In an upstairs room of a Marylebone pub, 35 fathers hunched over mannequin heads, elastic bands pinched between their teeth, pint glasses sweating beside leave-in conditioner. They were learning to braid.
The event, called Pints and Ponytails, has gone massively viral this week after videos of the gathering spread across social media — racking up millions of views and sparking a conversation about modern fatherhood, masculinity, and the small acts of love that matter most.
How It Started
Co-founders Matthew Carter and Lawrence Price came up with the idea from a simple observation: dads want to do their daughters' hair, but most have never been taught how.
"It's dads turning up who struggle with basic hairstyles," Carter explained. "Mums, generally speaking, are the default parents, but if we can take these skills back home maybe it can take a little pressure off of mum in the morning."
The format is deliberately low-key. Mannequin heads on pub tables. Brushes, pins, and hair ties. A professional stylist walking the room. And, of course, beer. The combination of practical learning in a relaxed, traditionally male social setting struck a chord that the founders never quite expected.
Why Dads Showed Up
The motivations were refreshingly simple. Paul Jessop, a father whose daughter is just one year old, put it plainly: "I just want to bond with my daughter more. I see other people playing with their daughters' hair — I just want to be able to do that."
Another attendee, Shaun, a father of two, noted how the event created space for conversations men rarely have. "We don't normally go to the pub to talk about brushing our daughters' hair. We normally talk about football, not plaits."
Nick Perry, a dad to an 18-month-old girl with another on the way, described the atmosphere: "There is such a huge appetite for these events, for men to get together and talk about their mental health, and just be unashamedly proud to look after their daughters. It's so special."
The Tate Response — and Why It Backfired
The viral clip also caught the attention of self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, who questioned the masculinity of the men involved. The response from Pints and Ponytails was pitch-perfect.
"Tate making that comment has now placed us as the complete antithesis to his views," Carter said. Price added with a grin: "If Andrew Tate is criticising what we're doing, we must be on to a good thing."
The exchange only amplified the story's reach, drawing widespread praise for the dads and turning Pints and Ponytails into something of a cultural moment.
A Growing Movement
The organizers say demand has been overwhelming since the videos went viral. What started as a one-off gathering is now being planned as a recurring series, with requests pouring in from cities across the UK and beyond.
The concept taps into a broader shift in how fatherhood is understood and practiced. Research consistently shows that involved fathers improve outcomes for children across every measurable dimension — academic achievement, emotional wellbeing, and social development. But practical parenting skills like hair styling have traditionally been passed down along maternal lines, leaving many dads feeling unprepared for basic daily routines.
Pints and Ponytails doesn't try to be revolutionary. It's just dads in a pub, learning French braids over a lager. But sometimes the most powerful statements are the quiet ones — 35 men with mannequin heads and zero interest in anyone's opinion about what makes a real man.
What's Next
The team is planning more events across London and expanding to other UK cities. They're also exploring partnerships with hairdressing brands and parenting organizations to make the sessions more widely accessible.
For any dads reading who want to get started at home, the founders recommend beginning with a simple ponytail, then working up to pigtails before attempting a basic three-strand braid. Their top tip: practice on a willing participant, not just a mannequin. "The real test," Carter laughs, "is a toddler who won't sit still."
