OC Hairstyle Ideas

Press New hairstyle for a cut, a texture, a front, a color and one detail for your character's hair.

OC Hairstyle Ideas: 30 hairstyles

Long enough to sit on, and usually sat on; in soft curls that drop by evening; with a shaved strip along the part. Color: flaxen, the palest yellow. Detail: a clear tube bead with something moving in it.

Padlock: keep a part. Arrows: change only that part.

Length and cutlong enough to sit on, and usually sat on
Texturein soft curls that drop by evening
Frontwith a shaved strip along the part
Colorflaxen, the palest yellow
Detaila clear tube bead with something moving in it

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Hairstyle of the day

Long enough to sit on, and usually sat on; in soft curls that drop by evening; with a shaved strip along the part. Color: flaxen, the palest yellow. Detail: a clear tube bead with something moving in it.
Two coiled buns above the ears, like a ram's horns; mossy and thick, springing back when pressed; with the temple hair tied together behind the crown. Color: dark blond with paler streaks from the sun. Detail: glowing thread wound around one lock.
Two short tails bound in wire; soft from rainwater washing; with a pompadour rolled high above the brow. Color: copper that weathers to turquoise at the ends. Detail: a strand of optical fiber braided in.
Two coiled buns above the ears, like a ram's horns; like spun glass, bright along every strand; with a shaved strip along the part. Color: storm gray with a violet cast. Detail: a hairpin with a pearl head.
A tail of hair ending in a heavy metal bead; in locks that taper like candle flames; with the two front locks bound in dark yarn. Color: purple that shows only under blacklight. Detail: a barcode shaved above one ear.
Waist-length and loose; woven into a fine mesh; with one deep wave dipping over an eyebrow. Color: raven black with a green gloss. Detail: an antenna wire disguised as a hair stick.
A regulation bob, exactly at the collar line; woven into a fine mesh; with a side part beginning just over one ear. Color: honey brown, darker underneath. Detail: a horn comb that never comes out.
Trailing on the ground unless hitched over a sash; woven into a fine mesh; with two face-framing strands left out. Color: iron gray, even from root to tip. Detail: a cord of three colors wound through one lock.
Cut in three steps down the back, like stairs; grown in a tank, without one split end; with one side braided back and the other left wild. Color: storm gray with a violet cast. Detail: seed pearls threaded on a line through the hair.
A ponytail threaded through a ring at the crown; fine and flyaway; with two parts and a raised strip between them. Color: white, well before its time. Detail: a clipped patch where a sensor once sat.
Pigtail braids looped up and pinned at the ears; feathered, in layers that sweep away from the face; with a spiral part starting at the crown. Color: white, well before its time. Detail: a harvest crown of braided barley.
Hip-length, with a dozen small braids hidden in it; combed with a wide comb, the tracks left showing; with two face-framing strands left out. Color: gray and dark mixed strand by strand. Detail: small magnets that hold the stray strands down.
One fat ringlet laid over a shoulder, the rest pinned up; molded in one glossy piece; swept straight back off the forehead. Color: signal red. Detail: a band of velvet.
A coil speared by a pair of hair sticks; dressed with oil until it gleams like a seal; with a low part and hair draped across one temple. Color: matte black that reflects nothing. Detail: a ribbon embroidered with tiny runes.
Hacked short with garden shears, uneven all around; bristly, each strand as stiff as a brush fiber; with a zigzag part. Color: copper-wire orange. Detail: bobby pins lined up along one temple.
Three stubby braids held in one flat clip; springy as lamb's wool, in tight crimps; with short curled bangs in a tight cluster. Color: violet darkening to ink at the ends. Detail: a clipped patch where a sensor once sat.
Cut in three steps down the back, like stairs; gel-set into flat panels; with the front hair knotted once at the brow like a tassel. Color: dark blond with paler streaks from the sun. Detail: a tortoiseshell comb.
Trailing on the ground unless hitched over a sash; woven into a fine mesh; with bangs split into five even teeth. Color: black with neon green at the tips. Detail: seed pearls threaded on a line through the hair.
Twin braids knotted to each other at the tips; memory-set, springing back to shape after any knock; with bangs curled under like a roll. Color: boxed black dye growing out over light brown. Detail: a bandana folded into a band.
Two braids crossed over the top of the head and pinned; combed with a wide comb, the tracks left showing; with a cowlick at the hairline. Color: dark blond with paler streaks from the sun. Detail: seed pearls threaded on a line through the hair.
A coil speared by a pair of hair sticks; crimped with a hot iron into tiny pleats; with the hairline squared off at the temples. Color: rose at the roots and cream at the ends. Detail: small magnets that hold the stray strands down.
A regulation bob, exactly at the collar line; bristly, each strand as stiff as a brush fiber; with slanted bangs, one corner down to the cheekbone. Color: the blue of a screen left on in the dark. Detail: glitter that will not wash out.
Rolled into a thick coil that rests on one shoulder; fine as spider silk; with a triangular notch cut out of the bangs. Color: tawny, somewhere between gold and brown. Detail: a jeweled hair stick.
Two braids crossed over the top of the head and pinned; heavy as wet rope; with slanted bangs, one corner down to the cheekbone. Color: dark brown, lighter at the ends after a summer. Detail: a tasseled cord pinned in at one side.
Tied back at the nape with a black ribbon bow; molded in one glossy piece; with a cowlick at the hairline. Color: purple that shows only under blacklight. Detail: a bandana folded into a band.
An untrimmed mane halfway down the spine; finger-waved into S-shaped ridges; with pressed curls dotted across the brow. Color: dark brown, lighter at the ends after a summer. Detail: one lock bound in a spiral of gold wire.
A beehive, piled up in a cone on top of the head; crimped with a hot iron into tiny pleats; with a shaved strip along the part. Color: strawberry blond, pinker in winter light. Detail: one thin braid behind the ear.
Long at the back, sealed inside a clear sleeve; sleek, with one bend at the ends; with heavy bangs in one level line. Color: gray and dark mixed strand by strand. Detail: clips that change color with the room.
Hip-length, with a dozen small braids hidden in it; woven into a fine mesh; with bangs curled under like a roll. Color: strawberry blond, pinker in winter light. Detail: a brow band of hammered copper.
Three stubby braids held in one flat clip; in exact repeating waves, as if printed; with heavy bangs in one level line. Color: copper red. Detail: an antenna wire disguised as a hair stick.

