Are colored charcoal pencils good for portraits?

The listing names realistic portrait art as a use, and the 24 colors are skin and hair tones.

What is the difference between colored charcoal and colored pencils?

Colored charcoal blends and smudges like charcoal. It is softer and more powdery than a regular colored pencil.

Do colored charcoal pencils erase?

The listing says they are easy to sharpen and erase.

How thick are the PANDAFLY colored charcoal cores?

The listing is inconsistent. It says soft, thick 4MM cores in one line and 0.4 mm in the next.

What paper works best for colored charcoal?

The listing does not name a paper. In general, toned drawing or pastel paper with some tooth holds charcoal well.

Best for skin tones

PANDAFLY

PANDAFLY Colored Charcoal Pencils (24)

A set of 24 colored charcoal pencils in popular skin and hair tone shades, with soft, thick cores that lay down color evenly and blend smoothly.

Best for: Portrait and figure artists who draw skin and hair tones

Pencils: 24
Core: 4 mm
Palette: Skin and hair tones
Safety: Non-toxic

Check price on Amazon

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Buy it if

You draw portraits or figures and want a palette built around skin and hair
You want colored pencils sold as charcoal, with smooth blending and shading
You want a non-toxic set that the listing says works in the school classroom

Skip it if

You want bright colors for landscapes or illustration. The palette is mostly skin and hair tones
You want a wider range of colors. The Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils come in 60, suited for fine details in pastels

What the PANDAFLY Colored Charcoal Pencils (24) is

The PANDAFLY Colored Charcoal Pencils set is 24 pencils in popular skin and hair tone shades. PANDAFLY describes them as richly pigmented and lightfast, with soft, thick cores that lay down color evenly. The listing gives the core as 4MM in one place and 0.4 mm in another.

PANDAFLY says the pencils allow smooth blending and shading, and names figure, portrait, comic and still life drawing as uses.

Key features, explained

Based on the manufacturer's Amazon listing.

24 skin and hair tones
The listing says the 24 shades are popular skin and hair tones.
Soft, thick cores
The listing calls the cores ultra-smooth, says they lay down color evenly and are made for extended use. It gives the core size as both 4MM and 0.4 mm.
Blends and shades like charcoal
PANDAFLY says the pencils allow smooth blending and shading for depth and realistic textures.
Richly pigmented and lightfast
The listing describes vivid, lightfast color.
Non-toxic
The set is listed as non-toxic and suitable from beginner to advanced artists.

PANDAFLY Colored Charcoal Pencils (24) specifications

Type: Colored charcoal pencils
Count: 24
Palette: Skin and hair tones
Core: Soft, thick (listed as 4MM and as 0.4 mm)
Best for: Portraits, figures, comics, still life
Lightfast: Yes, per the listing
Safety: Non-toxic
Model: P905-24

Who the PANDAFLY Colored Charcoal Pencils (24) suits

Portrait artists. The listing names realistic portrait art, and the palette is skin and hair tones.
Figure, comic and still life drawing. PANDAFLY lists all of these as uses.
Classrooms. The listing says the set works well in the school classroom and is non-toxic.

Look elsewhere if: you need white highlights too. The MARKART White Charcoal Pencils are made for dark or tinted paper and adding highlights.

PANDAFLY Colored Charcoal Pencils (24) vs similar picks

Spec	PANDAFLY Colored Charcoal Pencils (24)	Kalour Pastel Pencils (72)	MARKART Charcoal Pencils (10 Pieces)
Count	24	72	10
Core	Listed as 4MM and 0.4 mm	Not listed	Not listed
Palette	Skin and hair tones	Not listed	Black
Type	Colored charcoal pencil	Pastel pencil	Charcoal pencil
Choose it for	Portrait colors in charcoal form	A much wider range of colors	Black charcoal in three grades

PANDAFLY Colored Charcoal Pencils (24)
Count
24
Core
Listed as 4MM and 0.4 mm
Palette
Skin and hair tones
Type
Colored charcoal pencil
Choose it for: Portrait colors in charcoal form
Kalour Pastel Pencils (72)
Count
72
Core
Not listed
Palette
Not listed
Type
Pastel pencil
Choose it for: A much wider range of colors
MARKART Charcoal Pencils (10 Pieces)
Count
10
Core
Not listed
Palette
Black
Type
Charcoal pencil
Choose it for: Black charcoal in three grades

Before you buy

The listing gives two core sizes, 4MM and 0.4 mm, so check the product images if core size matters to you.
Soft cores need careful sharpening. In general, a craft knife or a manual sharpener turned gently works best.
The listing does not name a paper. Toned drawing or pastel paper with some tooth is the usual choice for charcoal.
Protect finished drawings with fixative, since charcoal smudges.

Frequently asked questions about the PANDAFLY Colored Charcoal Pencils (24)

Are colored charcoal pencils good for portraits?: The listing names realistic portrait art as a use, and the 24 colors are skin and hair tones.
What is the difference between colored charcoal and colored pencils?: Colored charcoal blends and smudges like charcoal. It is softer and more powdery than a regular colored pencil.
Do colored charcoal pencils erase?: The listing says they are easy to sharpen and erase.
How thick are the PANDAFLY colored charcoal cores?: The listing is inconsistent. It says soft, thick 4MM cores in one line and 0.4 mm in the next.
What paper works best for colored charcoal?: The listing does not name a paper. In general, toned drawing or pastel paper with some tooth holds charcoal well.