Skip the intro · jump to the list ↓
This list is for anyone who freezes up the second a blank page needs hair on it. Beginners, doodlers on their lunch break, last minute sketchbook fillers, this one is for you!
Hair trips up so many artists because it never sits still and never looks the same twice. I scrolled through hundreds of pins to find the ones that actually teach you something useful, lol!
Only the sketches that looked doable with a regular pencil made the cut. Nothing here needs fancy tools or a studio setup.
You will notice the list wanders past hair too. Hands, spooky Halloween scenes and a little Harry Potter magic all made it in, because a sketchbook should never get boring.
Each idea below comes with the small details that actually matter, like which pencil grade to grab. It also includes how long a study usually takes. Work through them in order or just jump to whatever catches your eye first.
Grab a pencil, an eraser and maybe some coffee. Let’s get sketching!
HAIR DRAWING IDEAS
Braided Ponytail Pencil Sketch
I always thought braids looked impossible until I broke them into three ropes crossing each other. Suddenly the whole thing clicked for me!
A 2B pencil handles the shading beautifully here. The real trick is the shadow where each strand tucks under the next one.
It only takes a few tries before the pattern feels natural!
- The braid pattern clicks after one try
- Uses a 2B pencil
- Works from a photo reference
- Takes about half an hour
Curly Afro Hair Study
How so pretty is this curly afro study? Curls are basically a bunch of little C shapes stacked on top of each other. Once you see that pattern the whole drawing gets easier.
Layer your darkest values first. Then pull a kneaded eraser through for the highlights instead of drawing them in.
- Built entirely from tiny C shapes
- Kneaded eraser does the highlights
- No blending stump required
- A cozy weekend study
Flowing Wind Blown Hair
Every line in a wind blown sketch has to point one direction or it looks frozen. This one fixed that habit for him fast. Now he practices loose gesture lines before adding any detail!
- Every stroke follows one direction
- Start with loose gesture lines
- Great for action poses
- Works well in charcoal too
Messy Bun Side View
Messy buns are secretly one of the easiest hairstyles I draw. My trick is leaving strands loose so it never looks too neat. Sketch the base shape first, then scatter a few flyaways around the edges. It always ends up looking like it survived a nap, lol!
Wavy Mermaid Hair Sketch
This wavy mermaid sketch belongs on everyone’s practice page. I love chasing that loose S ripple from root to tip. Getting the rhythm right is oddly satisfying every time. My pencil always drifts off course around wave three. That’s fine too!
- That S wave rhythm is addictive
- Add highlights along the crest
- Colored pencil optional
- A relaxed afternoon sketch
Colorful Ombre Hair Illustration
OMG! Are you guys seeing this ombre illustration right now? I tried blending three colors through one head of these hair and it fought me the whole way. Work from the darkest roots to the lightest tips for the smoothest fade. Colored pencils layer way better than markers here! If you were hunting for drawing ideas hair, this one is a keeper!
- Roots dark, tips light, no exceptions
- Colored pencil layers best
- Blend with a light circular motion
- A colorful evening project
Short Pixie Cut Sketch
Short pixie cuts are a great confidence builder for anyone new to hair. My mistakes practically hide themselves on this one, haha! Keep your strokes short and choppy to match the cut. I finish this sketch in under twenty minutes most days. Who doesn’t love a quick win like that?
- Small enough to finish on a break
- Beginner friendly proportions
- Done in about twenty minutes
Hand Holding Flower Sketch
A hand holding a flower is one of those hand drawing ideas that photographs beautifully once it’s finished. My fingers always want to grip too stiffly at first. Start with basic cylinder shapes for each one instead. Mine finally looked relaxed once I stopped overthinking the knuckles!
- Fingers curl, they never grip
- Cylinder shapes for each finger
- Add the flower last
- Works with any flower reference
Praying Hands Pencil Drawing
Praying hands are practically the gold standard of hand studies. Every art student attempts this one eventually. It teaches proportion faster than almost anything else.
Not that I’m competitive about hand studies or anything, haha! Get the knuckle placement right first. The rest of the drawing tends to fall into place after that.
