of an impression of hair that has non been well clean-cut.

Step 3

At present depict in some additional pilus clumps randomly sticking out of the back sections of the hair. This will brand the otherwise neat looking back hair await messy equally well. You can likewise add a pair (or more than) clumps to the inner parts of the "side hair". You can either erase the outlines of the hair where yous want to draw these or add them and erase the overlapping outline afterwards. Next you can add together in some separate lines in between the pilus clumps same every bit some of the other examples. To terminate the line drawing over again erase the parts of the face and head that are covered by the pilus subsequently.

Footstep 4

Equally this instance too has long dorsum pilus y'all tin once more draw in some of information technology's inner folds to make that department await more like actual hair. You can also brand them a chip more than wavy than the other examples to again make the hair expect more messy.

Drawing Anime Pony Tail /Tied Dorsum Hair

Anime pony tail hair drawing breakdown
Anime pony tail pilus cartoon breakup

Some other fairly common anime hairstyle is the ponytail. You will discover that at that place is basically no side hair in this particular case (other than the tiny bits of the hairline on the sides). Then the hair can pretty much just be splits into the front and dorsum sections. The back consisting of the hair over the summit of the head and the pony tail.

Draw this blazon of hair as follows:

Anime ponytail hair step by step drawing
Anime ponytail hair stride by step cartoon

Step i

Draw the head and signal the hairline which for this hairstyle is slightly more of import than the previous examples as some of it will be visible in the final drawing as already shown.

Footstep 2

You can pretty much frame the front hair for this hairstyle with only three curves. 2 for the sides and ane for the lesser. As mentioned in that location is very little side hair in this example equally the hair is pulled back revealing parts of the hairline.

Describe the back pilus just slightly over top of the head eventually merging into the sides.

Though commonly pony tails will face direct backwards for anime hair you can draw it slightly more to ane side so that it's shape is more visible. Otherwise the pony tail tin only expect similar a bump on the head. You can draw the pony tail with a sort of question marking similar shape. Y'all can also add a small split at the end.

Stride three

Same every bit for the "Hime Cutting" draw in some pocket-size splits into the front section of the hair and erase parts of the lesser line of the "front hair" to make spaces in between them. Too erase the parts of the head hidden by the hair.

Step 4

You can again give the hair some lite shading if y'all like. Y'all can as well optionally describe in a few more lines into the pilus to make it wait a little more divide upward than the "Hime Cutting" which tends to accept more dense "front hair".

Drawing Anime Hair Over 1 Center

Anime hair over one eye drawing
Anime hair over one eye drawing

For the hairstyle with pilus over 1 heart you can all the same again separate the hair into the front, sides and dorsum. In this style the front section of the hair will be adequately big and sort of merge into the "side pilus" next to the covered heart.

Anime hair over one eye step by step drawing
Anime hair over ane middle step by footstep drawing

Stride one

Draw the head and the hairline aforementioned as the other examples.

Pace 2

For this particular hairstyle draw the front hair clumps going far enough down the face to fully cover one eye. For the "side hair" you can draw the section on the side of the covered eye somewhat blending into the front pilus.

Draw the back hair split into tow curves that pretty much hug the shape of the head every bit they get down eventually sticking out in clumps to each side.

Step 3

For the very lesser section of the front hair draw a few small clumps sticking out around the top of the cervix area. Erase any overlapping lines from the caput that should be hidden by the pilus when you are washed.

Step 4

To wrap up the drawing you can again add a few lines to show some splits and curves of the hair going from betwixt the hair clumps.

Cartoon Anime Pigtails

Anime pigtails hair drawing breakdown
Anime pigtails hair drawing breakup

The pigtails are another very common style of anime hair. Same equally the ponytail example you can see that this particular drawing can pretty much be broken down into the front end and back department of the hair. With the "dorsum hair" split into the pilus covering the caput and the pigtails. There are actually but tiny bits of actual "side pilus".

