This time, we're introducing how to color a variety of hairstyles.
The line art we're using covers three patterns: "braid," "vertical curls," and "ponytail."
On the official Nuri-Iro site, we offer both a ready-to-color download version and line art (A5) pre-printed on easy-to-color, dedicated coloring paper. Check out whichever suits you.
> View the line art for How to Color Different Hairstyles [Colored Pencil]
If you'd like to learn the basic coloring method, be sure to check out the "Glossy Hair Coloring" video too.
>[Figure Basics 1] Glossy Straight Hair Coloring and Creating Volume [Colored Pencil]
Now let's get started.
Common Points for Coloring Any Hairstyle
◎ Color along the flow of the line art.
Ignoring the flow makes it stop looking like hair.
◎Color from narrow areas to wide areas.
Keep narrow areas dark and wide areas bright.
◎ Build gradients with diagonal strokes (the "flick stroke" technique).
Layering color from top toward the center and from bottom toward the center creates smooth, natural stages of shading.
Use dark brown as the base color. Tracing along the fine strand lines, connect them with diagonal strokes working from top and bottom toward the center.
Next, prepare a bright color (close to an ochre/mustard tone) and layer it over the areas you want to brighten, to build a natural gradient. Then apply black gently and lightly to the areas you want darkest at the edges. Adding black along the boundaries between strands and under overlapping areas further emphasizes shine and volume.
As needed, create highlights with an eraser. Lightly erase the areas you want to brighten, then layer white colored pencil on top for an even stronger shine.
1. Braid
Keeping in mind which strand is on top and which is underneath, color the strands on top brighter and the strands underneath darker. Adding contrast at the crossing points creates the volume of the braid.
To finish, add shadow with black along the boundaries where needed, and refine the highlights with an eraser and white.
2. Vertical Curls
Vertical curls cover a large area, so it's easy to end up coloring them too uniformly. Not lining up the dark and bright areas too neatly is the key to a natural look. Deliberately keep a slight irregularity (a jagged feel) in step with the rhythm of the hair tips and surfaces, so it doesn't become monotonous.
The steps are the same as for the braid: base color → bright color → tighten with black → adjust with eraser and white. Where the line art breaks off, connect it yourself to follow the flow of the strand, bringing out a sense of fine bundled strands.
3. Ponytail
This time, rather than working section by section, we'll proceed with diagonal strokes while keeping an eye on the overall volume. Apply the same shading logic to strands hanging to the side and to the tie (the part expressing where the hair is bound).
A ponytail can sometimes end up with a section that narrows in the middle. In that case, add diagonal strokes from both top and bottom to build brightness on both sides, emphasizing the roundness. In areas with a lot of curl, check which strand sits on top and make the underside strand darker and more solid to bring out the volume of the curve.
To finish, add shadow with black where strands overlap, and adjust the overall light-and-dark balance so the roundness of the head comes through. Finally, refine the highlights with an eraser, and add extra shine with white colored pencil if needed.
And there you have it! We've colored three types: braid, vertical curls, and ponytail.
This approach can be applied to any hairstyle, so please experiment with changing the colors or the direction of the light and more.
We'd love for you to post your finished pieces to "Everyone's Coloring" on the Nuri-Iro site. We're looking forward to your thoughts and requests about the video in the comments too!