Next step Browse real hairstyles to draw Design the rest of the character

Length and cut: all 60 lengths

Everyday 15

a coiled bun perched on the crown A coil like a cinnamon roll, with a few short hairs escaping at the neck.
a French braid from the crown to the nape Draw the hair feeding into the braid from both sides, like a zipper closing.
a jaw-length bob One level line from the earlobe to the nape. Let the ends swing forward a little.
a loose tail gathered at the base of the neck Keep the head shape smooth and put all the volume below the tie.
a pair of braids brought forward to the collarbones Bring both forward over the collarbones and end them level.
a ponytail gathered right at the top of the skull Draw the hair pulled tight to one point, then let it fall from there in a curve.
a stubby tail too short to swing A small brush of hair at the back of the head, sticking straight out from its tie.
collarbone-length, longer toward the front Slope the bottom edge down from the nape to the collarbones.
cropped close at the back, longer on top Shade the nape with short strokes and leave the crown as larger shapes.
half tied up, half left down A small tail at the crown, sitting on top of a full curtain of loose hair.
resting on the shoulders in one squared-off edge Rest the ends on the shoulders and let them kick out where they touch.
shoulder-blade length, with the ends cut in a deep U From behind, the bottom edge curves down to a soft point in the middle.
two pigtails tied behind the ears Mirror the two tails, then make one a little lower so it looks worn.
uneven by design: one side a hand longer Tilt the head toward the long side to show off the difference.
waist-length and loose Treat it as one long shape first, then split the lower third into locks.

Fantasy 15

a braid as thick as a wrist, down to the knees Give the braid weight: it hangs straight and swings late.
a foxtail of hair tied low with a leather thong Thick at the tie, thinning to a point at the tip.
a rope of hair wound twice around the neck like a scarf Draw the coils overlapping under the chin, with the end tucked in.
a topknot bound with cord A short upright bundle at the crown, wrapped several times near its base.
an untrimmed mane halfway down the spine Uneven ends, some thin and some thick, and no straight edge anywhere.
ankle-length, carried over one arm like a train Loop the hair across the forearm and let the ends trail behind.
hacked short with garden shears, uneven all around Blunt chunks of different lengths, with a few that stick straight out.
heaped loosely and skewered with a single pin A loose heap with a single straight line through it, tilted.
hip-length, with a dozen small braids hidden in it Draw the loose hair first, then drop thin braided lines in among it.
long enough to sit on, and usually sat on Seat the figure and run the hair down the back and under, with the ends showing at the knees.
rolled into a thick coil that rests on one shoulder A heavy spiral lying on the shoulder like a sleeping cat, pinned behind the ear.
to the elbows, trimmed once a year at midsummer An even hem of hair at elbow height, a little thin at the very ends.
trailing on the ground unless hitched over a sash A long fall of hair, a fold at the waist, and a tail hanging below it.
twin braids knotted to each other at the tips The braids meet in a knot at the small of the back, making a long loop.
two coiled buns above the ears, like a ram's horns Spiral each coil outward and tilt both a little forward.

