How to Draw Manga Hair: Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to bring your anime characters to life? This tutorial is perfect for artists ages 7+ looking to master the signature spiky look of manga hair. Grab a pencil, an eraser, and a sheet of paper to begin building your character's unique style.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Head Shape

A light pencil sketch of a circle used as a head guide for a manga character.

Draw a light circle to serve as the base for your character's head. Teacher's Tip: Keep this circle light and loose; it’s just a guide, and you’ll be erasing it later!

Step 2: Defining the Jawline

The outline of a manga character's face showing the jawline and ear placement.

Outline the face by drawing straight lines that meet at a defined chin. Add a small curve for the ear. Teacher's Tip: Manga faces are often angular, so don't be afraid to make the jawline sharp.

Step 3: Establishing the Hairline

Drawing the hairline on the forehead using two curved lines meeting at a point.

Draw two curved lines meeting at a point on the forehead to create the hairline. Teacher's Tip: Off-centering this point makes the hair look more natural and less robotic.

Step 4: Cleaning the Canvas

The face outline after the circular guide lines have been erased.

Gently erase the circular guide lines inside the face. Teacher's Tip: Use a kneaded eraser if you have one; it’s gentler on the paper and won't leave messy crumbs.

Step 5: Adding the First Spikes

Adding the initial 'M' shaped bangs to the character's forehead.

Draw an 'M' shape on the forehead to start the bangs. Teacher's Tip: Ensure the center of the 'M' aligns with the hairline point you drew in Step 3.

Step 6: Drawing the Main Hair Volume

Creating the volume of the hair with jagged, spiky lines around the head.

Use short, curved lines to create jagged spikes around the crown of the head. Teacher's Tip: Imagine the hair is growing from a single point at the back of the head to keep the spikes looking uniform.

Step 7: Refining the Outline

The drawing after erasing the hairline guide lines for a clean look.

Erase any remaining guide lines from the forehead area. Teacher's Tip: A clean drawing makes the final ink or color look much more professional.

Step 8: Adding Side Tufts

Adding detailed side tufts of hair that frame the face.

Draw long, curved lines to create tufts of hair that overhang the face near the ears. Teacher's Tip: Varying the length of these tufts adds movement to your character's hair.

Step 9: Adding Texture Details

Adding final texture lines to the hair to give it a finished, professional look.

Add small, connected curved lines throughout the hair to create texture and depth. Teacher's Tip: Don't overdo it! A few well-placed lines are better than a messy, cluttered drawing.

Step 10: Bringing it to Life with Color

The final colored manga hair drawing with highlights.

Time to color! Choose your favorite shade and fill in the hair. Teacher's Tip: Leave a small white gap near the top of the spikes to simulate a 'shine' or highlight—this makes the hair look glossy!