Two dads are becoming the "antidote to the manosphere" by showing other men how to plait hair over a pint. The straightforward idea is getting attention from men across the globe who want to be more involved in day-to-day life when bringing up daughters.
How It Started
Matthew Carter and Lawrence Price set up their Pints and Ponytails sessions in February this year to show UK dads how to style their daughters' hair using mannequins. The first event, alongside hair experts Braid Maidens, took place with a small group of 10 at the Lucky Saint pub on Devonshire Street, Marylebone, and the organisers say dads really began to share.
Now, sessions are happening across the UK and are selling out within ten minutes. Fathers from around the world are keen to participate in these workshops to master something that will help them bond with their daughters.
Personal Motivation
Mat, 37, from southwest London, said: "I dropped my daughter off at school, and her hair was an absolute mess. It looked like she had been dragged through a bush backwards." He was determined to bring a group of dads together in a pub to learn how to plait and style their daughters' hair. He was taken aback when dads not only attended but also began sharing and discussing their struggles with fatherhood.
"The response from it all has been quite remarkable, really. We have had responses from dads from Mumbai to LA, all asking how they can go about setting up an event like this." Dads are spending twice as much time with their children as previous generations, and they really want to get involved and take the emotional weight off of mums at home.
Contrast with Manosphere
Mat and Lawrence, who have been close friends for more than a decade after meeting at fitness competitions, have since found themselves drawn into a wider debate about masculinity, with their events even attracting unwanted attention from manosphere influencers like Andrew Tate. Mat, a father-of-one with another child on the way, said: "We had a message from somebody saying that Andrew Tate had left a tweet. His version of masculinity is a dying form of masculinity and is something that we don't align ourselves with. It's all ego and misogyny, and it is the complete opposite of what we have seen from the dads at the events."
Father-of-two Lawrence, 42, from Hampshire, said: "I think a lot of dads want to step up and re-embody what it is to be a man in modern day, in a way that contrasts the negative press men receive through things like the manosphere. People have said that we are the antidote to the manosphere. We feel like it is a huge responsibility we hold now to guide the ship in the right direction."
Expanding the Movement
Having initially attended classes themselves, the pair are now running the sessions and planning to expand further across the country. Mat said: "At a time where boys are being labelled toxic before they have even entered the world, and there is this notion that men don't talk, I think it is just completely false. We have found that dads can talk, they just need a safe space to do it. We are incredibly proud of the space that we are building, as it gives dads more confidence and mums more breathing space."
"It is a traditionally feminine task as well, so we are breaking down old stereotypes and allowing dads to come into this space. We are still learning, and we are not perfect parents, but we are trying to be just slightly better for the next generation."
Practical Details
Tickets for the Pints and Ponytails classes are priced at £35 each and include a free beer and the tutorial. Those interested can get tickets for the remaining dates on the tour, which will be stopping in Cardiff, Bristol and Bournemouth.
