How can I model the hair like this?

MeowMoo

Hi guys! So my goal is to model the hair of my model like this.

(very lovely model by nnlR417. Reference from Sketch fab :https://sketchfab.com/models/5210c054fb0b46a083a784b90f8223a7)

I really love how this hair is swirling, twisting, how it changes it's volume from thick to paper thin, and from soft edge to sharp edge.

I tried to block this out using Zbrush and the result is not good. I relied completely on Dynamesh for shaping the hair to achieve the effect I want, but soon I found out that Dynamesh is not so friendly with thin mesh. And I couldn't get the perfectly smooth curve as he did because I had to manually adjust the contour with the move tool.  
I also spent massive amount of time sculpting the hard surface. But all of that's gone when I Zremesh it.

(A test version of my model in progess: https://sketchfab.com/models/fb329435f09e4cfb9fc123e506d77a22)

In short, my question is,
How can I achieve similar effect as the reference? What's the major tools that he use to make this hair?

Eric Chadwick

I would use subdivision surface modeling for this. It allows a high degree of control, and you can make very nice curves and smooth transitions.

Zbrush has some previse subd controls, though I'm not personally familiar with it. I mostly use 3ds Max. Modo is also an outstanding subd modeler.

http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/Subdivision_Surface_Modeling

Alex_J

What is the shape of the majority of the length? A prism looks like. So I'd make a curve (in maya for, or whatever your 3d app is) and extrude a prism along it's length. Keep the resolution as low as possible and then tweak vertices from there you change up the volume or whatever. Subdivide or manually add edge loops as necessary.

Lots of step-by-step to do this on youtube. Look up "how to model ropes" or stuff like that.

RN

Blender's got a really cool workflow for this, it's a non-destructive process and you can tweak it up the ass:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Nn7mISvVzJk

At the end you can convert it all to mesh and proceed with poly modeling, welding things together etc.