Do you want to be a braid-drawing master? There’s actually a super simple way to construct braids. Once you get the hang of it, you can draw braids in practically any shape.
In fact, it’s so fun that I got carried away drawing more braids than I intended to for this tutorial! Once you get the steps down and draw your first braid, you’re not only going to be a pro, you’ll also get hooked!
By the way, this is the first time I’m introducing videos in my tutorials. Sometimes pictures just aren’t enough!
*PDF Download*
For your personal offline viewing, click the following link and hit the download button beside the printer icon to download the PDF:Â RapidFireArt Tutorials-How to Draw Braids
Tools I Used:
- Dull sewing needle
- Derwent HB, 2B and 4B
- Mechanical pencil with 0.5mm 4B lead by Ain
Step 1
Step 2
Avoid drawing all your zigzags using straight or overly curvy lines. This will make your braid look less natural.
Step 3
Step 4
Starting on the left side of the braid, draw a curve that touches the top portion of hair and ends at every convex corner. Do this all the way down. Do the same for the right side.
Stay close to the outline made in step 1. There is no need to stay exactly within the boundary. If you want your braid to look more natural, don’t follow the outline exactly.
Here’s a diagram to help you maintain good hair flow
Step 5
Erase the boundary outlines. Then use a blunt needle or any sharp edge that won’t puncture the paper to draw invisible hairs. Apply a range of different pressures to create a variety of thin and thick hairs. What this does is it creates indentations in the paper, making it difficult for graphite to fill. Later, when you start shading the hair, these indentations will give the hair a more realistic texture and show up as thin white lines.
Here’s a close up picture of my paper so you can see what I mean:
Then, use a 2B pencil to go over those same areas. Play around with different lead thicknesses by rotating your pencil every now and then. This not only darkens the braid but also gives it some more detail. You might start to notice some of your needle work showing through now! Pretty cool huh?
If you’re drawing dark colored hair, use a 4B pencil to do the same as what you did with the 2B.
Watch this video if you’re a little confused :)
Step 6
You mapped out areas of light and shadow in the last step, so in this step, just go over the same areas again. In some areas, press harder to make portions of hair look more interesting to the eye.
Here’s a short video for this step:
When working around the zigzags, keep a clear boundary between each group of hair. If the boundaries are not clear enough, darken your zigzags very slightly.
If you want to draw super shiny hair, keep the highlights as clean and as white as possible. If you want dull highlights, shade over them using an HB pencil after you’re done detailing.
Step 7
Step 8
Just like what you did in step 5, use a needle to draw invisible hairs and then shade areas of hair that are in shadow using HB, 2B and then 4B.
Step 9
Detailing! Time to draw those individual hairs again. I’m showing you many pictures so you can see that I broke the hairs into individual groups and shaded each area one after the other. Dark area first, light area last.
Step 10
Not natural enough for you? Grab a 0.5mm pencil and add some loose hairs here and there. Especially around the hair tie.
Here are some examples of cool shapes you can make. This is useful for drawing hairstyles that consist of winding braids. For example: milkmaid braids, halo braids and hearts to name a few.
What cool designs can you think of?
Darlene created RFA In 2013 with the goal of sharing simple yet detailed drawing tutorials with other artists on the world wide web. She is a self taught pencil portrait artist and Youtuber.
This site is amazing!!!!!!!!
However, if you are planning on having more than three shapes in your drawing then it will be a better idea to use a lighter color. Using a lighter color will allow you to draw more complex and detailed images. You will also be able to do more intricate drawings.
I love your teaching style
It is not easy enough to draw the straight and natural braids. However, the specificity of the presented method will make it possible to test your skills.
Why do you have to pay all your other tutorials are free
no tutorial?
Please add me to your newsletter and email lists.
[content hidden]
Thanks.
Linda Crane
There’s also that other type of braids you can draw pretty easy, where it’s basically just a ponytail with hairties going down the length of it.
Darlene you are doing a wonderful job. You’ve given a new beginner the courage to move on. Thank you so much and remain blessed.
Hello, I just paid the $4 for “How to draw braids”, but I can’t gain access.
My name is William R Smith and I paid through “PayPal”
Hi William, sorry for the late reply. I just saw your message. Both links were sent to your MSN email. They may be in the junk folder. I just re-sent them to both the emails you provided. Please let me know if you received the email. Thank you :)
WOW!! This tutorial is sooo good! And cheap! ;)
I’m not new to these tutorials but the braids are the best yet!
Thank you very much, it is very easy to understand and try out.
Thanks for the awesome review James! I’m so happy you liked the tutorial. If you have any questions or need any help, don’t hesitate to let me know :)
i dont see a tutorial
Hi Gabby, this is a pay-to-unlock tutorial :) The full tutorial can be accessed from a link sent to your paypal email after payment.
Hi i am aspiring to be an artist but i am only in high school and im not allowed to pay for this but i wold love to see some of your exclusive classes what am i to do?!
Ok thanks. Love your tutorials!
Why are you charging for your tutorials
I tried to hold out for a long time, but as my readership grew, the costs associated with running a website grew way beyond my expectations (hosting RFA alone costs $100 a month).
Everyone knows there is plenty of free tutorials on utube!
Thanks for your neat and organized site, I appreciate your dedication and honest work Darlene