Science fiction 15

a clean rectangle clipped at the nape, loose above it From behind: a neat clipped window at the hairline, and the rest falling over it.
a flat coil pinned at the nape, made for a helmet A disc of hair no thicker than a hand, low on the neck.
a geometric wedge, higher at the back than the front The side view is a triangle, with a steep stacked line at the nape.
a ponytail threaded through a ring at the crown A metal band at the top of the skull, with the hair fountaining from it.
a regulation bob, exactly at the collar line A dead straight lower edge. Rule it, then roughen it slightly.
a tail of hair ending in a heavy metal bead The tail hangs dead straight, with a small ball at its end like a plumb line.
an asymmetric bob, one point reaching the collarbone One corner drops to a sharp tip, and the other side stops at the ear.
bound into a short stiff club at the neck A thick stub of hair wrapped tight from end to end, like the handle of a tool.
chin-length, with an earpiece cord threaded through it A thin cord runs up from the collar and into the hair behind the jaw.
cropped to fit under a helmet, longer at the crown A flat band pressed into the hair, level around the head.
cut in three steps down the back, like stairs Three level edges, at the ears, the nape and the shoulder blades, seen best from the side.
grown past the waist during a long cold sleep Long, uneven and a little matted, with no sign of scissors anywhere.
long at the back, sealed inside a clear sleeve A smooth tube from the nape to the waist, with the hair visible inside it.
three stubby braids held in one flat clip Three short braids meeting in one flat clip at the back of the neck.
two short tails bound in wire Stiff little bundles behind the ears, wrapped in tight rings.

Historical 15

a beehive, piled up in a cone on top of the head A tall rounded dome, pointing a little backward, with a smooth surface.
a bouffant, raised high and puffed out over the ears A wide rounded shape, much bigger than the skull under it.
a chignon pinned just above the collar A smooth head and a neat rounded knot resting on the collar.
a coil speared by a pair of hair sticks Two thin tapered rods through the coil, making an X behind the head.
a French twist, rolled upward against the back of the head A vertical roll with the ends tucked into it, seen best from behind.
a pageboy, hanging below the ear and turned under Curl the bottom edge inward all the way around, like the rim of a bell.
a shag, layered to several lengths Choppy tiers down the head, short at the crown and long at the neck.
curled under at the nape in one long roll A single sausage of hair from ear to ear along the hairline at the back.
dressed high on the head and pinned, a full hand tall Build the height in three stacked rolls and pin each one.
gathered into a net of cord at the back A full, soft bag of hair on the neck, with a knotted mesh over it.
one fat ringlet laid over a shoulder, the rest pinned up One thick spiral lying on the collarbone, and a smooth pinned shape behind the head.
pigtail braids looped up and pinned at the ears Each braid doubles back on itself and makes a hanging loop.
tied back at the nape with a black ribbon bow A short tail below a flat bow with two hanging ends.
twin braids with a colored tape worked through each Run a strip of color through each braid and finish with a bow.
two braids crossed over the top of the head and pinned The braids start behind the ears, pass each other at the crown, and end tucked away.

How this list was compiled

Original list written for Draw This Next, October 2026. Each named cut was checked on 2026-10-02 against its English Wikipedia article: Bob cut (cut straight around the head at about jaw level), Ponytail, Pigtail (two ponytails or braids, one each side of the head), Bun, French braid (from the crown to the nape), Braid, Pageboy (hangs below the ear and turns under), Chignon (a low knot at the nape), Beehive (piled in a cone on top of the head), Bouffant (raised high and puffed out, usually covering the ears), French twist (twisted upward against the back of the head), Shag (layered to various lengths) and Hair stick (holds a bun in place). The other entries are our own inventions. No style is tied to a character, a show or a game. The front of the hair is left to its own list. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

Texture: all 60 textures

Everyday 15

choppy, every strand a different length End each lock at its own height and point the tips different ways.
fine and flyaway A soft outline with single hairs floating off it.
fluffy from being slept on wet Flatten one side and puff the other out.
frizzy at the crown, smooth below Scribble lightly on top and change to long clean strokes halfway down.
glossy as a new chestnut A wide, hard-edged highlight and deep shadow beside it.
in soft curls that drop by evening Loose loops at the ends and nearly straight near the roots.
in springy curls Spirals that get wider toward the ends, with a highlight on each bend.
in tight coils Small springs packed close together. Draw the outline as a soft cloud first.
in wide, lazy waves Draw S-curves that all bend at the same heights.
in zigzag kinks, tight from root to tip Draw each strand as a tiny zigzag, and keep the surface dense and matte.
pin-straight Long parallel strokes and one band of shine straight across.
sleek, with one bend at the ends Straight strokes that flick the same way in the last finger's length.
thick and heavy Few lines and big shapes. It hangs straight down and moves as a block.
thin at the ends and full at the roots Taper every lock to a wisp.
wavy only on humid days Add a halo of short frizz above an otherwise smooth shape.

