I think there's an script for max that may help you, it "unsubdivides" meshes preserving the curvature of the subdivided model. here is: http://www.mariussilaghi.com/products/subdivision-reversion
Some update. Working on the hair still , managed to make haircards ( Not the ones shown ) and trying to make it work with the GMH2 maya script somehow. Quite difficult.
Sorry guys, I don't get email from this board and long weekend here, but thanks for the pointers, will dive into some of these scripts. Really appreciate the help! :)
In the thread accompanying that script: http://www.polycount.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2010609&postcount=26 I don't know how to do it manually in Maya though
With 12 weeks? Definitely scripting. It's something I've dabbled in lightly but I simply don't have time to learn it in depth. The amount of utility it offers is huge.