First, set up the hair particle system with enough to see what you're doing.

https://technonaturalist.net/sites/default/files/blog/image.jpeg

In the UV Editing tab, create a new image and change the Colour Space to `Non-Colour`.  

https://technonaturalist.net/sites/default/files/blog/image_0.jpeg

Save the image either with `Alt+S` or using the Image menu.

https://technonaturalist.net/sites/default/files/blog/image_1.jpeg

In the particles tab, select the particle system you want to use the texture for, then scroll down to *Textures*.  Create a new texture in one of the slots.

https://technonaturalist.net/sites/default/files/blog/image_2.jpeg

Click on the thing that looks like capsules (I think they're meant to be settings switches) which teleports to the **Texture** tab.

Under the *Preview* section where it says *Settings*, click on the image button and select the image created at the beginning.  The *Type* should be on `Image or Movie` by default but if it's not, that's what it should be.

https://technonaturalist.net/sites/default/files/blog/image_3.jpeg

Also indicated in the above image is the *Mapping* section.  Make sure the *Coordinates* are set to ``UV`` and the *Map* is whatever uv map you're using (I was experimenting with just having a uv map for the head but I broke something so just dropped back to my default udim map and was too lazy to update the screenies so ignore my inconsistent uv settings and just make sure they're right for your current project).

In the *Influence* section which should be directly above the *Mapping* section, untick the default option of `General Time` and tick `Density` and `Hair Length` (or just one or the other if you prefer, why yes it does look like there's quite a lot that can be done with this doesn't there).

https://technonaturalist.net/sites/default/files/blog/image_4.jpeg

Hop over to the **Shading** tab and temporarily hijack a material (skin in my case).  Drop in an Image node, select the hair density texture map, start painting (I'm using [BPainter](https://blendermarket.com/products/bpainter) which works on top of Texture Paint so I assume you can just use the **Texture Paint** tab) and watch the magic happen.

Because it's non-colour data, use white to paint and black to erase (eraser won't do anything).

https://technonaturalist.net/sites/default/files/styles/watermark/public/blog/image_5.jpeg?itok=BI7LET8R

This is definitely something I should have tried to figure out sooner.  

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This post also appears on [my blog](https://technonaturalist.net/blog/2022/04/blender-31-notes-using-texture-maps-particle-hair).

peakd appears to be auto-centering images at least in the preview O_O If they stay centred on post that will save me some typing XD

Want a [cameo character](https://peakd.com/ccc/ryivhnn/aer-cameos)? If you interact frequently with me here (either on my posts or your posts or better yet both!) or on one of the linked Discord channels, all you have to do is let me know and tell me what you'd like :) [Everything you need to know is (probably) here](https://technonaturalist.net/how-get-aer-cameo-character) and if it isn't just ask (sorry the link goes offsite to my blog where the layout is how I want rather than the one here which is only here because the original one was).

Thanks for looking! ^_^

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