Hello~ So this tutorial explains the more detailed way I've come to pixel hair. This tutorial is just one method among many of pixeling hair. I strongly urge you to experiment and find your own style of doing hair- use this tutorial as a guide, instead of copying it pixel by pixel. That being said, have fun and thanks for looking. ^ ^ The base used in this tutorial is from PPKH.
Starting off with your outline, flood fill inside the area. I'm going to assume you already know about highlights and shadows- if not, take a look at my old tutorial, or another tutorial to get you ready. :]
Shadows! This is where the detailing starts. You'll want to pay attention to areas where the hair is sure to be darker, such as the top middle of the head, and around the neck and ears. I've also added lines [or strands] in between the primary lines on her head, so that there is more detail. This is important. XD
Now, start highlighting. Yay~ It easiest to look at the picture for the best idea of what I did. Pixel by pixel, I drew lines in the first highlight color against each of the darker lines [or strands]... Then, I connected them in the middle, in the curving shape you see up there. That's the 'halo' shine. n_n Oh, and I usually do one portion of the hair completely before going on. Just a quirk of mine, I guess. X3
More highlights! As you pixel these, make them a little shorter that the first ones. I sometimes make one or two very long, because it looks cute and streaky. ^o^
Ok, last highlights. Make these really short.
Using the same method, I finished shading the rest of the hair. Yay, blonde!
^3^
This step is very important!! If you want the hair to look real, shade the
outline! This really goes a long way in making it look awesome. So here,
I've just started using the shadow color, and shaded the outlines. Compare it to
the previous image to see the difference. You'll also want to make sure you
shade the darker lines inside the hair too, but only where the highlights
are. Remember that. ^ ^
Now I took the base color (what you flood filled with) and shaded the outline, and the darker lines inside. Lovely, lovely~!! It's almost finished now. You've come such a long way!! <33
Usually this step isn't needed, but I guess I wanted to show off. >_<;;;;;;; I took the first highlight color and shaded the outline only where the last highlight color was. I hope that made sense. ^ ^;; Just look at the picture. My last highlight color was white, so where there was white, I shaded the outline. Like I said, it's not necessary sometimes. Only if you think it is.
Last step, add strands and shadow to the skin. Remember to shade the strands as well!! Because how will it look if you have shaded outlines on the hair and non-shaded strands?! Wrong. ^ ^;;;
There's the completed doll! I hope you enjoyed [and understood] this little updated tutorial of mine!! Hair shading is so fun- I really encourage you to experiment and try different ways of shading. If you have any questions or comments about this tutorial, feel free to contact me.