A-line bob, longer towards the faceShorter at the back, longest by the face. In profile the hem is one slope running down from nape to chin.
Beach waves to the collarboneLoose S bends that start below the ear, not at the root. Keep neighbouring locks out of step with each other.
Blunt bob cut at the jaw, side viewSkull first, then one helmet shape ending in a straight hem at jaw level. The bare nape shows below it.
Blunt fringe cut straight acrossA fringe grows from well back on the crown, not the hairline. Start strands there and end them in a gentle arc.
Crimped hair in zig-zagsCrimping presses straight hair into a sawtooth. Draw zig-zag strands in step with each other, like stacked chevrons.
Curtain fringe from a middle partingTwo swoops from one parting. Each lifts off the forehead, then falls in an S curve past the cheekbone.
Feathered hair swept back at the sidesA 1970s layered style designed for straight hair. Sweep each side layer back from the face, overlapping the last.
Finger waves set flat to the headA 1920s and early 1930s set. Draw parallel wavy bands lying flat on the skull, with a highlight along each ridge.
French bob with a short straight fringeA shorter type of bob. Try the hem at lip level and the fringe above the brows, both cut dead straight.
Hair tucked behind one earThe tucked side hugs the skull and shows the ear; the loose side hangs free. The lopsidedness does the work.
Hime cut, face frontThree lengths: a straight fringe, cheek-length sidelocks cut square, and long straight hair behind them.
Long layers framing the faceTop layers are cut shorter than those beneath. End each sheet at a new height: cheekbone, jaw, collarbone.
Mullet in profileShort on top, front and sides; longer at the back. In profile the back length should pass the collar.
One straight lock with a band of shineHair shines across the curve, not along the strand. Leave a pale stripe and darken the lock on both sides of it.
Pageboy with the ends turned underStraight hair past the ear, where it turns under. Draw the hem as one rolled tube and add a fringe.
Shag cut with choppy layersLayered to many lengths: full at the crown, wispy at the edges. Short flicked locks on top, sparser ones below.
Waist-length straight hair seen from behindOne long shape, a little narrower at the hem. Put a band of shine across the crown, not down the strands.
Wolf cut, tousled, in three-quarter viewA 2020s shag variation, shorter at the front like a mullet, often with a fringe. Pointed locks, no two alike.
Curls, coils and afros 16
A single coil drawn as a stretched springAfro-textured strands grow in a tiny spring-like shape. Stack small ellipses and join them on alternate sides.
A single curl drawn as a twisted ribbonDraw a wavy ribbon and join alternate edges. Shade the underside wherever the ribbon turns away from you.
Afro in profile as a solid silhouetteFill it black. The face's profile plus one round mass says everything, so spend your time on the outline.
Afro with a pick comb tucked inShade it as one sphere, lightest on top. Put curl texture only at the rim and around the comb.
Bantu knots seen from aboveThe scalp is sectioned into squares or triangles, each holding one tight knot. Draw the partings first.
Curls bursting out above a headscarfThe scarf hugs the skull, so draw it first. Curls spill over the top edge and hide part of the knot.
Curly fringe falling over the foreheadCurl clumps are overlapping C and S shapes. Let three or four drop past the hairline at different lengths.
One high puff tied at the crownSleek hair climbs to the band, then bursts into a puff. Aim every line of the smooth part at the band.
Ringlets hanging in corkscrewsDraw each as a ribbon wound round a tube: front loops wide and light, back loops thin and dark.
Round afro, face frontSkull first, then a bigger rounded shape round it, like a cloud or puff ball. Keep the outline soft and broken.
Short afro cropped close to the skullIt follows the skull a finger's width out. Stipple small C marks and let the hairline fade with no hard edge.
Shoulder-length curls with a side partingBlock the mass as a triangle, wider at the bottom. Then carve S-shaped clumps into the edge only.
Shrinkage: one coil stretched beside one sprungCoiled hair looks much shorter than its stretched length, most of all when wet. Draw the same lock both ways.
Twist-out with loosely crimped textureTwists undone: a large, loosely crimped texture. Draw wavy clumps that still spiral a little, all one width.
Two afro puffs with a centre partingPart down the middle and tie each side: two small afros sit high on the head. Draw balls, not tails.
Waves brushed into short coily hairCurls brushed flat until they ripple. Draw rows of shallow arcs over the skull, like ripples on sand.
Braids, twists and locs 17
A braid coming undone below the tieBelow the tie the plait relaxes into three wavy locks, and the waves keep the braid's rhythm for a while.
Box braids worn loose, three-quarter viewThe scalp divides into square sections, one braid from each. Draw the grid of partings, then long thin ropes.
Cornrows in a curving designCornrows can form geometric or curvilinear designs. Plan the rows first, as if drawing a maze on a ball.
Cornrows in straight rows, side viewBraided tight against the scalp in raised rows. Rows curve with the skull like lines of longitude.
