Free original lessons
Cartoon Hairstyles: Bangs, Curls, and Ponytail Variations
Learn to draw six cartoon hairstyle shapes using a head template, shape guides, and a simple convention for bangs, curls, and ponytails.
Free lesson
Four exercises
Worked answers
Object Drawing Lessons
Cartoon hair is built from a few bold shapes, not individual strands. This lesson shows how to place bangs, curls, and ponytail variations on a simple head outline so each style reads clearly at a glance. You will use a repeatable convention: the hair mass sits above and around the head, the hairline is a soft curve, and each feature is drawn as a closed or nearly closed shape. Work on plain paper or print the planned template when it becomes available. All measurements here are hypothetical examples for practice, not printer specifications.
Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.
Set up the head and hairline
Begin with an oval head about 6 cm tall and 4.5 cm wide. Mark a vertical center line and a horizontal eye line at the midpoint. The hairline is a gentle curve from ear to ear, passing about 1 cm above the eye line at the center. This curve separates forehead from hair mass and keeps bangs from covering the whole face.
Draw the hair mass as one large shape first, then add features. Keep the outline confident and slightly uneven; cartoon hair looks better with a few large curves than many small ones.
- Draw the oval head and center line.
- Mark the eye line and a hairline curve 1 cm above it.
- Sketch the overall hair mass as a single outline around the top and sides.
- Check that the face area below the hairline stays open.
Bangs: three readable shapes
Bangs are the front edge of the hair mass. Use one of three shapes: straight fringe (a horizontal band with a slight curve), side-swept (a diagonal wedge from one temple across the forehead), or parted (two rounded lobes meeting at the center line). Each shape should touch the hairline and leave the eyes unobstructed; keep at least 1 cm of forehead visible at the sides for straight and parted bangs, while side-swept bangs may taper across the forehead.
Vary the bottom edge: a straight fringe can have two or three soft points, while side-swept bangs taper to a point near the opposite temple. Avoid drawing many thin lines; one outline plus one or two interior curves is enough.
- Choose straight, side-swept, or parted bangs.
- Draw the outer edge from temple to temple along the hairline.
- Add one interior curve to suggest volume.
- Confirm the eyes remain unobstructed.
Curls: clusters, not spirals
Cartoon curls work best as clusters of two or three rounded lobes attached to the hair mass. Draw each lobe as a C-shape or a soft scallop about 1.5 cm wide. Place clusters at the sides, near the crown, or along the bottom edge of the hair. A single spiral can suggest one curl, but keep it large and simple.
Use a consistent direction for the C-shapes to make the style look intentional. Curls can frame the face, sit on top of the head, or hang below the hair mass as a short bob.
- Mark two or three positions for curl clusters.
- Draw each cluster as connected C-shapes.
- Keep the curls outside the face area.
- Add one small interior curve per cluster for depth.
Ponytail variations: high, low, and side
A ponytail is a gathered mass attached at a point on the head. Draw a small tie shape (a short band or a simple knot) at the attachment point, then a tapered tail that flows away from the head. High ponytail: tie at the crown, tail arcs upward then down. Low ponytail: tie at the nape, tail falls straight or curves slightly. Side ponytail: tie behind one ear; the tail may sweep to the opposite side or hang on the tie side, as long as it does not cross the face.
Keep the tail width about 2 cm at the tie and taper to a rounded point. Add one or two interior curves to show the tail's direction. The tie should sit on the hair mass, not float.
- Choose high, low, or side placement.
- Draw the tie as a small band on the hair mass.
- Draw the tail as a tapered shape flowing from the tie.
- Add interior curves to show flow and check the tail does not cross the face.
Worked example
Draw a cartoon head with side-swept bangs and a high ponytail. Use a 6 cm by 4.5 cm oval head, a hairline 1 cm above the eye line, and a ponytail tie at the crown.
Worked answer
The head is an oval with a center line and eye line. The hairline curves from ear to ear 1 cm above the eye line. The hair mass outlines the top and sides. Side-swept bangs form a diagonal wedge from the left temple to a point near the right temple, leaving the eyes clear. A small tie sits at the crown, and a tapered tail arcs upward then down, about 2 cm wide at the tie and ending in a rounded point. One interior curve shows the tail's flow.