Anime pigtails hair step by step drawing
Anime pigtails hair step by pace drawing

Step i

Draw the head and the hairline. In this example a big section of the hairline volition be visible in the final drawing. It will also assistance us identify the front department of the hair.

Step 2

Though most of the hair in this detail example will be pulled back you tin can describe some clumps for the forepart section of the hair to just one side to brand the hairstyle look a little chip more interesting.

As already mentioned there volition pretty much exist no side hair other than the tiny bits around the superlative of the ears. Draw the top/back department of the hair blending into that side hair.

For the actual pigtails describe them like to the "Ponytail" example vaguely resembling two questions marks in their overall shape with 1 existence flipped over.

Footstep 3

Now add some random hair clumps sticking out from the pigtails to make them expect a little more than interesting and erase any overlapping lines that this creates. Too erase the outline of the head where information technology's hidden past the hair.

Step iv

Add a few more lines to indicate some folds in the hair to the pigtails and optionally some shading.

Drawing Neatly Combed Anime Hair

Anime neatly combed hair drawing
Anime neatly combed pilus drawing

This hairstyle tin can over again exist split into iii parts with the front, side and back hair. The front end section of the hair nonetheless is a petty different from the previous examples.

Anime combed hair step by step drawing
Anime combed hair step past stride drawing

Step 1

Draw the head and hairline. The hairline in this instance will be peculiarly useful for placing the front office of the hair.

Step 2

Describe the side sections of the hair with steady cures somewhat hugging the shape of the face. Roughly from the center of the hairline depict two curves going downwards towards the "side hair".

This will be the "front hair" tucked underneath the sides which will be combed down over top of it. Describe the dorsum pilus with a fairly obvious dissever in the middle with two curves going in each direction. This volition help prove that the hair has sort of been neatly combed to each side.

Footstep three

Add together some modest hair clumps for the lesser background hair.

Step 4

Finally you lot can add together a little clump of hair hanging down from the middle of the forepart department of the hair. As sometimes the hair in that area volition be to brusque to be tucked nether the sides and part's of it may hang down. This will make the hairstyle look a footling more natural and interesting. Finally add some fold lines to the front sections of the hair going to the sides to help show that the hair is tucked underneath in that location.

Drawing Curly Anime Hair

Anime curly hair drawing breakdown
Anime curly hair drawing breakdown

Curly pilus is probably the most challenging anime hairstyles to draw. This particular hairstyle can again be split into the front end sides and dorsum with the front hair being similar to the previous example.

Anime curly hair step by step drawing
Anime curly hair pace by step cartoon

Footstep 1

Start the cartoon the the caput and hairline sketch.

Step ii

From the hairline describe two lines going towards the sides of the head to point the front hair. To evidence that the hair is curly yous tin draw these lines in light waves.

The "side hair in this example will exist completely curled. You can first describe some lines at the base of the curves to indicate the volume of the hair that will and then transition into the sort of "spires" of pilus below.

To depict the actual curls first describe the parts of them that are in the foreground. Y'all can sort of think of them as a cone that's been sliced on an angle and pulled autonomously.

Step 3

Now erase whatever parts of the head hidden by the hair to avoid confusion and add the groundwork lines of the hair curls. You can think of these as the front parts filled over.

Finally you lot tin depict some splits at the end of each curl.

Step 4

For the final footstep yous can draw a little squiggle of pilus hanging down from the middle of the front section and add together some lines to the lesser of the background pilus to indicate some inner folds. Make these lines more wavy than in the previous examples to show that the hair is curly.

Drawing Anime Hair Buns

Anime hair buns drawing breakdown
Anime hair buns drawing breakup

The hair bun'southward are somewhat more rare but nonetheless popular style of anime hair. This style tin can also exist carve up into the forepart, side and back hair.

You tin can draw the hair buns hairstyle as described below:

Anime hair buns step by step drawing
Anime hair buns step by step cartoon

Step ane

Over again commencement the cartoon with the head and hairline.

