How to Draw Anime Girl Hair Tips (Inward Curl, Wavy & Super Long): A Step-by-Step Guide by Japanese Pro Artists
If your OC's hair always looks like it was cut straight across with scissors, look at the tips first. This guide follows a Japanese pro artist's hair lesson through three hairstyles, redrawn with notes, so you can see exactly where each one bends and why.
Illustrated examples
The three hairstyles at a glance
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Step 01 · Inward curl
How do you draw inward-curl hair tips?
Give the hair a trapezoid silhouette, use thick strands, and make them all curve at the same height.Inward-curl hair is the classic anime bob: narrow at the top, wider at the bottom, like a trapezoid. The curl comes from two choices. Make the strands thicker than you think. Then line up the spots where they start to curve. If every strand bends at its own random height, the hair reads as messy, not curled.
Because inward-curled tips hold together, the line along the bottom of the hair looks straight, not jagged. The lines in the middle of the hair stay straight too. The curve only happens near the tips. Use thick strands for the bangs as well, since thick bangs sit well with inward-curled tips.
Two more details sell the 3D shape. On the far side of the face you can see the underside of the hair, so flip those tips toward the front. And curve the front tips more strongly. The closer a strand is to the viewer, the more the tip line slopes down toward the front.
Illustrated examples
Step 02 · Wavy
Where should the waves start in anime wavy hair?
Start the wave around the outer corners of the eyes, then let the curl get stronger toward the tips.Wavy hair doesn't wave from the roots. Keep the top of the head smooth and start the first bend around the outer corners of the eyes. Just like inward curls, use thick strands and line up where they curve, so the waves read as one hairstyle instead of a pile of noodles.
The curving parts of each wave carry weight, so the curl gets tighter toward the tips. To make it clear which hair is in front, draw the side hair nearest the viewer as waves of thick strands. At the very tips, mix thick strands with fine ones.
One thing to avoid: ending a tip in one long, trailing line. The comparison below shows why.
Illustrated examples
Step 03 · Super long
How do you draw super long anime hair without it looking messy?
Draw fewer lines inside the strands, and curve the tips softly inward.Once the hair reaches below the chest, it counts as super long hair. With that much hair, it's tempting to fill it with lines. Don't. Fewer lines inside the strands keep the hair together as one shape.
Start at the part. Follow the shape of the head there, then draw the flow of the hair with gentle curves. Show more of the underside of the hair, and it looks thick and full.
Near the ends, the hair gains weight where it curves. Curve the tips softly inward, and draw them finely while keeping the strands grouped together.
Illustrated examples
The most common mistake: ending the tips with long lines
Drawing a tip as one long line makes it look unnatural. Make the tip rounder and the strand narrower, and the tips get much more expression.
✕ NG The tip trails off into one long line.
✓ Good Rounded tips with narrow strands, thick and fine mixed together.
Where people usually get stuck
My curls look messy, not curled.
The strands are probably bending at different heights. Pick one height for the curve, line every strand up to it, and make the strands thicker.
My waves look like noodles.
The waves likely start right at the roots. Keep the top smooth, start the first bend near the outer corners of the eyes, and let the curl get stronger toward the tips.
My long hair takes forever and still looks messy.
Too many lines inside the strands. Draw fewer, keep the strands grouped, and put the fine detail into the tips.
Anime girl hair tips FAQ
What counts as super long hair in anime?
Hair that reaches below the chest. At that length, draw fewer lines inside the strands so the hair holds together, and save the fine detail for the tips.
Should I draw anime hair with thick strands or thin strands?
For inward curls and wavy hair, use thick strands, and line up where they curve. That is what makes the curl read clearly. At the tips of wavy hair, mix in some fine strands.
How do I show which part of the hair is in front?
Draw the side hair nearest the viewer with thick strands. On the far side, show the underside of the hair and flip those tips toward the front.
How do I get feedback on my hair drawings?
When you join an Anime Art Academy course, a professional Japanese artist gives you personal advice and draws red-line corrections directly on your drawing. There is no limit on how many times you can submit. The only rule: post one drawing at a time, and wait for your teacher's reply before posting the next.