Crown braid wrapped round the headA braid wound up round the head. Its segments turn with the skull, so they narrow as they go round the side.
Dutch braid standing up from the scalpThe three sections cross under, not over, so the braid stands up from the hair. Give it a thin cast shadow.
Fishtail braid, close upTwo sections, not three, with small pieces passed across. Draw a herringbone of narrow V shapes on a centre line.
Freeform locs of uneven thicknessFormed without combing or shaping, so no two match. Vary width, length and direction from lock to lock.
French braid down the back of the headIt runs from crown to nape, gathering hair as it goes: thin at the top, thicker below, strands feeding in.
Fulani braids with beads at the endsA style from the Fulani people of West Africa, often adorned with beads or cowrie shells. Beads are small cylinders.
Locs tied up in a high ponytailThick ropes bend stiffly, so the tail fans out from the band instead of drooping. Overlap them.
One small braid holding back the fringeA thin braid runs along the hairline from the parting to behind the ear. Tiny Y shapes, getting smaller.
Rope twist of two strandsTwo strands wound round each other. Draw a tube, then S curves across it, like the stripes on a candy cane.
Shoulder-length locs, face frontRope-like strands. Draw cylinders of slightly uneven width with a soft fuzzy edge and a rounded tip.
Three-strand braid over one shoulderStack Y shapes down a centre line. Each segment is a fat teardrop leaning in, and they shrink toward the tie.
Two pigtail braids tied with ribbonTwin braids, one at each side. Centre parting first, then keep the two ties level.
Two-strand twists at chin lengthEach twist is two strands wound together. Draw thin ropes with diagonal marks that all slant the same way.
Buns, ponytails and updos 17
Beehive piled high, side viewLong hair piled in a cone on top of the head, tipped slightly back. Smooth surface; the height is the point.
Bun pinned with two hair sticksHair sticks run five to nine inches long. Cross two through the coil and let the bun wrap round them.
Bunches tied high on both sidesUnbraided pigtails are also called bunches. Centre parting, two bands level with each other, two short tails.
Chignon low at the napeA low bun at the nape. A smooth oval knot, with the hair above it sleek and close to the skull.
Claw clip holding a twist at the backHair twisted up and clamped. The clip's curved teeth interlock over the roll and a fan of ends spills over the top.
Double buns, one on each sideOften called odango, after a Japanese dumpling. Centre parting, then two balls set high; match size and height.
French twist seen from behindHair gathered and twisted upward into a vertical roll. Draw a long seam with one edge tucked under, ends hidden.
Half-up hair tied with a ribbon bowThe top half is tied at the back of the crown; the rest hangs loose. Aim the tied strands at the bow.
High ponytail, side viewStrands aim at the band like spokes. The tail springs up from the band before it falls, so show that arch.
Low ponytail at the nape, from behindHair lies smooth over the skull and narrows to the tie. Below it the tail widens, then tapers to a point.
Man bun with short sides, three-quarter viewA topknot worn by men with long hair. Hair strains toward it, so the strands are taut, nearly straight lines.
Messy bun with loose strandsBuild it from overlapping loops, not a circle. Let ends poke out and a few strands drop at the nape and temples.
Ponytail pulled through a baseball capThe tail exits the gap above the strap. The cap hides the crown, so you draw only the tail and the hair at the ears.
Side ponytail held with a scrunchieA scrunchie is a ruffle of fabric over elastic. Tie it above one ear so the tail falls over that shoulder.
Sleek dancer's bun in profileHair scraped back so tightly the skull shape shows. The bun is a flat coil behind the crown; draw its spiral.
Top knot bun on the crownA ball on top of the skull. Every line in the hair below climbs toward the base of the knot.
Victory rolls above the templesA 1940s style: fat rolls above the ears or on top, each with an open curl facing forward. Draw tubes seen end on.
Fades and short cuts 17
Bowl cut, face frontA straight fringe and the same length all the way round, like an upturned bowl. One even line circles the head.
Buzz cut in three-quarter viewOne short length all over, so you are drawing the skull. Stipple the hairline soft and skip the outline.
Cowlick sticking up at the crownA tuft that stands up at odds with the rest, most often at the crown. One stubborn curve against the grain.
Crew cut in profileGraduated from a short pomp at the front hairline to the shortest hair at the back of the crown. The top slopes.
Ducktail seen from behindSides combed back to meet at a central parting running from crown to nape. Two swept wings and a centre seam.
Flattop seen from the frontTop hair stands upright and is cut to a flat, level plane. Rule the top edge and keep the corners crisp.
Hair whorl at the crown, seen from aboveHair grows in a circle round a centre point, clockwise or anticlockwise. Spiral every strand out from it.
Hi-top fade, side viewShort sides and a tall, square, flat top. Draw the top as a soft-textured box and keep its upper edge level.
Liberty spikes, face frontLong, thick, upright spikes named for the Statue of Liberty's crown. Draw cones radiating from the skull's centre.
