How to Draw Anime Hairstyles - Hair Style Inspirations

Let’s be real anime hair defies gravity, logic, and sometimes even common sense. But you still want to draw it and make it look cool, right? Trust me, you’re not alone. I’ve spent way too many hours agonizing over why that one stray strand refuses to look like it does in the reference image. If that sounds familiar, grab your pencil (or stylus), and let’s crack the code of anime hairstyles together.

Oh, and don’t worry we’re not doing any boring theory class nonsense here. This is all practical, hands-on, “dude why does-this-look-weird” type stuff. Ready? Let’s get sketching.

Understanding Anime Hair Basics

Let’s start with the basics. Because yes, even chaos needs rules. Anime hair isn’t just random spikes thrown together like a last-minute school project.

What Makes Anime Hair “Anime”?

Here’s the deal:

Exaggeration is key – Volume, shape, and flow get turned up to eleven.
Lines matter more than realism – It’s about stylization, not real-world physics.
Hair reflects personality – That emo fringe? Yeah, it means something.

Anatomy of Anime Hair

Before you sketch, understand this:

The skull still matters: Always draw the head base first. Even if you’re going full Goku, you need to know where those spikes originate.
Parting lines = your map: These lines show the direction of hair growth. Don’t wing it—map it.
Sections help: Break the hair into front, side, back, and top chunks. It makes complex styles way easier to manage.

Step by Step: Drawing Basic Anime Hairstyles

This is the stuff you came for. Let’s go through some staple anime hairstyles and how to draw them without screaming into your sketchbook.

Short and Spiky (AKA The Shonen Special)

You’ve seen it. Probably drawn it. Probably messed it up. Let’s fix that.

Steps:

Start with the head shape. Circle + jaw. Easy.
Mark the part line. Usually off-center or at the crown.
Draw spiky clumps. Don’t just draw zigzags—make every spike a tapered triangle with direction.
Vary lengths. Mix long and short spikes for realism.
Layer them. Front spikes go over the side ones, side ones wrap around the head.

Pro Tip: If it looks like a pineapple, you probably need to reduce volume.

Long and Flowing (Because Why Not Be Fabulous?)

These ones look chill, but drawing smooth, layered waves is trickier than it seems.

Steps:

Start with a central part or no part. Long hair usually hangs from the crown or forehead.
Draw guides for flow. Use light curves that swoop around the shoulders and back.
Add layers. Long hair isn’t a curtain. Sketch overlapping strands to build volume.
Details in ends. Anime long hair often tapers sharply—don’t just fade it off.

FYI: Drawing hair that looks like it moves = next level.

Drawing Bangs, Ponytails, and That One Ahoge Thing

You know what I’m talking about—that little hair antenna thing that pops out for no reason. Let’s cover the fun extras.

Anime Bangs: Frame That Face

Bangs can make or break the vibe of your character.

Blunt Bangs: Straight across the forehead. Use slightly curved lines, not rigid rulers.
Side Bangs: Diagonal across the face. Tuck under longer side hair to blend them.
Wispy Bangs: Sketch light, broken lines. Don’t over-outline these—they need to look floaty.

Bold Reminder: Bangs follow the curve of the skull. Don’t slap them on like a Lego piece.

Ponytails: From Schoolgirl to Battle Goddess

You gotta anchor the ponytail correctly or it’ll look like it’s growing from the side of the face.

High Pony: Top of the head, often dramatic. Add extra lines to show tight pull.
Low Pony: Behind the neck, more relaxed. Let strands fall loosely.
Add flyaways Always: No one has a perfect anime ponytail. Not even Sailor Moon.

Ahoge: That Iconic Single Strand

This is the cowlick of destiny. Or just a personality quirk, whatever.

Draw it like a swooping S-curve.
Make it slightly exaggerated but not like a unicorn horn (unless… that’s your thing?).
Use it sparingly. One ahoge per customer, please.

How to Add Volume Without Making It Look Like a Wig

Ever draw hair that ends up looking like a helmet? Yeah, same. Here’s how to avoid that.

Use Air Space

Hair doesn’t sit on the skull it floats around it.

Leave a gap between the scalp and hairline. That “puffy” look comes from air.
Round the crown. Don’t flatten the top unless your character’s wearing a hat (or hates joy).

Direction and Flow Are Everything

Use long, sweeping lines to define flow direction.
Hair bends with the head, not against it. Keep that in mind when drawing movement.

Shading Tips: Because Flat Hair = Flat Character

I get it coloring’s a pain. But even black-and-white manga uses killer shading to show volume and depth.

Simple Cell Shading

This is the anime classic. Clean, crisp shadows.

Identify a light source. Always.
Shade opposite areas of the light. Use hard edges, not gradients.
Highlight strands with thin white streaks or gaps.

Adding Depth with Line Weight

Thicker lines at the roots or where strands overlap = better depth.
Thin lines for loose strands or tips.

IMO: You don’t need fancy tools. Just be smart about contrast.

Stylizing Your Own Anime Hair (AKA Make It Your Brand)

You’ve copied enough references—now it’s time to build your own signature style.

Mix and Match Elements

Combine styles: messy fringe + sleek bob = unexpected cool.
Borrow from genres: A little shoujo fluff with a dash of seinen grit? Yes, please.

Create Shape-Based Styles

Use these basic shapes:

Triangle-based: Spiky, energetic, rebellious.
Oval-based: Soft, romantic, introverted.
Square-based: Structured, bold, stoic.

It’s wild how much shape affects personality. Ever notice that?

Use Hair to Show Emotion

Messy = stressed.
Tidy = focused.
Windblown = drama queen moment.

Anime hair is practically a mood ring, and you’re the one setting the tone.

Tools That Help You Draw Better (Even When Your Muse Abandons You)

Sometimes you stare at a blank page and your brain just goes, “Nope.” Here’s what helps me out when that happens:

Digital Tools I Swear By

Clip Studio Paint Has brushes made for anime hair. Literal time saver.
Procreate Super fluid for sketching flowy lines.
Reference Layering Stack reference pics over your sketch for quick proportion checks.

Traditional Tools That Still Slap

Mechanical pencils Consistent line weight for details.
Brush pens Great for dynamic final lines.
Tracing paper Yes, it’s not cheating. It’s practicing smart.

Common Mistakes (So You Can Laugh at Them Instead of Crying Over Them)

We all mess up sometimes. Let me save you a few headaches.

Helmet Head: Too much volume, not enough curve.
Spikes That Defy Physics Too Much: Even anime hair needs balance.
Over-detailing every strand: Unless you’re publishing next week, keep it simple.
Flat shading: If the light source isn’t clear, your hair will look like cardboard.

Ever drawn something you were proud of until you flipped it horizontally and instantly regretted your life choices? Yup, me too.

Final Thoughts: You Got This, Hair Hero

So, how do you draw anime hairstyles? With a little bit of structure, a lot of imagination, and definitely a sense of humor when things go wonky.

Remember:

Start with form and parting.
Build flow and volume using logical direction.
Stylize based on character mood and genre.
And for the love of all things manga—stop drawing every single strand.

Drawing anime hair is part technique, part intuition, and part straight-up magic. But hey, that’s what makes it fun, right?Now grab that pencil or fire up your tablet. Let your characters have the hair flips, spiky drama, and bang-swooshing action they deserve.

Oh, and if you do nail the perfect swoop on the first try go buy a lottery ticket. You’re on a roll.