Animating poly/plane based hair in 3ds max

[chillyche]

I'm creating a cel-shaded/toon-shaded piece, and for the character's hair, I wanted to approximate something more 2D than 3D and realistic. Rather than use a Hair modifier or plugin, I've sculpted the hair out of polys. See below:
[IMG]http://api.ning.com/files/CRcBfIqo3eM7zGtFFcaC8FYvgj*KE6ErjMtq7on5JEHrdeGigz IutSuCvZtNoWDa/Alex_classic.jpg[/IMG]

Now I'm curious how to animated this hair. I've tried using the Flex modifier, but I find that that isn't quite giving me what I want. I've heard that using Cloth modifiers can work, but in my experience, upon applying the cloth modifier, the hairstyle is ruined (as cloth wants to settle into a flat position). I'm wondering if anybody knows and tricks or strategies for getting this hair to behave in a more dynamic way?

Should I be rigging it with bones? If so, how would I set up those bones to maintain their basic position when the head is at rest (some sway is fine), but then move as the head moves? Reactor rope as a spline IK solver? I'm looking for both suggestions AND tutorials with step by step instructions.

[poopipe]

you could use bones - judicious use of spring controllers will let you automate the motion but it'll require a fair bit of tweaking.

I'd try cloth again but only let it affect the bottom half or so of the hair - you'll be able to keep the shape around the head then
if that fails I'd probably go with using a flex modifier.