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Straight Hair Drawing: Fall-Line Strand Construction
Learn to draw straight hair using fall lines and tapering strands. Build a practice plate with parallel strands, direction arrows, and a clear rubric.
Free lesson
Four exercises
Worked answers
Object Drawing Lessons
Straight hair looks simple but often collapses into flat ribbons or spaghetti strands. The fix is a fall-line method: first decide the direction gravity pulls each section, then draw parallel, tapering strands that follow that line. This lesson uses a head outline and three fall-line guides to build a strand plate. You will practice direction, spacing, taper, and overlap. The convention is explicit: x-height means baseline to midline for lettering, but for hair strands we use a separate strand convention described below. All measurements are hypothetical examples; measure your own paper and tools. No downloads or files exist yet; the resource plan describes what is planned.
Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.
Set the fall line before drawing strands
A fall line is the path a hair section would take if released from the scalp under gravity alone. For straight hair, fall lines are mostly vertical but curve slightly around the skull and shoulders. Draw three guide lines from the crown to the ends: one center, one left, one right. Keep them smooth and evenly spaced.
Use a light pencil for guides. The strand plate will sit below or beside the head outline. Mark a direction arrow at the top of each guide pointing downward. This arrow is your reference for every strand in that section.
- Draw a head outline with crown, temples, and shoulder line.
- Mark three fall lines from crown to ends: center, left, right.
- Add a downward arrow at the top of each fall line.
- Label each section A, B, C for later reference.
Build parallel tapering strands
Strands are not identical lines. Each strand starts wider near the scalp and tapers toward the end. Draw strands parallel to the fall line, not to each other's wobbles. Keep spacing consistent within a section; vary spacing slightly between sections to avoid a comb-like look.
Overlap strands in layers: back strands first, front strands last. A strand should cross another only where hair would naturally overlap, usually near the ends or at a part. Avoid crossing strands in the middle of a section.
- Draw five back-layer strands parallel to the fall line.
- Add five front-layer strands, slightly offset.
- Taper each strand by reducing line width near the end.
- Check that no strand crosses another except at natural overlaps.
Use arrows and spacing checks
Direction arrows are not decoration; they are a checking tool. After drawing, compare each strand to its section arrow. If a strand drifts more than a finger-width from the arrow direction, redraw it. Spacing should be readable: gaps should be similar within a section.
A simple arithmetic check: count strands per section. If section A has 10 strands and section B has 4, the density is inconsistent. Aim for a similar count per section unless the hairstyle intentionally changes density.
- Compare each strand to its section arrow.
- Count strands per section and note differences.
- Redraw drifted strands before adding detail.
- Keep taper visible at the ends, not just at the roots.
Finish the strand plate without overworking
Straight hair reads best with clean, confident lines. Avoid shading every strand. Add only a few darker strands for depth, and keep the fall lines visible as faint guides. The plate is a practice tool, not a finished portrait.
Label the plate with section letters and arrows. This makes the rubric checkable and helps you compare attempts.
- Darken only three to five key strands.
- Keep fall lines faint but visible.
- Label sections A, B, C and arrows.
- Sign and date the plate for comparison.
Worked example
On a head outline, draw three fall lines and one section of five tapering strands. Use a hypothetical panel 10 cm wide. Label the section arrow.
Worked answer
Three smooth fall lines from crown to ends, evenly spaced. Section A has five strands parallel to its arrow, each tapering from about 2 mm at the root to 1 mm at the end. No mid-section crossings. Arrow labeled A pointing down.
Four practice exercises
Exercise 1
Draw a head outline and three fall lines. Section A has 6 strands, section B has 6 strands, section C has 6 strands. Each strand tapers from 2 mm to 1 mm. Check direction against arrows.
Show answer and check
A plate with three smooth fall lines, three arrows, and 18 tapering strands total, 6 per section, all parallel to their section arrows.
Why: Equal counts per section test consistency. Taper from 2 mm to 1 mm is a simple checkable ratio. Arrows provide direction reference.
Check: Count strands per section (should be 6 each). Measure taper at root and end with a ruler. Compare each strand to its arrow; drift more than one finger-width is a redraw.
Exercise 2
Section B intentionally has 4 strands while A and C have 8. Draw the plate and label why B is less dense. Use a hypothetical 10 cm panel.
Show answer and check
A plate with A and C at 8 strands each, B at 4 strands, and a label noting B is less dense to suggest a part or tucked section.
Why: Density variation is valid when labeled. The arithmetic check is 8, 4, 8. The label explains the choice.
Check: Count strands: A=8, B=4, C=8. Confirm label explains B. Check taper and direction as before.
Exercise 3
Draw a plate where two strands in section C cross near the ends only. All other strands remain parallel. Label the overlap point.
Show answer and check
A plate with section C showing two strands crossing near the ends, a label at the overlap, and all other strands parallel to the fall line.
Why: Natural overlaps occur near ends. Mid-section crossings are the error to avoid. Labeling makes the choice checkable.
Check: Inspect crossings: only near ends. Count strands per section. Verify arrows and taper. Confirm label is present.
Exercise 4
Draw a plate with three fall lines that curve slightly around the skull. Keep strands parallel to the curved fall lines. Use 5 strands per section and taper each from 3 mm to 1 mm.
Show answer and check
A plate with three gently curved fall lines, 5 tapering strands per section following the curve, and arrows at the top of each line.
Why: Fall lines can curve around the skull. Strands must follow the curve, not a straight vertical. Taper 3 mm to 1 mm is checkable.
Check: Trace each strand against its fall line; it should follow the curve. Count 5 strands per section. Measure taper at root and end. Check arrows.
Common mistakes
- Drawing strands as identical parallel lines with no taper. Reduce line width near the end of each strand and vary length slightly within the section.
- Ignoring the fall line and drawing strands in random directions. Redraw each strand to follow its section arrow; check drift with a finger-width comparison.
- Crossing strands in the middle of a section. Keep strands parallel until natural overlap points near ends or at a part.
- Making all sections equally dense when the head shape suggests otherwise. Adjust strand count per section and note the reason in a label.
Self-check rubric
- Three fall lines are smooth and evenly spaced.
- Each section has a clear downward arrow.
- Strands are parallel to their section fall line.
- Strands taper from root to end.
- No mid-section crossings except natural overlaps.
- Strand count is noted and consistent within each section.
- Labels A, B, C are present and readable.
- Valid alternatives: slight curve in fall lines, varied strand length, and different strand counts are acceptable if direction and taper are clear.
Questions and answers
What is a fall line?
A fall line is the path a hair section would take under gravity from the scalp to the ends. It guides strand direction.
How many strands should each section have?
There is no universal number. Aim for consistent density within a section and note counts for comparison. A hypothetical example is 8 to 12 strands per section on a 10 cm wide panel.
Can I use a ruler for fall lines?
A ruler helps for straight sections, but fall lines often curve slightly around the skull. Use a light freehand curve and check with the arrow.
Does x-height apply to hair strands?
No. X-height is a lettering convention from baseline to midline. For hair, use the strand convention: width at root, taper at end, direction along the fall line.