Making Foam Patterns for a Head?

I've been looking everywhere and I'm still very confused as to what the best methods of foaming a head was. Do you guys make a side-ways drawing then create paper patterns from that? Or is it all just free-handed? (And I'm talking about for the entire head, not just the ears which I know is commonly free-handed sketches) Anything would help at this point!(:

*Note, I'm planning on making a toony head w/ a balaclava base*