Fantasy 15

coarse and straight as a pony's forelock Thick single strokes that fall to one side of the neck.
downy, in overlapping rows like plumage Overlap short rounded locks in rows, like scales.
fine as spider silk Draw fewer strands than seems right and leave a lot of bare paper.
heavy as wet rope Thick twisted strands that hang dead straight.
in flat curls like wood shavings Flat ribbons of hair, each curled over once or twice at its end.
in locks that taper like candle flames Taper each lock to a point and curve the tip over a little.
in ripples like a stream over stones Even waves from root to tip, with a highlight on every crest.
like spun glass, bright along every strand Leave thin white lines along the strands and keep the shadows pale.
mossy and thick, springing back when pressed Stipple the surface in place of drawing strands.
pale-tipped and downy as a dandelion clock Fine short strokes with pale tips, and a soft edge to every lock.
sleek as river weed, with a wet shine Long smooth strokes and a hard highlight, as if the hair had just left the water.
soft as smoke, with no shine Soften every edge inside the shape and keep the highlights dull.
springy as lamb's wool, in tight crimps Short tight waves packed close, with a soft blurred surface.
stiff as dry reeds Straight stalks that bend at angles, never in curves.
wiry as heather Short springy zigzags that hold whatever shape they are given.

Science fiction 15

bristly, each strand as stiff as a brush fiber Short straight strokes with square ends wherever a strand comes loose.
coated to shed dust, with a faint sheen A smooth surface with one thin even highlight and not a stray hair.
foam-light and matte A soft shape with no highlight at all.
gel-set into flat panels Divide the hair into plates with clean seams between them.
grown in a tank, without one split end Every strand the same thickness from root to tip, and every tip square.
in exact repeating waves, as if printed Copy one wave across the whole head with no variation.
in tubes, like bundled wires Round-ended cylinders hanging side by side.
like fiber-optic strands, lit at the tips Dark lines, each ending in a small bright dot.
memory-set, springing back to shape after any knock Draw the shape crisp, and exactly the same in every picture of the character.
metallic and straight, like drawn wire Hard highlights in thin strips, and ends cut square.
molded in one glossy piece One outline, no strands, and a single long reflection.
pixel-edged, cut in tiny steps Build the outline from small right angles.
ribbed like cable Draw each lock as a tube with short lines across it.
translucent at the ends Let the background show through the last third of each lock.
woven into a fine mesh Crosshatch the surface in a diamond grid.

Historical 15

braided wet and brushed out into ripples Small tight waves from the ear down, and flat hair above.
brushed a hundred strokes until it shines A wide soft highlight and no stray hairs.
combed with a wide comb, the tracks left showing Even parallel grooves following the lie of the hair, like a raked path.
crimped with a hot iron into tiny pleats Tight accordion folds running across each lock.
dressed with oil until it gleams like a seal A dark shape with one curved white stripe.
feathered, in layers that sweep away from the face Sweep the side hair away from the face in soft overlapping wings.
finger-waved into S-shaped ridges S-shaped ridges lying close against the skull, with a shine on each ridge.
in fat curls like sausages Thick hollow tubes of hair, each with a dark opening at the end.
in ringlets set with a curling iron Long spirals like springs. Shade one side of every turn.
set on rollers into big even curls Round barrel curls of one size, in rows.
smoothed over a hidden pad for height A firm rounded swell, with the hair drawn tight across it.
soft from rainwater washing No hard highlight anywhere: shade it with gentle gradients.
springy, pushing every pin back out Show two or three pins half out, and small loops of hair escaping beside them.
waved with hot tongs into even ridges Regular ripples, as neat as corrugated card.
wispy wherever a few strands slip free A few fine curls loose at the nape and by the ears, outside the main shape.

