Two dads have launched UK-wide classes teaching men how to braid their daughters' hair in pubs, with sessions selling out within ten minutes. Matthew Carter and Lawrence Price, best friends and founders of Pints and Ponytails, started the events in February 2025 to help fathers style their daughters' hair using mannequins. The first event, held at the Lucky Saint pub in Marylebone, London, attracted just 10 participants, but the idea has since gone global, with dads from Mumbai to Los Angeles reaching out to set up similar gatherings.
From Messy Hair to Global Movement
Matthew Carter, 37, from south-west London, said the idea came after he dropped his daughter at school with her hair in disarray. “It looked like she had been dragged through a bush backwards,” he said. He wanted to gather dads in a pub to learn plaiting, and was surprised when they not only showed up but also opened up about parenting struggles. “The response has been remarkable,” he said. “Dads are spending twice as much time with their children as previous generations, and they want to take the emotional weight off mums.”
Antidote to the Manosphere
The founders have found themselves in debates about masculinity, even drawing criticism from influencers like Andrew Tate. Carter said: “His version of masculinity is a dying form. It’s all ego and misogyny, and it’s the complete opposite of what we see at our events.” Lawrence Price, 42, a father of two from Hampshire, added: “A lot of dads want to step up and re-embody what it means to be a man today, contrasting the negative press from the manosphere. People have called us the antidote to the manosphere.”
Breaking Stereotypes and Building Confidence
The classes, priced at £35 each including a free beer, are run by the founders themselves. Carter said: “At a time when boys are labelled toxic before they enter the world, we find dads can talk if given a safe space. We’re breaking down old stereotypes and giving mums more breathing space. We’re not perfect parents, but we’re trying to be slightly better for the next generation.” The tour will stop in Cardiff, Bristol, and Bournemouth, with tickets available online.
