Two textures and they are not colored the same way: the hair is long separate locks, the tail is overlapping scales. Alternating two tones works on both but in opposite directions, lock by lock down the hair and row by row across the tail, and saying that out loud to a child is worth more than any amount of care on the face. This cute mermaid drawing starts at four. The baby one is simpler.
A cute mermaid with long hair, tail curled beneath.
More mermaid drawings to try
Cute Mermaid: how to draw it step by step
Here is cute mermaid in 8 steps.
Begin with the head, the face turned slightly to one side.
Add the two big eyes, the small nose and the smile.
Sweep the long hair back over one shoulder.
Draw the locks as separate wavy strands.
Add the shoulders and the body down to the waist.
Curl the tail round beneath her from the hips.
Spread the fin wide at the end of the tail.
Finish by scaling the tail in overlapping rows.
What you need
Paper, a pencil and an eraser.