where to begin? (cue Acadia...and...action!)

There's a lot of different ways to do it. If you're making an actual mesh, any good modeler will let you start with the basics. I know there's one for Wings 3d, which is free.

It depends on what you're going for. A 'Moe Howard special" would be fairly easy to do with a half-sphere, some shaping, etc. The tricky part is texturing. UVMaps for hair (sort of like primer for paint) tell the textures where to go, and how to fit.

It's a fairly complicated subject, but if you do it step by step, you can make something of your own. And those other links should be by any time now...;)

I wish I'd said that.. The Staircase Wit

anahl nathrak uth vas betude doth yel dyenvey..;)