How to Draw an Anime Girl Face: Easy 10-Step Guide

Ready to bring your own manga character to life? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 8+ who want to master the iconic anime aesthetic. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and a sheet of paper to start building your character's unique look.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A completed, colorful anime girl face drawing.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Base Circle

Light pencil sketch of a circle representing the top of an anime girl's head.

Draw a light circle to serve as the foundation for the head. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure very light so you can easily erase this guideline later once the facial features are in place.

Step 2: Defining the Chin and Ear

Drawing the jawline and ear shape connected to the base circle.

Extend a curved line downward from the circle to create a pointed chin, and add a small oval on the side for the ear. Tip: Anime chins are often quite sharp, so don't be afraid to make that bottom curve distinct.

Step 3: Cleaning the Guidelines

Cleaned up outline of an anime girl's face after erasing construction lines.

Carefully erase the horizontal line inside the circle where it meets the jaw. You should now have a clean, smooth outline of the face shape.

Step 4: Sketching the Hairline

Adding triangular hair strands framing the face.

Draw long, curved lines to frame the face, creating sharp, triangular locks of hair. Tip: Vary the length of the locks to make the hair look more natural and less like a solid block.

Step 5: Adding Neck and Shoulders

Drawing the neck, collar, and shoulders of the character.

Add a squiggly line for the ear detail, then draw two lines down for the neck. Add a 'V' shape for the collar and curved lines for the shoulders. Tip: Keep the neck narrow to maintain the classic anime proportions.

Step 6: Drawing the Pigtails

Adding hair accessories and pigtails to the anime character.

Draw two circles for the hair barrettes and sketch the pigtails using sharp, curved lines. Tip: Think of the pigtails as flowing ribbons—let them curve outward for a dynamic look.

Step 7: Finalizing Hair Outlines

Refined hair outline after erasing unnecessary construction lines.

Clean up your drawing by erasing any overlapping lines inside the hair sections. This makes your character look polished and ready for details.

Step 8: Sketching the Eyes

Adding large, expressive anime-style eyes and eyebrows.

Draw large, expressive eyes with thick top lids. Add small lines above for the eyebrows. Tip: The eyes are the most important part of anime—make them big and bold!

Step 9: Adding Facial Features

Adding pupils, nose, mouth, and hair texture details.

Draw the pupils, a small 'V' for the nose, and a gentle smile. Add texture lines to the hair. Tip: A simple 'V' for the nose keeps the look clean and minimalist.

Step 10: Bringing it to Life with Color

Finished anime girl face with vibrant colors applied.

Color your character! Use bright, vibrant colors for the hair and eyes to capture that classic anime energy. Tip: Don't be afraid to experiment with non-traditional hair colors like blue or pink.