Ethnic Series: Freehand Hair Painting

About This Lesson

This module covers painting hair from scratch, using just your modified comb brush and fine liners. This is more of an advanced technique, and one where you will want to experiment and play with your brush and technique. Best results can be achieved by first testing your modified comb brush on the back of the head. Remember that you can always erase anything you’re not happy with, with a cosmetic sponge and thinning medium – only bake when you’re happy with your hair layer.

Also, this is a fairly intuitive process and you’ll want to trust in the finished product a little while you work. Know that you’re building layers. Bake when you’re happy and continue on. Once you’re fairly happy with the depth, feel free to use your fine liner to add even more definition. Keep painting Y’s and V’s – upside down and right side up. This is how you’ll achieve the most realistic looking hair.

I’m painting the incredible “Melanie” by Irina Kaplanskaya.

Available Downloads:

This module isn’t just for ethnic dolls, you can use it for any baby you’re working on. I’ve done two layers with this head, with approx 5 in total. Subsequent modules cover more of the detailing. I’ve worked in real time to show you how a painted head of hair comes together start to finish.

Pro Tip! This approach does require a bit more trust in the process. You can also reference real baby’s hair to create new hair patterns to paint curly, wavy, or even ethnic baby hair. You can also experiment with different hair colors. Different hair color suggestions will be in a PDF in the next module. I used a mixture of dark brown eyebrown (authentic reborn) and mars black (ghsp) for this layer.

Discussion

Ethnic Skin Tones