
How to draw a braid
Have you ever wondered how to draw a braided hair? The braid goes perfectly well with summer-inspired fashion illustrations and flirty designs, but it seems so hard to draw. This step by step tutorial will show you how to draw a braid the easy way. Once you master the technique you will draw braids of any length and shape: single or double braids, updos with braids…the possibilities are endless! A well-drawn braid will make your model look more girly, sexy and playful, plus they are incredibly fun to draw. Are you ready to start?
Time, Tools and Difficulty:
Time to complete the tutorial: 4 min
Tools you’ll need: drawing paper, a pencil, and an eraser
Difficulty level: 4/10
How to draw a braid in 8 steps:
Step 1: Draw the braid’s blueprint
Draw a Centerline for your braid with the needed length.
Draw the outer lines that will be the frame of your braid. Consider that braids are thicker in the beginning and get much thinner in the end.

Step 2: Draw the first strand
Begin with a small semicircle. Its start and end should touch the Centerline. Don’t make it too round or too eclipse.
The outer line is parallel with the inner one. Also the former starts a little higher than the latter.

Step 3: Here’s the secret
The inner line of the second strand starts at the same point where the previous inner line ends. It closes the first strand forming a nice curve. Stop when you reach the Centerline.
Imagine a horizontal line crossing the last drawn strand right in the middle. From there you will start the outer line of the new strand. Keep it parallel with the inner and finish in the Centerline again.

Step 4: Play on repeat
The next shape closes the top one with its inner line.
The outer line starts in the middle of the outline of the top shape.
If you push harder or draw a small dot where the inner part starts this will give more dimension to your braid.

Its corresponding outer line is still parallel, beginning half the size of the previous strand and ending in the Centerline.
Step 5: Drawing more

Close the previous strand, draw the parallel outer line.
Step 6: Keep on repeating it

Keep doing it until the braided frame ends. Remember to follow the lines of the frame you have set. Draw an elastic band to hold your braid. Make sure the last strand and the band to have the same width.
Step 7: After it ends

Draw a diamond overlapping the bottom of the braid. This will be for the rest of the hair.
Step 8: Add some realism
Shape the diamond making it smooth and adding some hairs.
Add fine lines in different sizes to every strand. The fine lines should follow the curve of the strand and be drawn both at the start and at the end of it. Draw some lines from the uppermost strands to help blend them with the rest of the hair.

Got it? I challenge you!

