Realistic looking hair is achieved by noticing how real peoples hair looks. Everyone has highlights and lowlights in their hair caused by new growth (Lowlights) and the sun and wind (Highlights).

Always do the hair after you paint the face.

Step 1

Decide what color the hair is at the scalp, I usually use Burnt Umber mixed with tan, red, black, yellow or white. This is your first coat, make sure you cover the scalp well!

Step 2

Using your original mixture, lighten it up SLIGHTLY with Beige and a TINY, TINY bit of yellow-orange. (Yellow-Orange is the color of the material hair is made of...this is the color of hair without pigment.)

Step 3

Lightly drybrush on 5 or 6 coats of successively lighter paint. This is very easily overdone, take small steps toward the lightest shade you are shooting for and know when to quit!

Step 4

Beards are easily done by using the same colors and method as the scalp hair but mix the paint with an acrylic matte medium. This provides the opacity seen in short facial hair.

Step 5

Five o'clock shadow is made by mixing a hint of grey, brown or red with acrylic matte medium and applied in several very light coats.

Tip provided by: The Scoundrels Gallery Tony Rice