Need help w/ powdered wig or cotton balls

Hi I’m doing a project that takes place during the American revolution and my characters need to wear powdered wigs. However I can’t figure out how to make one.

I’ve tried hair particles but I there isn’t any curling iron brush. So it didn’t work.

I’ve tried making an extruded solidified helix with cloud displacement but after 3 layers my system crashed.

I’m kind of thinking about cotton balls. If I can figure out a way to make one I could use it to form the wigs. The wigs won’t be up close so I guess I can cheat and use them.

Thanks for the help.

cheat ok

how about fluffy feathers from cgcookie

did you see this video might be a good way to cheat!

see pic in this thread

http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?p=1698394#post1698394

make some cylinder and add some fluffy feathers to theses
should look very nice !

salutations