How to Use the Hair Particle System in Blender

This guide provides an overview of the hair particle system in Blender and explains how to activate and edit hair on 3D models. You will learn what hair particles are, the purposes they serve in 3D modeling and animation, how to add a hair system to an object, and how to switch into Particle Edit mode to groom and shape the strands.

What is the Hair Particle System?

The hair particle system in Blender is a specialized sub-type of the particle engine used to generate static strands across the surface of a mesh. Unlike emitter particles, which spawn moving particles over time, hair particles generate all strands simultaneously at a fixed rest state.

While primarily used to create human hair and animal fur, the hair system is also widely used for instancing static elements across a surface, such as grass, carpets, feathers, and foliage. The system relies on "guide hairs" to define the shape, length, and direction of the strands, combined with "child particles" to generate dense volume without consuming excessive computing resources.

How to Add a Hair Particle System

To apply hair to an object using the traditional particle system:

  1. Select your mesh in the 3D Viewport.
  2. Navigate to the Particle Properties tab in the Properties Editor (represented by a dotted network icon).
  3. Click the + (plus) button to add a new particle slot.
  4. Under the particle settings, switch the type from Emitter to Hair.

Once enabled, strands will immediately sprout from the faces of your selected mesh. You can adjust the Emission settings to control the total number of strands, their base length, and how segments are divided.

How to Switch to Hair Mode (Particle Edit Mode)

To groom, style, and cut the hair strands directly in the 3D Viewport, you must switch from Object Mode to Particle Edit mode:

  1. Ensure the mesh containing the hair particle system is selected.
  2. In the top-left corner of the 3D Viewport, click the Mode dropdown menu (which defaults to Object Mode).
  3. Select Particle Edit from the list.

Once in Particle Edit mode, the hair paths become editable splines, and a dedicated grooming toolbar appears on the left side of the viewport.

Essential Grooming Tools in Particle Edit Mode

  • Comb: Moves and shapes the direction of the hair strands.
  • Smooth: Evens out harsh angles and creates natural curvature along the strands.
  • Add: Inserts additional guide hairs onto specific areas of the surface.
  • Length: Scales strands to make them longer or shorter.
  • Puff: Lifts hair strands away from the mesh surface to add root volume.
  • Cut: Trims strand length based on brush contact.
  • Weight: Adjusts the influence of physics and vertex groups across the strands.

After completing your styling, switch the mode dropdown back to Object Mode to see the final groomed result with all child particles and materials applied.