When I first saw the hair in the reference image, I thought it was a low cut hair so I zoomed in and it looked like someone took a generous amount of gel and smoothed every strand into place. Her hair is slicked down so neatly and I wanted to capture that.
I focused more on her face and the way the hair sits close to her head. It's interesting how a hairstyle can change the overall look of a portrait without needing much length or volume. I love to draw hair that flows, hangs down, or takes up half the page, so this was a different look to work with and I enjoyed it.
I also like that this hairstyle allows the face take centre stage. There's no big afro or long braids competing for attention, just her features and a clean, slicked-down look.
Process
Hope you have an amazing week...