Should I block in big shapes first or focus on highlights when drawing hair?

[Riley_H]

I’ve been trying to get better at drawing realistic hair, but I keep getting lost in all the individual strands and it ends up looking like a stiff, tangled mess instead of soft and flowing. My latest attempt at a portrait got completely derailed when I spent hours on the hair alone, obsessing over every single line and losing the overall shape. I’m not sure if I should be blocking in bigger shapes first or focusing on the highlights and shadows to suggest the form.

[Amelia98]

I get tangled in the hair a lot too. I try to see the head as a big shape first and then loosen into lighter blocks and a few strands. It helps me keep the overall form instead of chasing every line.

[Mia.G]

Quick note from my own practice. I started with a rough mass on top and let the light decide where highlights go later. Then I worried about the edges too much and it looked mushy.

[MatthewR]

Could the real problem be the light on the skin instead of the hair? If the values are off the hair will read stiff no matter what you draw.

[Aurora11]

I drifted away from hair once and sketched a quick thing with different lighting. When I came back the hair suddenly felt lighter and I saw a rhythm I had missed. It still did not snap into place but it eased the pressure.