Four practice exercises
Exercise 1
Draw a head with straight fringe bangs. The head is a 6 cm by 4.5 cm oval, the eye line is at the midpoint, and the hairline is 1 cm above the eye line. The fringe is a horizontal band with two soft points, and the eyes must remain visible.
Show answer and check
A head oval with center and eye lines. The hairline curves 1 cm above the eye line. The hair mass outlines the top and sides. The fringe runs from temple to temple along the hairline, with two soft points at the bottom edge. The eyes are below the fringe and fully visible.
Why: Straight fringe is a horizontal band attached to the hairline. Keeping the bottom edge at or above the eye line preserves the face area.
Check: Verify the fringe touches the hairline at both temples, has two points, and does not cross the eye line.
Exercise 2
Draw a head with a low ponytail and no bangs. Use the same head size and hairline. The tie is at the nape, and the tail falls straight down about 4 cm, tapering from 2 cm wide at the tie to a rounded point.
Show answer and check
A head oval with hairline. The hair mass covers the top and sides but leaves the forehead open. A small tie sits at the nape on the hair mass. The tail falls straight, 2 cm wide at the tie, tapering to a rounded point about 4 cm below.
Why: A low ponytail attaches at the nape and flows downward. No bangs means the hairline is the front edge of the hair mass.
Check: Confirm the tie is on the hair mass at the nape, the tail tapers consistently, and the forehead is open.
Exercise 3
Draw a head with parted bangs and two curl clusters at the sides. The parted bangs form two rounded lobes meeting at the center line. Each curl cluster is two C-shapes about 1.5 cm wide, placed beside the ears.
Show answer and check
A head oval with hairline. Parted bangs create two rounded lobes meeting at the center line, leaving the eyes clear. Two curl clusters, each made of two C-shapes, sit beside the ears outside the face area.
Why: Parted bangs use two lobes at the center line. Curl clusters are large C-shapes placed at the sides.
Check: Check that the lobes meet at the center line, each cluster has two C-shapes, and no curl enters the face area.
Exercise 4
Draw a head with side-swept bangs and a side ponytail. The tie is behind the right ear, and the tail sweeps to the left, tapering from 2 cm at the tie to a point. The bangs sweep from the left temple to the right temple.
Show answer and check
A head oval with hairline. Side-swept bangs form a diagonal wedge from the left temple to a point near the right temple. A tie sits behind the right ear on the hair mass. The tail sweeps left, tapering from 2 cm to a rounded point, with one interior curve.
Why: Side-swept bangs are a diagonal wedge. A side ponytail attaches behind one ear and flows to the opposite side.
Check: Verify the bangs taper to a point near the right temple, the tie is behind the right ear, and the tail sweeps left with a consistent taper.
Common mistakes
- Drawing bangs that cover the eyes completely. Keep the bottom edge of bangs at or above the eye line so the eyes stay visible; for straight and parted bangs, also leave at least 1 cm of forehead visible at the sides.
- Making curls as many tiny spirals. Use two or three large C-shaped lobes per cluster and keep each lobe about 1.5 cm wide.
- Attaching the ponytail tie off the head outline. Place the tie on the hair mass and draw the tail flowing from that point.
- Drawing the hair mass as separate disconnected shapes. Start with one overall hair outline, then add bangs, curls, or ponytail as features attached to it.
Self-check rubric
- Head outline is a clear oval with a marked hairline.
- Hair mass is one connected outline around the head.
- Bangs use one of the three defined shapes and leave the eyes unobstructed.
- Curls, if used, are clusters of two or three large C-shapes.
- Ponytail tie sits on the hair mass and the tail tapers consistently.
- Face area below the hairline remains open.
- Valid alternatives are accepted if the convention is followed: different bang shapes, curl placements, or ponytail heights are allowed.
Questions and answers
Do I need to draw individual hair strands?
No. This lesson uses bold shapes and a few interior curves. Strand rendering is outside the scope.
Can I combine bangs and a ponytail?
Yes. Draw the hair mass, add bangs at the front, then attach the ponytail at the chosen point.
How do I know my hairstyle is readable?
Check that the face area is open, the hair mass is one connected outline, and each feature (bangs, curls, tail) is a distinct shape.
What if my head outline is a different size?
Scale the hypothetical measurements proportionally. The convention matters more than exact numbers.