- The classic knuckle proportion drill
- Great for beginners and pros alike
- Reference photos help a lot
- A quiet focused hour
Hand Sketching Rose Outline
This one shows a hand sketching a rose, basically a drawing inside a drawing. It sounds tricky, but it’s just two shapes layered together. My loose pencil marks always work better than tight controlled lines. I leave the rose a little unfinished on purpose every time. Isn’t it more interesting that way?
- A drawing tucked inside a drawing
- Rose can stay slightly unfinished
- A fun meta little sketch
Realistic Eye Close Up
Eyes are famous for being one of the drawing ideas hard categories that beginners avoid. Every tiny reflection has to be exact or the whole thing looks flat. I study the iris in sections instead of tackling it all at once. That trick alone saved me from quitting halfway through!
- Break the iris into small sections
- Best done under strong light
- A patient hour long study
Hyperrealistic Portrait Shading Study
Hyperrealistic portraits take real patience. This shading study proves it. My values shift so gradually I can barely find the line between shades. Blend with a soft tissue instead of your finger for a cleaner finish. I never plan on finishing this one in a single sitting.
- Values shift so slow you can’t spot the line
- Best blended with soft tissue
- Plan for several sessions
- Not a one sitting sketch
Henna Style Hand Art
Henna style hand art brings a totally different energy to my sketchbook. The patterns loop and repeat in a way that feels almost meditative. A fine tip pen keeps my lines crisp from fingertip to palm. I always lose track of time halfway through one hand!
- Loop patterns feel almost meditative
- Needs a fine tip pen
- Start from the fingertips
- Great for filling a bored afternoon
Sun And Moon Palm Doodle
This sun and moon palm doodle is one of my favorite drawing on hand ideas because it doubles as actual henna inspiration. Half the palm gets sunny rays, the other half gets a crescent moon. How cute is this?
Keep the two halves symmetrical for the best effect. It works equally well on paper or on actual skin with a safe henna pen.
- Half sun, half moon, one palm
- Keep both halves symmetrical
- Safe henna pens sold at craft stores
Spooky Pumpkin Face Sketch
A spooky pumpkin face sketch never goes out of style once October rolls around. Jagged teeth and squinty eyes make it instantly recognizable, even in three quick lines. If you were hunting for halloween drawing ideas, this one is a keeper!
Keep the linework loose and a little uneven for extra character. It’s more charming that way, lol!
- Three lines and it’s already spooky
- No shading required
- A five minute doodle
Witch Silhouette Under Moon
Who doesn’t love a good witch silhouette, am I right? Set against a big round moon, this one practically draws itself once the composition is right.
Ink works beautifully for the silhouette itself. Leave the moon blank white for the strongest contrast.
- Solid black ink silhouette
- Leave the moon pure white
Haunted House Ink Drawing
Haunted houses are a favorite among drawing ideas halloween lovers. This ink version leans hard into crooked windows. My cross hatching adds the creepy texture on the walls, nothing should look structurally sound, lol! I always reach for a dip pen since it gives the cleanest line. Somehow my windows still end up crookeder than planned, haha!
- Nothing here should look structurally sound
- Cross hatching for wall texture
- Dip pen gives the cleanest lines
- A moody evening project
Black Cat Halloween Doodle
This black cat doodle is simple enough for my quick warm up sketch. Arched back, puffed tail and glowing eyes, the personality shows up instantly. I fill the body in solid black before touching the eyes. That order is the whole secret to this one working!
- Personality packed into one small silhouette
- Solid black fill for the body
- Add glowing eyes last
- A quick five minute warm up
Golden Snitch Pencil Sketch
Last but definitely not least, we have the golden snitch. This one rounds out the harry potter drawing ideas on this list. The tiny wings are the whole challenge, am I right?
Keep the wings light and feathery, almost like they’re still fluttering. Metallic gold pencil makes the sphere shimmer in a satisfying way. Same!
- Those wings are the whole challenge
- Feathery wing texture takes practice
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Camille