How this list was compiled

Original list written for Draw This Next, October 2026. Three historical settings were checked on 2026-10-02 against their English Wikipedia articles: Finger wave (a way of setting hair into waves, popular in the 1920s and early 1930s), Ringlet (made with a curling iron or hair rollers) and Feathered hair (layered and brushed back at the sides, popular in the 1970s). The other entries are our own inventions. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

Front: all 60 fronts

Everyday 15

swept straight back off the forehead Show the whole hairline and run every stroke away from the face.
with a cowlick at the hairline A small tuft that springs up and back against the direction of the rest.
with a middle part A thin pale line from the forehead to the crown, with the hair falling evenly away.
with a side part beginning just over one ear Start the part above the outer end of one eyebrow and sweep the hair across.
with a widow's peak Draw the hairline as a shallow letter M with a point in the middle.
with a zigzag part Break the part line into four or five short angles.
with half-grown bangs that slide loose on one side A shorter piece that keeps slipping forward on one side.
with heavy bangs in one level line One level edge just above the eyebrows, with a shadow under it on the forehead.
with long bangs split like drapes Two long sweeps that open like drapes and end at the cheekbones.
with no part at all, falling forward The hair drops from the crown in every direction, like a thatched roof.
with one long lock over an eye Let the lock cross the cheekbone, and show the hidden eye through a gap.
with overgrown bangs getting in the eyes Run the bangs down past the lashes, with the eyes looking through.
with side-swept bangs A diagonal edge from high on one side to the opposite eyebrow.
with two face-framing strands left out Thin locks in front of the ears, curving in under the jaw.
with wispy bangs down to the eyebrows Thin separate strands with forehead showing between them.

Fantasy 15

with a crest of hair standing up at the front A short upright ridge above the forehead, like the comb on a helmet.
with a hairline that dips to a point at each temple Draw two small downward points where the hairline meets the temples.
with a thin braid worn across the front like a headband Run a narrow braid from ear to ear, just behind the forehead.
with a twist of hair above each temple like small horns Two short spirals that point up and outward.
with a veil of fine hair over half the face Draw the features first, then lay light strokes across one side.
with a waist-long strand hanging before each shoulder Hang them in front of the shoulders, perfectly even.
with bangs that hide one eyebrow only Slant the edge so that one brow is covered and the other is clear.
with bangs trimmed in a crescent The edge curves up at the middle and down toward both temples.
with one round curl lying on the brow One round curl lying flat on the forehead, pointing at an eyebrow.
with one side braided back and the other left wild Three thin braided rows on one temple, and loose locks on the other.
with the forehead bare and the hair drawn back tight Draw the hairline high and smooth, with small tension lines at the temples.
with the front hair knotted once at the brow like a tassel One overhand knot of hair in the middle of the forehead, its end hanging to the nose.
with the hairline plucked back to a high forehead A tall bare forehead, with the hair beginning near the top of the skull.
with the temple hair tied together behind the crown Take two locks from the temples and tie them together behind the head.
with the two front locks bound in dark yarn Bind the last hand's width of two locks in close spirals.

Science fiction 15

with a part drawn diagonally from temple to crown One straight slanting line across the top of the head. Rule it.
with a quiff brushed up from the forehead A wave that rises from the forehead and curls over at the top.
with a shaved strip along the part Widen the part to a finger's width and dot it with stubble.
with a spiral part starting at the crown Seen from above, the part winds outward like a snail shell.
with a triangular notch cut out of the bangs A straight edge with one small bite taken from the middle.
with bangs cut in a sharp V The point sits between the eyebrows. Rule both edges.
with bangs split into five even teeth Five flat points along the forehead, like the edge of a comb.
with bangs trimmed in an arch around each eye The edge rises over each eye and dips to a point above the nose.
with micro bangs, a finger's width above the brows A very short straight edge high on the forehead.
with one stiff lock pointing forward A single spike over the forehead, like the bill of a cap.
with slanted bangs, one corner down to the cheekbone A single long diagonal with a crisp tip.
with the front combed straight down to the lashes A flat sheet of hair to eye level, with the eyes just under its edge.
with the front hair clipped flat under a clear band A transparent strip from temple to temple, with the hair pressed smooth beneath it.
with the hairline squared off at the temples Draw the corners of the hairline as right angles.
with two parts and a raised strip between them A narrow band of hair standing up between two parallel lines.

Historical 15

with a center part and the hair smoothed over the ears Two glossy wings that hide the tops of the ears.
with a high bare forehead and the hair combed straight up Lift the front hair into a low wall above the brow.
with a low part and hair draped across one temple A smooth curtain that covers one corner of the forehead.
with a pompadour rolled high above the brow A big smooth wave rising from the brow and rolling back.
with a puff over the forehead, pinned behind A soft rounded bump at the front, pinned behind.
with a roll of hair above the forehead A fat hollow curl sitting on the hairline, open at both ends.
with a side part and a wave pushed up at the front The hair rises a finger's height at the part before it falls.
with a small flat curl in front of each ear A hook of hair lying on each cheekbone.
with bangs curled under like a roll A tube of hair across the forehead, shaded darker underneath.
with cheek-length sidelocks and straight bangs, hime style Three straight edges: one across the brow and one beside each cheek.
with one deep wave dipping over an eyebrow A single S-curve that touches the brow and swings back.
with pressed curls dotted across the brow Small circles pressed to the skin, each with a comma tail.
with short curled bangs in a tight cluster A pom-pom of small curls sitting on the forehead.
with the front hair in two loops pinned at the temples Each loop curves down in front of the ear and back up.
with wings of hair brushed back from the temples Two upward sweeps above the ears.

