AI image generators like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney allow us to create imaginative works of art with just a text prompt. But writing an effective prompt can be tricky. When generating hair styles specifically, paying attention to details like texture, volume, color, and styling is key for realistic results. Follow these tips to create stunning hair in your AI artworks.
Describe Exactly What You Want
Be as precise as possible when describing the hair. Instead of “long red hair”, say “waist-length wavy ginger hair with caramel highlights”. Specifying details like wave pattern, exact length, shades of color, etc. will yield better results.
Use Comparisons
Compare the hair you want to generate to well-known styles or textures. For example: “60’s Brigitte Bardot voluminous blonde bouffant hairdo” or “tightly coiled 3C curly afro shaped into a tapered frohawk fade haircut”. Using comparisons gives the AI more context.
Include Styling Details
Explain how you want the hair styled. For example, “shoulder-length blunt bob haircut with textured ends flipped outwards in messy waves”. Describing the cut, styling, parting, etc. ensures you get the finished look you envisioned.
Specify Realistic Features
Since AI hair often looks too perfect, add some realistic imperfections into your prompt like “shoulder-length blonde hair with grown out dark roots and subtle golden highlights”. This helps make the hair more believable.
Adjust For Consistency
Sometimes AI hair changes between generations. Use repetition in your prompt to reinforce details, like “long straight jet black Asian hair with bangs, long straight jet black Asian hair”. The AI will remember to prioritize those traits.
Enhance With Additional Context
Situate the hair you’re generating within a context for better results. Instead of an isolated hair prompt, try “close-up portrait photo of a young woman with vibrant waist-length red curly hair, green eyes, and porcelain skin, soft lighting”.
Advanced Prompting Techniques
Take your hair prompts to the next level with these expert techniques:
Specify Hair Type
Refer to specific hair types, like 1A pin-straight hair or 4C tightly coiled afro-textured hair. This helps the AI render appropriate texture and movement. Look up hair type charts for guidance.
Name Inspiring References
Name-drop hair inspirations directly in your prompt using the style of keyword. For example, “hair styled like Veronica Lake 1940’s Hollywood waves”. This nudges the AI to emulate their iconic looks.
Show Don’t Tell
Instead of describing a quality like “shiny hair”, say “hair reflecting soft natural light, silky smooth strands”. This prompts the AI to render the feature visually. Apply this to texture, volume, etc.
Get Creative With Prompts
Have fun with your prompts! Try unexpected metaphors like “hair cascading like syrup flowing over pancakes” or vivid imagery like “fiery hair the color of leaves in autumn”. Get creative to spark the AI’s imagination.
Useful Resources:
The key is crafting detailed, imaginative prompts. Describe textures, colors, styling, and context vividly, get creative with comparisons and imagery, and leverage the AI’s knowledge through named references. With practice, you’ll be able to produce magical, flowing locks of hair in your AI artworks.