Facial hair can make a big difference to a portrait, and if you have a model in front of you, who has a beard or moustache, then take some time to observe the fullness and shape of it. The model would definitely look greatly different without their facial hair so when pencil drawing, take time to adhere to the following points:

 

* To do justice to any facial hair, it should be built up in layers. You do need to consider the surrounding skin too, think about the tone of the skin.

 

* How big is the facial hair in comparison to the face? Does the moustache cover the upper lip or is it neatly trimmed so that a small gap appears between the end of the hair and the top lip? How far down the side of the mouth does the moustache go? Does it join the beard? (If any) If the model has a beard, it is wise to take the same observations before starting any drawing. Again, be aware of length, density, coarseness and also, how much of the jaw-line and face that the beard connects with.

 

* You need to observe the way the hair grows down too. The hair will flow in a specific direction and there may well be different shades contained within the many layers. Be careful not to let the facial hair look like it’s been pasted onto the area, because underneath all of the facial growth, the skin is not flat but undulating.

 

* Drawing hair should be done with a light touch and not a rigid stilted one.  Hair is a natural part of the human form, but it can take some time to be able to draw facial hair properly.

 

* You can also make use of a ‘Kneaded eraser’ as this can be useful to add lighter values within the fair hair. This can add a realistic feel to your drawing quite easily. Try using a HB or F pencil for best results.