How this list was compiled

Original list written for Draw This Next, October 2026. The named features were checked on 2026-10-02 against their English Wikipedia articles: Bangs (hair that falls over the front hairline to cover the forehead, called a fringe in British English), Curtained hair (long bangs divided by a middle or side part), Cowlick (a section of hair that stands up or lies at an angle to the rest), Widow's peak (a V-shaped point in the hairline at the center of the forehead), Pompadour (hair swept upward from the face and worn high over the forehead), Quiff and Hime cut (straight cheek-length sidelocks and straight bangs). That a quiff is the forelock brushed upward is from the Wiktionary entry quiff, read the same day. The other entries are our own inventions. The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

Color: all 60 colors

Everyday 15

ash blond with the roots grown out dark A cool pale yellow, and a band of brown at the scalp.
boxed black dye growing out over light brown A hard line between two colors, a finger's width from the scalp.
brown going gray at the temples only Two small silver patches above the ears.
chestnut brown with a red glint A mid brown with a thin line of orange-red in the highlight.
copper red Bright orange-brown, with highlights nearly yellow.
dark blond with paler streaks from the sun Lay a dull yellow-brown first, then pull lighter lines through the top layer.
dark brown, lighter at the ends after a summer Fade the last third toward tan.
deep auburn Dark red-brown that only shows its red in the light.
gray and dark mixed strand by strand Dark and white strands mixed evenly. Draw the white ones last.
honey brown, darker underneath Warm golden brown on the top layer and a deeper tone at the nape.
mousy brown that nobody can quite name Mix gray into a light brown until it stops being warm.
sandy, nearly the same tone as the skin Keep the contrast low, and let the outline carry the shape.
soft black that turns brown in strong sun Shade with dark brown and add warm red-brown highlights.
strawberry blond, pinker in winter light A pale gold with pink in it. Keep the shadows peach and not brown.
white, well before its time Shade with pale blue-gray and leave most of it as paper.

Fantasy 15

birch white, flecked with short dark dashes Leave it as paper and add short gray dashes.
the brown of a chestnut horse, with a pale forelock One light patch at the front, on an even red-brown.
copper that weathers to turquoise at the ends Orange-brown at the roots, and blue-green creeping up from the tips.
deep navy, flecked with tiny points of white Flick tiny dots of white over a very dark blue.
ember orange, darker toward the scalp Glowing tips and near-black roots, like a coal.
the gray-green of wet slate A dark neutral that looks green only beside something red.
lichen green shading to soil brown at the scalp A yellow-green with a darker earth tone showing at the roots.
rose at the roots and cream at the ends A soft pink that loses its color as it goes down.
the scarlet of a sugar maple in October A scarlet that leans orange, and brightest at the ends.
seafoam, almost colorless The palest blue-green wash, with white highlights.
silver that turns bluish after dark Cool gray, with a thin edge of blue on the shadow side.
storm gray with a violet cast Mix purple into the shadows of a mid gray.
teal fading to white at the tips Blend from blue-green at the roots through pale mint to nothing.
thin gold that brightens beside a hearth Push the highlights to warm white on the side facing the light.
violet darkening to ink at the ends The reverse of sun fading: the tips are the darkest part.

Science fiction 15

a color that shifts with body heat Warm tones near the scalp, cooling to blue at the ends.
an ombré from tangerine to plum, like dusk Blend the bands with soft edges, one color into the next.
black with neon green at the tips Keep the green pure, and let it tint the shoulders it touches.
the blue of a screen left on in the dark A flat, bright blue that lights the face from above.
chrome silver that mirrors the room Paint the reflections: a strip of sky tone above and of ground tone below.
clear white, like nylon thread Hardly any pigment. Outline the strands in pale gray.
copper-wire orange Metallic, with thin white lines along every strand.
the green of old computer text A bright yellow-green on a dark ground, a little blurred.
hoarfrost pale, turning aqua at the scalp Blue at the scalp, where a natural shade would be dark.
matte black that reflects nothing No highlight at all. It reads as a cut-out shape.
pearl with a rainbow film, like oil on water Pale gray with thin bands of pink, green and blue.
purple that shows only under blacklight Draw the head twice: plain dark, then glowing violet.
regulation gray, the same as the uniform Match the hair exactly to the collar beside it.
signal red A pure, loud red with orange highlights and no brown in it.
warning-tape yellow with slanted dark bands Diagonal bands of even width, as on warning tape.

