Hi Ashley

The best way to learn your modelling app is to "  get under the hood"  so to speak.  So I would say do both.   

Start your preliminary work for your head.  you'll need reference pictures or make your own sketches of a side view and front view.  Study the anatomy of the head.  You may even want to sculpt your head in clay first.

One book I highly recommend is "  Creative Essence the face  "  by Ballistic Publishing.  You can find it at www.cgtalk.com .  Now it is not a step by step,   it deals more with theory. 

Hi  RorrKonn

Thanks, Jane is just about finished with stage 1  the form.