i needed to do the material for the head and ear seperate, as the ear is very complicated.

to start with, above "editable poly" i clicked on the modifier list and found "unwrap UVW" i then selected face mode.

i then highlighted the whole head, apart from the ear, which will be done differently.

i then scrolled down and selected "cylindrical"

this then produces a cylindrical shape around my head, using the scale tool, i enlarged the shape so that it enveloped my whole head, i then closed "Symmetry" so i had only half a head.