Historical 15

black, with one pale sweep above an ear A single pale sweep above the ear.
bleached pale by sun and salt Dry yellow-white ends on darker, duller roots.
the brown of strong tea Clear and reddish where light comes through, and dark where it is thick.
chestnut with the first gray coming in A few silver lines near the crown and nowhere else.
dark red, like a clay roof tile in shade A brown-red with no orange in it.
the dull gold of old picture frames A yellow-brown with greenish shadows and a few bright flecks.
dusted pale gray with powder Whiten the surface, and let the natural color show at the roots and nape.
flaxen, the palest yellow The color of raw linen thread. Shade it with warm gray.
iron gray, even from root to tip A dark, even gray with a faint blue edge.
jet black, oiled to a shine One sharp white highlight on a solid dark shape.
raven black with a green gloss Hint at dark green in the highlight, as on a bird's wing.
snow white, worn proudly Pure paper white, shaded only where the hair folds.
tawny, somewhere between gold and brown Lay gold first and glaze a light brown over the shadows.
walnut brown, cool and even A dark brown with no red in it, the same tone from root to tip.
wheat blond A soft yellow with tan shadows.

How this list was compiled

Original list written for Draw This Next, October 2026. Made up for this list: everyday shades in plain words and invented ones for fantasy, science fiction and historical characters. That an ombré is one color blending into another was checked on 2026-10-02 against the English Wikipedia article Ombré. The notes are our own coloring advice. Licence: own work

Detail: all 60 details

Everyday 15

a bandana folded into a band A wide strip across the top of the head, knotted underneath at the nape.
a bow of shoelace, tied in a hurry A lopsided knot with ends of different lengths.
a garden flower behind one ear The stem hides in the hair, and the flower faces forward.
a grosgrain ribbon in a neat flat bow Two loops, two tails and a small knot. Let one tail curl.
a leaf-form barrette in dull brass A small clasp above the temple, with a center vein scratched into it.
a pencil parked over one ear The pencil points backward, and the hair bends around it.
a plain plastic headband with teeth A curved line from ear to ear, with the hair puffing a little behind it.
a small sticker stuck in it, not yet noticed A small bright star or dot clinging to one lock.
an elastic band borrowed from a bundle of mail A plain tan rubber band, doubled over, holding one small section.
bobby pins lined up along one temple Short parallel dashes along one side of the head.
ends dip-dyed a finger deep A second color in a straight band along the very bottom.
glitter that will not wash out A scatter of tiny dots, thickest near the crown.
one streak a shade away from the rest A single lock, lighter or darker than its neighbors, starting right at the root.
one thin braid behind the ear A narrow braid that nearly disappears into the rest of the hair.
two snap clips above one ear Small flat triangles, side by side, pressing the hair down.

Fantasy 15

a bone pin carved like a fish A pale sliver with a notched tail, pushed in at an angle.
a brow band of hammered copper A thin band across the forehead that vanishes into the hair at the temples.
a cord of three colors wound through one lock Wrap the lock in a spiral, like the stripe on a barber's pole.
a hairpin bent from a small brass key The bow of the key shows, and its teeth are hidden in the hair.
a horn comb that never comes out A curved row of teeth, sunk in above the nape.
a ribbon embroidered with tiny runes Angular marks along the ribbon. Keep them too small to read.
a silver ring clasping one lock A plain band partway down, with the hair pinched in under it.
a thorn used as a hairpin A dark curved spike, thick at one end.
feathers knotted in behind one ear Two or three quills hanging down, with barbs drawn as fine combs.
flowers that open in it at noon Small buds along one side, with one of them fully open.
frost at the crown that does not melt A patch of white crystals with tiny branching spikes.
moths that settle in it at dusk Two small triangles of wing, resting near the crown.
one lock bound in a spiral of gold wire Close gold windings from root to tip, catching a row of highlights.
river-glass beads on one lock Cloudy rounded beads, each a slightly different blue-green.
seed pods that rattle, tied in near the tips Dry oval pods on threads. Add two short lines for the sound.