Braids look even better when a little life and joy is added. Try to draw a Centerline that is not perfectly straight, but has some movement. Push your imagination!
If it is hard for you to follow the curves, just remember to rotate the paper to position the braid vertically like you are already confident drawing it. From then on just follow the frame of the braid.
If you want to further enhance your skills and learn how to draw hundreds of hairstyles go check out my online course on “How to Draw Hair ”
It doesn’t look right! Common mistakes:
Mistake 1: The inner line is too far to close the upper strand. Try to draw them both the same size.
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Mistake 2: The elastic hairband results too big for the braid. Try to add a little bit of hair or just make the band smaller.
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Mistake 3: The fine lines are in the wrong direction because of the twisted braid form. Always follow the curve of the strands when drawing those tiny hairs. That’s how you don’t get confused.
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Mistake 4: If you make the outlines of the braid first and then the Centerline you can get a braid that looks too thin in the end and is hard to draw.
Omg I can’t take my ? off of this it’s amazing
THANKS A LOT ??
this was rely helpful for my self port rate
It was not i found il easy
I love this tutorial so much! this helped me a lot for my drawing
It didn’t really help me and I don’t think it even looks real it looks fake and not real
This was really helpful! No other methods worked for me, but this one was so clear and concise that I was able to get it in no time! Thank you so much!
i think i did mine right i just don’t know?
I did my but I think I did my wrong
I can’t do mind
Same with mine
Thanks so much this helped me a lot I had no trouble drawing this at all!
I love your tutorials. The example of drawing an Afro was really helpful. Would like to see one showing how to draw cornrows.
mine was good too thanks for the tutorial;)
mine worked out just fine
So hard needs to be simpler
Don’t be mean to this person! They spent a lot of time, and hard work on this, I have tried to make a website, its hard. It also takes time to draw, they worked hard on everything put into this, and I personally think that its great for helping. You may think otherwise, but don’t be mean about it, just say:
“This was not very helpful for me, but it was probably for other people. *add why it was hard for you* Thank you for spending your time on this to help me and others around me. If you have another method of doing this that may be easier, please tell me. I would be very grateful!”
But around somewhere in the middle, add why it was so hard for you. Please don’t show hate, there is already too much in the world. Thank you.
This was not easy for me
Great tutorial. I never thought of drawing it this way. Although the zig zag method is quicker (and often easier), this method went into more detail about where the strand of hair cross over ect.
This is impossible I hate this web it makes me sooooo frustrated and angry!!!!!!!!:(
Please no more!!!!!
It is helpful but my one doesn’t look like too
thanks helped me a lot none looks nothing like the picture dough
this tutorial was helpful but mine looks way worse than the example lol :3
My braid turned out perfect thank you!!!!! X
This is so easy and helpful! I love it!
That’s cool that who ever did it can do it but I can’t do it so that was a waste of time
Hey,
Can you do a fishtail braid tutorial??
——Amberrose
This is a good tutorial, and it helped me a lot.
I use the zigzag method instead cause it’s easier.
Yea lol
It was pretty good… mine looks nothing like the example though… lol ^_^
i know how to do it now to help u, you have to do the zigzag to help u make the braids
This is a PLAIT not a BRAID still gd tho :sigh:
Hi,
This tutorial certainly helped! Could you put up a tutorial on how to draw an updo or a messy bun ?
Its hard to draw this but I guess it takes time :zzz
I really really love this site! It’s so helpful :lol: :lol: :D 8) ;-)
Its a nice. I love this site. It helps me alot with my fashions. :roll: :roll: :roll: :-) :lol:
:oops: :cry: :sigh: :-| its so hard i cant draw it
:oops: :sigh: i cant draw it its so hard
[quote name=”john”]i do not draw it so i do not like it :zzz :zzz :zzz :zzz :zzz :zzz :zzz :zzz[/quote]
Well then there is a easy solution, don’t view it. People have feelings, even though i care less of what anyone thinks of this post.
i do not draw it so i do not like it :zzz :zzz :zzz :zzz :zzz :zzz :zzz :zzz
Thanks for helping me :-) I thought braids be be super hard, but you made it easier and fun for me and everyone else
Omg its amazing and serprisingly easy :o
[quote name=”lucyloose”]hi.. good. i can do better[/quote]
can you show me your amazing braid?
Thanks! This will help my drawing of Princess Leia (Star Wars)! I find it impossible to draw braids and this helped me ALOT! :lol:
This really helped me, since I’ve never been good at drawing hair :lol:
I typed in how to draw an easy braid but that was not easy that was the hardets thing ever
hi.. good. i can do better
that is so cool
because of you i now can draw really well and evryone in my class wants me to draw for them
you are the best
i love you
good luck :D keep on your good work
This really helped me with my drawing skills! I love drawing and desinging outfits!
hey yall i need a braid drawing asap because its a art project and your not much help anyone else a good drawer because apparently this girl or guy doesnt know anything and its not even that good of a drawing
i didnt understand therefore i dont like it :D :lol: :-) 8) :lol: :D :lol: just kidding AMAZING :lol:
Omg thanks soooooooooo much I can’t draw but now I can draw this 8) :-) :lol: :roll: :P :lol:
i have NEVER been able to draw braids this is amazing and totally helped! 8)
I’m not such a great artist, (I’m in 6th grade) but this was super easy, and turned out better than I expected. I didn’t try to draw the details, so it’s not as good as yours, but it really helped a ton on a school project I’m working on. Thank you sooooo much!!! :D
Sucked. :-x Lmfao. Just kidding! It was amazing! :lol:
:D ur not a genius i’ll tell u tht but it is pretty good :)
This helped! :D :lol: :-) ;-) 8) :-| :-* :oops: :sad: :o :-? :-x :zzz :sigh:
This helped! :D :lol: :-) ;-) 8) :-| :-* :oops: :sad: :cry: :o :-? :-x :eek: :zzz :P :roll: :sigh:
Thanks! :D This will really help me
omg this is soo informative and helpful… im not a great drawer, but i love to draw fashion, and this helped me soooo much… can u show how to draw fringes, and other hair styles to plzzz???
thnx :lol: ps :o … U R A GENIUS!!!
:zzz :sigh: This helped, but elaborate more.
:o You… are a genius!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE IT :-) ;-) :lol: :D
i love your figure templates and you helped me with my fashion designs :) Your step by step tutorials describe drawing templates in an understandable way. Can you please make a tutorial on drawing templates from behind please :)
Thank you soooooo much i love this website!!!! can you show me how to make headbands and show me how to make earings too? THANKS!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
LOVE IT!