‘Pints & Ponytails’: London dads gather in pub to learn how to braid their daughters’ hair

London's Lucky Saint pub hosted a workshop titled Pints & Ponytails, where around 35 fathers gathered to learn how to braid their daughters' hair under the guidance of professional stylists from Braid Maidens, who used mannequin heads on tables for practice.

“On a recent evening in London, a pub filled not with football fans or quiz teams but with fathers holding hairbrushes and mannequin heads”

The Times of India

Organisers from Secret Life of Dads said the idea grew from conversations within their community about everyday parenting tasks many fathers want to take part in, and the event was organised in under three weeks with dozens signing up.

They emphasized the aim was to show that parenting skills are not fixed by tradition and that dads can be involved in routines before school or family outings.

The Times of India

Stylists from Braid Maidens taught techniques step by step, starting with basic hair preparation and moving to simple plaits and ponytails, while mannequin heads allowed participants to practise without putting their own children's hair at risk; the focus was on confidence, not perfection, with guidance that the first braid is the hardest and improvement comes with practice.

“On a recent evening in London, a pub filled not with football fans or quiz teams but with fathers holding hairbrushes and mannequin heads”

The Times of India

By the end, many had braided hair and left with new friendships and a sense of shared accomplishment.

Photos and videos from the gathering circulated online, and many responses praised the event as a heartwarming sign of changing fatherhood, while a rare critic described it as poignantly sad.

Researchers note that fatherhood has evolved and that events like Pints & Ponytails highlight everyday rituals that shape parent-child relationships.

The Times of India