To be able to grow hair we will need an object to start with on which we will grow the hair. In my examples, I will use a sphere.
Simulating every single hair on such a surface would be way too extreme and most computers would not be able to handle that. So instead guides are used. When the hairs are added, they will follow the closest guide. This way it is possible to simulate a guide that multiple hairs will follow, this will reduce calculating times drastically, with no obvious visual difference.
This is an overview of the main nodes
This is the guide node. The node itself has some basic settings such as the density and the length of the guides.
Inside this guide groom node, there is a various selection of nodes with which all attributes of the guides can be modified.
The node with which the most is possible is the guideprocess node.
The guides are visualized by red lines
Overview of the inside of the guide groom node
Set direction: here the direction of the guides can be set with a certain strength.
Set Lift: this node has the opposite effect of gravity.
Set Length: with these settings, the length of the hair can be set or changed.
Displace: This is for displaced objects, but it doesn’t work well.
Wave: with this, waves can be put in in the hair.
Straighten: this straightens the hairs back out.
Smooth: all effects can be smoothed out with this.
Frizz: the zigzag pattern can be put in the hair with this node.
Bend: It bends the hair with a certain angle. some randomness can also be applied.
Set Simulation Attributes: if any guide’s attributes need to be changed it can be done in this node.
With the hairclump node, it’s possible to put hair together in clumps. It also has some settings to make the hair curl.