Science fiction 15

a barcode shaved above one ear Short upright stripes of different widths in the stubble.
a cable tie for a hair tie A thin ridged strap with a square head and a trimmed tail.
a clear tube bead with something moving in it A short glass cylinder on a lock, with one dark speck inside.
a clipped patch where a sensor once sat A neat square of shorter hair behind the ear.
a dent left by a headset band A shallow groove over the top of the head, from ear to ear.
a hair clip that unfolds into a small tool A flat metal clasp with a hinge and a notch along one edge.
a row of metal rings down one lock Evenly spaced bands, each catching a small highlight.
a strand of optical fiber braided in One clear line with a bright point at its end.
a visor pushed up into the hair A curved, clear band resting on the crown, with a reflection across it.
an antenna wire disguised as a hair stick A thin rod, a little too long, with a bead on its end.
clips that change color with the room Draw the clip twice, in two tones, as if caught in mid-change.
glowing thread wound around one lock A bright spiral that lights the neck beside it.
small magnets that hold the stray strands down Three dark discs along the hairline.
sparks at the ends in dry air Two or three tiny stars just beyond the tips.
tiny lights clipped along one side A row of dots in a curve, each with a small halo.

Historical 15

a band of velvet A soft dark strip across the top of the head, with no shine on it.
a brooch pinned in as an ornament An oval set at the side of the head, with a rim and one center stone.
a comb worn high at the back, like a fan A tall curved plate standing behind the crown.
a feather pinned upright A single plume rising from one side and curling at the tip.
a flower folded from silk Layered petals with crisp folded edges, pinned at one side.
a hairpin with a pearl head Only the pearl shows: a small sphere with one white dot.
a harvest crown of braided barley Bearded seed heads laid end to end around the head.
a jeweled hair stick A slim rod with a carved, stone-set end, worn at a slant.
a kerchief knotted under the hair at the nape A triangle of cloth over the crown, with its two ends tied below.
a ribbon bow at the crown A wide bow sitting upright, like a pair of small wings.
a sprig of dried lavender A thin stalk with a head of small buds, tucked in above the ear.
a tasseled cord pinned in at one side A short twisted cord ending in a small brush of threads, level with the jaw.
a tortoiseshell comb A curved comb, mottled amber and brown, set in above the knot or the ear.
four small bows in a line above one ear Four small knots in a line, each a little smaller than the last.
seed pearls threaded on a line through the hair A dotted line that appears and disappears among the hair.

How this list was compiled

Original list written for Draw This Next, October 2026. Made up for this list, and worded to fit hair of any length. Three ornaments were checked on 2026-10-02 against their English Wikipedia articles: Hair clip (a barrette is a clasp that keeps hair in place), Hairpin (a long device that holds hair in place) and Hair stick (plain or with jeweled or carved designs). The notes are our own drawing advice. Licence: own work

How it works

Each result builds one head of hair for an original character from five parts: length and cut, texture, the front, a color and one detail. Every part has a drawing note in the lists below.

Read the full guide

OC hair ideas, one part at a time

Length, texture, front, color and detail are dealt separately. Each list runs from everyday to fantasy, science fiction and historical, and the parts mix across them on purpose.

Character hair ideas from real cuts

Where an entry names a real style, the note draws it as its Wikipedia article describes it. A pageboy hangs below the ear and turns under. A beehive is piled in a cone on top of the head. A French twist is rolled upward against the back of the head.

Draw the outline of the whole head of hair before any single strand.
Put the shine in one band across the hair, not on every lock.

Questions and answers

How do I come up with a hairstyle for my OC?

Decide five things in order: how long it is, its texture, what happens at the front, the color, and one detail only this character has. Each press on this page deals all five.

What hairstyles suit a fantasy or sci-fi character?

Every list has a fantasy group and a science fiction group: a braid as thick as a wrist, hair like fiber-optic strands lit at the tips, bangs cut in a sharp V. They mix with the everyday and historical entries.

Are the named hairstyles real?

Yes. A named cut such as a bob, a pageboy, a chignon, a beehive or a French twist is real and was checked against its Wikipedia article on 2 October 2026. Entries with no name were invented for this page.

Does it make a picture of the hair?

No. The result is words to draw from, with a note for each part in the lists under the tool. The hair drawing ideas page lists real hairstyles to draw one at a time.

Length and cut: all 60 lengths

Everyday 15

Fantasy 15

Science fiction 15

Historical 15

Texture: all 60 textures

Everyday 15

Fantasy 15

Science fiction 15

Historical 15

Front: all 60 fronts

Everyday 15

Fantasy 15

Science fiction 15

Historical 15

Color: all 60 colors

Everyday 15

Fantasy 15

Science fiction 15

Historical 15

Detail: all 60 details

Everyday 15

Fantasy 15

Science fiction 15

Historical 15

How it works

OC hair ideas, one part at a time

Character hair ideas from real cuts

Questions and answers

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