How to Draw an Anime Face - A Step-By-Step Guide

Check out this simple and straight-forward method on how to draw an anime face.

Step 1 – Draw Basic Guidelines

Start by drawing a large circle which will represent the upper part of the head.
Lightly sketch a vertical line through the center of the circle. This line helps you maintain symmetry in the face.
Add a horizontal guideline across the circle, about one-third from the bottom. This will serve as the placement for the eyes.
These foundational lines are crucial because they give structure and proportion to your drawing before adding any detailed features.

From the bottom sides of the circle, begin to draw the jawline by curving the lines inward to form the chin. This creates the basic face shape.
Next, sketch the neck extending down from the jaw. Keep it slender and in proportion to the head.
Add an ear on the side of the head. Use the horizontal guideline to help place the ear correctly—it should roughly align with the eyes and the nose area.
These shapes don’t need to be perfect yet; they act as a scaffold for more refined lines later.

Begin drawing the eyes using the horizontal guideline for placement. Anime eyes are typically large, so give them plenty of space.
Draw the upper and lower eyelids, then add pupils and basic highlights to bring life to the eyes.
Sketch the eyebrows above the eyes, following the curvature of the forehead.
Add a simple nose using a short line or a small curve, placed halfway between the eyes and chin.
Finish this step by adding a small curved line for the mouth, positioned just below the nose.

Now draw the hairline and start outlining the hairstyle. Anime hair often has defined clumps or layers, so use confident, flowing lines.
Sketch the front bangs and let the side strands frame the face naturally.
Extend the hair down around the shoulders if desired, giving it volume and motion.
At this stage, the hair can look a bit rough—details will be added in the next steps.

Go over the facial features and clean up any rough or uneven lines. Add eyelashes, iris details, and refine the mouth and nose.
Define the individual strands or layers in the hair, paying attention to the direction and flow.
Begin shaping the outer hair to look more natural and aligned with the head shape.

Erase any unnecessary guidelines to clean up the drawing.
Deepen the lines where needed to emphasize key areas like the eyes and outer contours.
Add light shading to areas such as under the chin, inside the ear, and especially the hair, to create a sense of depth.
Finish by blending the shading for a polished look and give highlights to the eyes and hair for a lively anime feel.