Stride 2

Draw the "front hair" in modest clumps pointing towards the center of the face and the sides same equally most of the other examples.

Draw the "side hair" with low-cal curves somewhat "hugging" the confront.

Make the "dorsum hair" pretty much curve around the shape of the caput.

Finally draw the actual pilus buns with somewhat of an oval shape for each with function of information technology hidden behind the "dorsum hair".

Step 3

For this step just erase the parts of the head that are hidden by the hair

Step iv

Draw some o the inner curves of the hair bun. Yous can pretty much draw these at random but effort and somewhat follow the outer curve of the bun with at least a few lines. This will help create that sort of "ball of yarn" look that hair buns tend to take.

Drawing Short Messy Anime Hair

Anime short messy hair drawing breakdown
Anime brusk messy hair drawing breakdown

The short messy hair is again easy to separate into the forepart, side, and back sections.

Y'all can draw it in the following steps:

Anime short messy hair step by step drawing
Anime short messy hair step by step drawing

Step one

Same as other examples draw the caput and hairline to start.

Step 2

Draw the front department of the pilus with the outer clumps sticking out to the sides instead of resting on the brow similar most other examples.

Add the side sections with the splits at the ends sticking out in reverse directions.

Draw the background hair with a slightly split to one side and the two curves that come out of it somewhen transitioning into hair clumps on each side of the head.

Step 3

At present add a pair of wavy clumps to the upper split are of the background hair and another pair of clumps to the inner areas of the "side hair". Erase the parts of the hair where yous add the clumps and erase any parts of the head/face lines covered by the pilus.

Step 4

Add together the bottom portion of the background hair drawing in small clumps pretty much the same equally the other shorter hair examples in this tutorial.

Drawing Curt/Depression Anime Pigtails

Anime short low pigtails drawing breakdown
Anime brusque low pigtails drawing breakup

For the terminal example of anime pilus in this tutorial nosotros have the short/low pigtails. As most other examples in this tutorial these can again be split into the sides, forepart and back/top hair.

Draw this item hairstyle every bit follows:

Anime short low pigtails hair step by step drawing
Anime short low pigtails hair stride by pace drawing

Step 1

Start past drawing the head and hairline as all the other examples.

Step 2

Add the front section of the pilus first every bit in this case it will exist sticking out a picayune more than to the sides overlapping the side sections. Draw the "front hair splitting into adequately small clumps and do the same for the ends of the "side hair".

Make the "back hair" pretty much following the shape of the head.

Finally add the pigtails at the bottom of the caput with pocket-sized splits at their ends.

Step 3

Clean upwards the cartoon by erasing the parts of the head hidden by the hair.

Step 4

Add together some lines to show the heads inner curves and fold. In this case just one for the front hair clump.

Hair Highlights

Pilus highlights can really brand hair stand out even without whatever additional complex shading and are fairly easy to add together.

For cartoon them check out:

Different Ways to Draw Anime Pilus Highlights

Conclusion

When drawing hair it can be very helpful to organize it into separate sections. Non only will this help you become a better grip on how to draw information technology only information technology will also allow yous to more easily alter the hairstyle past changing its various parts. For more hairstyles you can experiment by mixing dissimilar parts of the front end, side, and back sections of the hair in this tutorial or by adding entirely new designs.

For shading these hairstyles see:

How to Shade Anime Hair Step past Pace

For more than on drawing anime and manga manner pilus run into:

  • How to Draw Anime Pilus Bravado in Different Directions
  • How to Draw Anime Hair in iii/4 View Pace by Stride
  • How to Draw Wet Anime Hair Step by Footstep

If yous would like to learn how to describe the caput with all of the facial features check out the:

How to Depict an Anime Daughter's Caput and Face

For cartoon hats and head ware encounter:

How to Draw Anime Hats & Head Ware

This tutorial has been almost completely redone and updated with new art only you lot can see the old examples below.

examples of how to draw anime and manga hair
Examples of how to draw Anime and Manga hair