Low fade, side viewHair shortens toward the ear until skin shows. Shade a smooth gradient from dark to bare, with no hard line.
Mohawk spiked up, side viewBoth sides shaven, a strip of longer hair down the centre. A fan in profile, a narrow blade from the front.
Pixie cut with a wispy fringeShort at the back and sides, slightly longer on top. Short flicks follow the skull, and the ears and neck show.
Pompadour swept up off the foreheadA big volume brushed up off the face and worn high above the forehead. In profile, a wave about to break.
Side parting with tapered back and sidesOn top long enough to comb, with a side part; back and sides taper shorter. Find the parting first.
Skin fade with a sharp line-upFaded right down to the skin. The line-up squares the forehead hairline and turns 90 degrees at the temple.
Slicked-back hair with comb linesCombed back from the forehead and held with product. Draw the comb's tracks as long parallel curves; add hard shine.
Undercut with a long top slicked backBack and sides buzzed very short, top left long. The join is a hard step, not a blend.
Wind, water and movement 15
A long braid swinging as the head turnsA braid is heavy, so it swings late and as one piece. Curve it like a pendulum at the top of its swing.
A spinning dancer's hair flung out levelSpin throws long hair outward into a flat disc, which you see as an ellipse round the head. Blur the tips.
Bed hair flattened on one sideFlat where the head lay, sticking out on the other side. One tuft standing straight up sells it.
Flyaway strands lit by low sunFinish the solid mass first. Then add a few hair-thin bright lines escaping the outline, each with its own bend.
Hair flip throwing an arc of waterHair trails the head's path in one big arc. Draw the arc first, hang strands off it, then scatter droplets.
Hair hanging down from someone upside downGravity still rules. Everything falls straight to the floor from the roots and the forehead is left bare.
Hair squashed under a beanieThe hat flattens the crown, so hair appears only below the rim, pushed outward at the ears and neck.
Hair whipping across the face in a galeDraw the face first, then lay strands over it. Some cross the eyes and mouth; keep them thin so the face reads.
Long hair blown sideways by windEvery lock streams the same way, like flags. The windward side lies flat to the skull; the ends lift and taper.
Long hair floating underwaterLittle gravity here: locks drift up and out in slow S curves and the ends fan wide. Soft edges, a few bubbles.
Long hair spread out on a pillowSeen from above, hair fans out from the head and lies flat. There is no volume to draw, only direction.
Ponytail swinging on a runnerThe tail lags the head: as the head drops, the tail is still rising. Draw it as a whip curve.
Static hair standing on endFine single strands stand straight out in every direction. Rule light lines outward from the centre of the skull.
Wet hair slicked flat after a swimWet hair loses volume and clings in pointed clumps. Darken it and add sharp, narrow highlights.
Wet hair wrapped in a towel turbanHardly any hair to draw, just damp strands at the neck. The towel twists once and flops forward or back.
How it works
These hair drawing ideas name a real style in a set view: a Dutch braid, a low fade, a beehive from the side. Each of the 100 comes with construction steps you can follow without a photo, and the style definitions were checked against Wikipedia. The two filters combine: Buns, ponytails and updos plus Easy holds nine.
Read the full guide
Skull first, then the mass, then a few strands
Hair sits on a skull, so most hints start there. Block the whole style as one shape, check where it leaves the head, then split it into a few big locks. Strands come last, and only at the edges and the parting. A braid is stacked Y shapes on a centre line. Shine runs across the curve of a lock, never along it.
Six groups, and what each level means
Every style sits in one group and one level. Braids, twists and locs holds 17 styles, and Wind, water and movement has 15 scenes such as Long hair floating underwater. The 34 easy ones are one shape and a parting. The 24 hard ones, cornrows and finger waves among them, are patterns that wrap round a ball.
Squint and draw the outline first. If the silhouette reads as a pompadour, the strands inside hardly matter.
Use the side of a soft pencil for the mass and a sharp point for six or seven strands at the edge.
Moving hair is a gesture drawing. Deal from Wind, water and movement and put down one curve before anything else.
Questions and answers
Which hairstyles here are cute?
The cute hair drawing ideas cluster under Buns, ponytails and updos: Double buns, one on each side and Half-up hair tied with a ribbon bow are the sweetest shapes in the deck. Aesthetic hair drawing ideas lean on light and accessories, so try Claw clip holding a twist at the back or Flyaway strands lit by low sun.
Can I draw these without a reference photo?
That is what the hints are for. Each gives the construction in words: where the parting sits, what shape the mass makes, which way the strands aim. A mirror still helps with texture. The page itself has no pictures.
How is a Dutch braid different from a French braid?
In a Dutch braid the three sections cross under, not over, so the braid stands up from the hair and earns a thin cast shadow. A French braid runs from crown to nape and gathers hair as it goes, thin at the top and thicker below. A fishtail is a third kind: two sections, drawn as a herringbone of narrow V shapes.