Doll base used
in this tutorial is by If
Looks Could Kill
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General Notes:
- I would classify this as an intermediate-level tutorial, at a level that assumes you've had a reasonable amount of practice dolling hair (male or female) and that you have a certain style or preference when it comes to shading it. I decided to skip a few of the finer details (esp. shading) in order to fit more types of hairstyles in this tutorial . . . I think it's kind of War & Peace-y already.
- When it comes to shorter hairstyles, I personally feel using bases with round heads works much better than oval-shaped/big forehead heads. The latter may force you to draw more hair than you prefer. That said, base experimentation is the only way to figure out what works best for you.
- I find doing male hairstyles quite easy if I have a reference pic, especially when it's a shorter cut. A photo of a short, simple cut is easier to follow and not as overwhelming as longer, intricate women's styles.
- I've included the hair styles I usually use for my own male dolls. If I've missed one that you would like to see tutorialized, contact me and I'll see what I can do.
- This, of course, is not the only way to draw male hair. Check out Tyger Tyger and Watermelon Bubblegum for some great male hair tutorials. For yet another perspective, have a close look at your favourite male dolls and see how your favourite dollers do their hair. At the very least, I hope these tutorials will be a departure point to finding your own way of dolling male hair . . . without fear! :)
Between you and me? The only thing you need for a shaved head texture is a checkerboard pattern. (Shhh! It'll be our little secret!)
The bit you have to spend a little more time on is the hair line. A common practice is to cut the hair line straight across the head. The result is a tight cap-like object. Instead, give the hairline a gentle round "M" shape, or a gentle "V" shape if he has more of a widow's peak. Think of it as the wavy "m"s or "v"s you used when you were a kid drawing birds flying in the sky. Make the line symmetrical (unless your guy has a cross-eyed barber). ;)
Another important bit is sideburns. If you don't give him stubble on the side of the head down to the ears, he'll look a monk. Some subtle shading will really complete the look . . . I usually go darker on the back and sides, lighter down the middle. Note that I use the checkerboard pattern when drawing facial hair as well.
Even if your doll is a blond, you might want to make the stubble darker so it's easier to see against light skintones.
Like a shaved head, the thing to remember about a short cut is the bottom hairline shape. Don't cut it straight across; give it a gentle M or V curve.
Trace the outline of the head in your hair colour and draw the bottom of the hairline, keeping it symmetrical. Don't forget hair on the side of the head - it really makes a difference! (See examples below.)
For the individual strands, draw a fairly straight line down the middle, then fan the rest out at a slight diagonal. Pixel or tool shade to your own preference; I use three shades of colour and a blur tool (with a bit of dodge and burn) when I'm done.
You can change the length of the crew cut by raising or lowering the bottom of the hairline. The top of the hairline should always remain the same.
A Roman cut (AKA the Clooney 'do) is like a crew cut, but with a straighter bottom line. Take care not to make it too straight . . . dot the bottom line with a pixel here and there to give a more relaxed look. If you don't, then your doll may look somewhat Spockian.
A Roman cut can be modified to a straight-ahead short cut. Take an eraser to the bottom hairline and give it a gentle curve. You can also add a row of pixels to the top of the head (1-2 pixels deep is enough) and use the eraser tool to give him a slightly spiky or messy cut. For example:
I'm sure there's a more technical name for this hairstyle, but I have no idea what it is. Anyway, this is the basic shape for a "clean cut" hairstyle. Think of it as two overlapping leaves:
Now that we're getting into longer hair, tracing the edge of the head is no longer necessary (and can make hair look sad and limp). Come off the head a pixel or two for fluffier locks. Add a pixel or two under the ear for a longer-in-the-back look, which will look more chic, less bowl-cut.
For strands, follow your outline. Start at the part and move outward. Shade to your own preference, but make sure you shade the part so it stands out from the rest of the hair.
Note: The shorter the hair (or smaller your "leaves") & the more centered the part, the more clean-cut (or "geeky") the appearance.
Draw a helmet-like outline around the head. Taper the sides until they disappear mid-cheek level. Use short, jerky motions to get a messy outline and/or use an eraser to "cut" back the hair in a jagged way. Adding a pixel or two at the end of a hair strand will make it look even mussier.
Once you have an outline you're happy with, draw in your strands. I usually start the strands at a central point near the top of the head, then draw them out to my jagged points. Clean your lines a bit, but don't worry too much about cleaning up the odd stray pixel. We're going for a messy look, after all!
I provided an example with the strands traced in red, so they're a bit easier to identify.
And there you go: bed head chic!
MALE
HAIR