How to Paint Dark Wavy Hair in Your Acrylic Portrait

Learn to paint dark wavy hair with glazing and layering techniques

Painting dark wavy hair in an acrylic portrait can be challenging, but with the right techniques, you can create realistic, lifelike textures. In this tutorial, we will explore how to use the acrylic glazing technique and layering to develop depth, luminosity, and smooth blending. Whether you’re working on commissioned portraits or your own personal projects, these tips will help you paint hair that looks natural and full of dimension.

Understanding the Acrylic Glazing Technique

To achieve realism in painting hair, the acrylic glazing technique is essential. Glazing involves applying thin, translucent layers of paint, mixed with a clear matte medium, on top of each other. This method allows light to pass through the layers, creating a luminous and natural effect.

1. Mixing the Colors: Start by mixing raw umber dark and ultramarine blue for a rich, dark base. Adding a little burnt sienna or titanium white will adjust the tone based on the light and shadows in the hair.
2. Building Layers: The key to depth is in layering. Begin with lighter layers, gradually building darker values as you progress. Then, each successive glaze adds more realism and dimension to the hair. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Dark Wavy Hair

1. Start with a Base Layer: Begin by blocking in the base layer of hair using your mixed dark tones. Use broad strokes to cover the hair areas, focusing on the general flow and shape of the waves. Don’t worry about getting every detail perfect in the first layer; you’re simply laying the foundation.
2. Observe the Hair Shape: Hair is not just a mass of lines—think of it as a series of shapes. Look for specific shapes like triangles, rectangles, or curves in your reference photo. This step will guide your brushstrokes as you begin adding depth and texture to the hair.
3. Refine the Dark Areas: Once the base layer is dry, mix a slightly darker glaze and apply it to the areas where the hair is in shadow. But these darker values are crucial for making the hair look three-dimensional. Focus on areas where light doesn’t hit, like the underside of waves or the sections of hair near the scalp.
4. Highlight and Contrast: Even though the hair is dark, it’s important to create highlights to define the shape and texture. Use lighter glazes in areas where light hits, such as the top of waves. Be sure to blend smoothly into the surrounding darker tones to avoid harsh lines.

Tips for Painting Realistic Hair

1. Use Small Brushes for Details: To paint small areas of detail, use a round brush. It’s important to note that it’s not about having an expensive or special brush, but rather how you apply the strokes. A simple, affordable brush will work as long as you control the pressure and direction of your strokes.
2. Build Up Gradually: Always start lighter and go darker with each layer. This allows you to make gradual changes and correct any mistakes before they become too noticeable. Patience is key when it comes to achieving realistic textures.
3. Vary the Shapes: Instead of focusing on individual strands, look at the hair as a collection of shapes and sections. Replicate the shapes you see in your reference photo, and as you layer, these shapes will come together to form realistic hair.
4. Let Layers Dry: Give each layer time to dry before adding the next. This is important when using the glazing technique, as it prevents the colors from blending into each other and losing the depth created by the layers.

Applying the Technique to Different Hair Types

This technique is not limited to dark wavy hair. You can adapt the same principles of layering and glazing to paint other hair types, such as straight or curly hair, as well as different colors. For example, even blonde hair will require some darker values in shadowed areas to achieve a realistic look.

Adding Final Details

Once the layers have built up enough depth, it’s time to add the final details. Use a fine brush to carefully define individual hairs or add small touches of highlight to areas that catch the light the most. This will give the hair a finished, polished look.

1. Focus on Contrast: To make the hair stand out, add sharp contrasts between light and dark areas. This is especially important around the hairline, where the face meets the hair.
2. Add Mid-Tones: Between your darkest shadows and lightest highlights, be sure to add mid-tones. This will help the hair look softer and more natural.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Rushing the Layers: Don’t rush the drying process between layers. Wet layers will blend and can create muddy colors, losing the defined shapes you’ve worked to build.
2. Over-Detailing: Avoid trying to paint every individual strand of hair. Instead, focus on the overall shapes and movement of the hair.
3. Lack of Contrast: Without enough contrast, the hair can appear flat. Be bold in your use of darks and lights to create depth.

Painting dark wavy hair in your acrylic portraits may seem daunting, but by using the acrylic glazing technique and focusing on layering, shapes, and contrast, you can create stunningly realistic hair. Also, remember, patience and attention to detail will pay off in the end. Then, keep practicing, and soon you’ll master the art of painting lifelike hair in all your portrait work.

Be sure to download my free PDF guide on fixing muddy skin tones to improve your acrylic portraits. Visit realisticacrylic.com for more helpful tips and tutorials!

LEARN MORE

• Adding highlights to your acrylic painting
• 5 Excellent Reasons to Use Aluminum Foil
• Paint Realistic Wrinkles in Acrylic
• Painting Clothing in an Acrylic Portrait
• Paint a Cloudy Sky Acrylic  
•  How to add Semi-Opaque Highlights
• How to Enhance the Contrast in Your Acrylic
• How to Add Glaze to Your Acrylic Painting
• Paint Realistic Reflections on Eyeglasses in an Acrylic Portrait
• Build Up Depth on Your Acrylic Portrait Backgrounds
• How Do You Do Layers With the Glazing Technique?
• Learn How to Paint Wrinkles in Acrylic

Read more about how to paint a portrait that you can surely be proud of!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this video. Please share it with your friends and family. Let me know if you have any further questions. I’ll greatly help you.

If you’d like to learn more, sign up for my free email tips and video class today.

Learn How to Paint Acrylic Portraits With My Free Mini-Video Course!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this tutorial and watch the video. That means a lot to me.  I hope you find it very helpful in your portrait painting.  

 

Yours for Better Portraits,

P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!