Today I'll explain how to color hair so it looks glossy and three-dimensional. This is a fundamental technique for coloring hair. You can download the line art here, so please print it out and color along with me.
Colors used
Prepare three shades of the same color family: light, medium, and dark. This time we'll use ochre, brown, and dark brown. Feel free to use colors you already have — just gather three shades in the same family.
How to think about light and shadow
When light hits from the front, hair appears to have a spherical shape.
- The bangs closest to us are the brightest,
- followed by the mid-tone areas,
- and the hair behind the ears or toward the back is darkest.
Since the middle of the bangs sticks out the most toward us, it's the brightest, while the areas above and below are darker. When thinking about depth, keep the three stages — bright, mid-tone, and dark — in mind.
Basic coloring method
It's important to color following the flow of the hair. The guide lines drawn partway through the line art indicate "this connects on from here." If you ignore them and color in straight lines, the hair will look unnatural and lose its shine and sense of dimension.
Here we'll use the "flick stroke" (a stroke where you apply pressure, then release it). Following the curve, layer strokes from the dark areas toward the bright areas. Keep your pencil sharp, and color lightly without pressing too hard.
Using layering to create dimension
- First, color the whole head of hair with the mid-tone color, following the overall flow.
- Next, add the dark color, layering it with shorter strokes than before. This brings out shine and strengthens the sense of dimension.
- If left as is, white gaps will remain and look unnatural, so lightly layer the bright color over the whole area to create a natural gradient.
This "layering" technique brings out the texture of the hair and adds to its sense of dimension.
Hair to the sides and back
The hair at the sides has more complex curves. Stroking from the thin tips of the hair toward the wider sections creates a natural shine. Layering a darker color like dark brown in shorter strokes adds even more depth. Where the side hair overlaps the bangs, remember that the bangs are in front, and darken the hair behind them to emphasize the sense of dimension.
The hair furthest back (behind the ears or at the back of the head) is the darkest area. Color the surrounding area gently first, then layer the dark color on top — this lets it recede naturally into the background instead of standing out.
How to use black
If you want to add even more shine, add black. However, black is a strong color, so use it lightly without pressing too hard. If you use black directly and then layer brown over it, it will blend in naturally.
Final touches and balance
If you color one area too intensely, it throws off the balance of the whole piece, so it's important to keep checking the overall picture as you adjust. It's a good idea to finish about 70–80% of the way, then step back and adjust the overall balance, taking the face, body, and background into account.
Summary
- Follow the flow of the hair using the "flick stroke" technique
- Keep the three stages — bright, mid-tone, and dark — in mind
- Create a natural gradient through layering
- Use black lightly, and always blend it in with other colors
- Always check the overall balance as you go
With this method, you can create sleek, glossy, three-dimensional hair.
Next time, we'll cover "how to color a cute, three-dimensional face."