This tutorial has multiple steps? everything from building the basic head to adding facial features. By creating and editing the sub-objects for a daVinici3D membrane, you can create a simple face! The sections of this tutorial include:
I describe 3DSMAX interface features as for version 3.x, but in vesion 4 it did not change much. Also, version 4 adds Editable Poly, that is slightly different from Editable Mesh, and the HSDS modifier which supports hierarchical mesh refinement and can be used in alternative or together with MeshSmooth/NURMS described here.