How Do I Make Alpha Hair in Blender?

I've been trying really hard to make a mesh in blender but my meshing skills suck...
Could someone please link me to tutorial on hair sculpting? (I'm stuck on how I fill the head with a plane atm)
And I have also read that you need to reeduse the poly's after the mesh is done..but how can I do that in blender??


EDIT:I've now realised that planes are only visible from one side...but the fringe that I made out of planes will disappear...help pleasee

~Thanks~