Chris you probably need someone like Highlander to answer this but I'll take a stab at it. First a word to the wise, I model figures with the three feet/ metre rule aka I paint them with the expection that the viewer will be looking at them from standing height to a tabletop not close up like Highlander's. So I tend to go a bit over-the-top with contrast instead of something more subtle. Also most of the female figures I've done are 28-32mm gaming figures which are close to 1/48th, 1/35th and larger are a little different.
First off if the hair has a texture washes work well. I've even used a sludge wash a time or two. The other technique I use is wet brushing. It's like drybrushing but you leave the brush wet with paint, moist but not dripping. Just wipe off the excess but leave it wetter than you would with dry brushing. Then lightly drag it with the texture of the hair as opposed to against it like with dry brushing.
I go with the wash first then a wet brushing of lighter paint from the top down across all the hair as a highlight. Then lighten the wet brushing paint and hit just the crown/top of the head. If you get highlights in the recesses use a little wash on a small brush applied directly to the spot once everything is dry.
This is what I use, you're better off if you use this as a starting point and experiment till you get something that works for you.
Blonde: I don't do many of these. Mostly what I do is sandy blondes. I find it hard to go with too much yellow before it looks cartoony. I go with a tan base, you can add some yellow and and radome tan to it for a more bright yellow look. Wash with light brown. Highlight (wet brush) with radome tan and then end with radome tan lightened with white or just straight ivory as top highlight.
Red/Ginger: Ok forget what I said before about bright and cartoony, I often go pretty close to straight orange here. I add a little brown or tan to the orange paint I use for a base, add more to suit. Brick red or rust for a wash. Then a lighter orange for highlights and ivory with a smidgeon of yellow for the top highlight.
Light brown/alburn: Medium brown base, dark brown wash. Add a little brown mixed with radome tan/ ivory for highlight and 50/50 or so radome tan/ivory and brown for top.
Dark brown: Dark brown or rust for base. You can go with black for the wash but I think a really dark brown looks better. Medium brown highlight and light brown for top. Or just mix radome tan or ivory with your base to suit. In some cases I like a little red or orange mixed with the highlights to give a warmer look esp if you use a rust base.
Black: Well black for base (duh!) Skip the wash of course but if you get highlight in the recesses you can use a black wash to cover it. Highlight with your dark brown, top with medium brown.
Blue-black: I use this on Asian figures, works well on some white/Latino ones as well. Black base of course, no wash. Navy blue for highlights and light blue for top.
I'll add a gloss or semi-gloss coat when done.
Hope this helps some.