How to Draw Various Hairstyles on Female Fashion Figures

By Lisa Arnold and Marianne Egan from Fashion Drawing For Dummies

To make the most of your female fashion figures, you need to be able to draw short hair, long hair, simple hair, fancy hair, and everything in between. No matter what hairstyle you choose when drawing your fashion figure, make sure it’s the right accent for the mood you’re aiming for.

Enlarge 1 Draw a traditional short bob. Shorter hairstyles can convey a cutting-edge look if they’re super short, or they can express more of a mom-around-town look if they resemble a classic bob. Draw a head with the basic facial features mapped out and a lightly sketched hair outline that goes around the back of the neck, sides of the face, and top of the head. Follow the shape of the top of the head and include some space next to both ears. To add bangs, draw a slight curve across the forehead starting at the top of one ear and ending at the top of the other ear. Fill in the hair by drawing lines of varying lengths, using both the point of the pencil and the side. For texture, replace the smooth line at the ends of the hair with jagged lines.	Enlarge 2 Create the edgy look of the super-short hairstyle. Sketch a head with the basic facial features mapped out and a hairline started. Outline the overall shape of the hair, extending a little beyond the face. Draw a series of short vertical lines whose roots follow the curve of the hairline. Shorten the lines as you approach the ears. Vary the length of the lines, using both the pencil point (for dark lines) and the side of the pencil (for lighter lines) to create depth.	Enlarge 3 Draw a classic shoulder-length cut. Draw an oval with a face grid. Add a neck. Add the hairline and outline of straight shoulder-length hair. Give the hair a side part. Follow the head shape for the hairline. Draw curving lines that wrap around the head to the level of the ears and then add straight lines ending just above the shoulder. Sketch in your facial features. Draw parallel lines that extend from either side of the part to indicate hair direction. For depth, add parallel lines behind the ears and at the ends of the hair. Include a few loose strands of hair for interest. Use the side of your pencil to shade in the hair. Leave a few light areas for shine.
Enlarge 4 Draw long and lustrous locks. Long hair is a gorgeous way to accent all clothes in fashion. Your drawing may show hair streaming over the outfit for a more editorial look, or it may show hair pushed off to the side to reveal a special collar. Sketch out a woman’s head and neck in profile. Outline the shape of the hair. Draw a curved line that goes toward the ear above the forehead. Draw a curved line outside the head that mimics that head shape and goes down to the level of the ears. Continue the curve outward to just past the neck, and then curve inward for long hair — the overall shape of her hair resembles an S. Add curved lines of varying lengths and thickness to follow the shape of the hair. Add some thicker and darker lines for depth. More lines make for a darker shading effect. To create a head of long, full, and lustrous hair, continue adding more lines, including some darker lines and some lines that are a little wavy.	Enlarge 5 Create a formal updo. What better way to show off a great gown, a long pair of earrings, and a lovely necklace than with a fabulous-looking updo? The good news is that you can draw an updo in much less time than it takes to have your own hair styled in an updo (and you won’t have to use tons of bobby pins or hairspray, either). Draw a face in profile. Sketch in an updo hair shape using thick and thin curved lines that are longer in the middle of the’do. By drawing a side view, you can show both the front and the back of the style. Fill in the hair using short lines near the hairline and longer lines of varying lengths that extend upward. Add shading for drama. Hair is usually darkest at the nape of the neck as well as where the hair folds up over itself when styled. When drawing updos, think everyday ponytails, buns, French twists, half up and half down, and more — the varieties are endless!