How do you draw different shades of black on manga hair?

Question

i really need help! when i draw a character with black hair (in anime/manga style) you cant see spikes and different things if they are not sticking out at the sides, how can i make hair thats not sticking out at the sides visible with black hair?

Answer 1

oh yay! u draw manga too? hehe, sorry, that's not very helpful is it?

anyway, maybe tones or just shading a lighter black would work. or you could make ur outlines darker or a different color when drawing black hair. I used to have the same problem, but just coloring the black a little lighter helped a lot. Does this help at all?

Answer 2

In order to draw *anything* in a way that conveys the idea of what it represents, look at the real thing.  Go look at someone with black hair.  Does it look solid black?  Or Are there areas of lighter colors?  Where is there a curved shape, how does it curve?  Does the curve change when the person changes position in relation to the light source?  Does the lighter color reflect anything in the surrounding area? For example, if the black-haired character is in a red room, would the lighter colors in the hair be reddish or pinkish?  Yes? No? If not, then what color?   Is there more than one lighter color?  What kind of light source is there?  Is it a bright light?  The lighter color in the hair might have sharper edges, then.  A soft light tends to make the edges of shadows or highlights softer.  

Also, when you're looking at a real person with black hair, notice the patterns of the hair, and then when you go to draw it, simplify it.  Don't try to draw every hair;  just suggest the general patterns.  Good luck!  

Answer 3

Most of them are in random patterns and then the creaters of the manga get used to drawing the hair...the shades of black you use different pressure on them

Answer 4

kay you need a shading needing eraser, the ones that are maliable and are supper squishy but add white hilights on the left sides of each spike and use the eraser LIGHTLY to make the middle gray-ish black

Answer 5

Try using different inks or if you don't use ink then you can use different charcoal pencils. It can be difficult just try some different materials until you find something you really like.

Answer 6

Use a thin line of metallic blue or purple if the hair is healthy/groomed or a gray if dingy/dull.  Just outline on one side of the hank of hair.  You want to suggest, not define.