What happens when Pivot Point mannequins turn up at the local pub? Something pretty special.

It started with a simple idea: bring dads together in the familiar setting of their local pub, put a pint in one hand and a hairbrush in the other, and teach them practical hair styling skills—from ponytails and plaits to braids and buns—that they could confidently recreate on their daughters at home.

Earlier this year, the team behind The Secret Life of Dads reached out to Pivot Point for support with Pints & Ponytails—live events designed to teach dads practical hair skills while creating space for honest conversations about fatherhood.

After starting with a few Pints & Ponytails sessions alongside The Braid Maiden, founders Lawrence and Mathew were growing more confident in their own skills—and quickly realized there were plenty of other dads who could benefit from the same experience.

They wanted to make the sessions bigger and better. They also needed realistic mannequins for dads to practice on.

That’s where Pivot Point came in.

More Than a Ponytail: Building Confidence Through Hair

Pints & Ponytails is about much more than mastering a hairstyle.

The events help take away some of the uncertainty dads may feel about doing their daughters’ hair, giving them practical skills they can use for the school run, sports days, dance lessons and all the everyday moments in between.

But there’s another important element, too.

By bringing dads together in the relaxed environment of a local pub, Pints & Ponytails creates an opportunity for fathers to connect, talk openly about the challenges of parenthood and challenge the stereotype that doing their daughters’ hair isn’t something dads do.

A ponytail might be the starting point, but confidence and connection are what it’s really about.

Why Pivot Point Supported Pints & Ponytails

For Pivot Point, supporting the project was a natural fit.

“The project is so inspiring, and we could see the guys needed mannequins that would be as realistic as possible for the dads to practice on. Supplying different hair types and textures on real human hair gives guests the best practical experience to take home and create ponytails and plaits on their daughters.”

— Jan Laan, Vice President, International Business Development, Pivot Point

To help bring the idea to life, Pivot Point provided nearly 40 mannequins and clamps, giving dads the opportunity to practice on a variety of hair types, textures and lengths before taking their new skills home.

Among them was Janet, whose textured hair would go on to play an especially important role as the program continued to grow.

Pivot Point also gifted five other mannequins from their Original Series: Nadine, Megan, Madi, Lydia, and Josephine, offering a variety of hair types, textures, and lengths to create a more realistic and well-rounded practice experience for the dads.

For Lawrence and Mathew, having the right tools made a difference.

“We want the dads to have the most realistic experience during our events so that they go home with more confidence. Pivot Point has been instrumental in enabling us to deliver this.”

— Lawrence and Mathew, Pints & Ponytails

Teaching Dads Everyday Hair Styling Skills

So, what exactly do dads learn?

The sessions begin with everyday essentials like the humble ponytail and pigtails before progressing to three-strand plaits and more adventurous styles, including fishtails, French and Dutch braids, boxer braids, buns and space buns.

Whether it’s getting ready for school, preparing for sports day or creating a special style for dance lessons and dress-up, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s giving dads enough knowledge—and enough hands-on practice—to feel comfortable picking up a brush and giving it a go at home.

Because hair is a life skill. And like any new skill, confidence comes through education and practice.

Learning to Style Different Hair Types and Textures

As Pints & Ponytails reached more families, Lawrence and Mathew also recognized an opportunity to expand their own knowledge.

They headed back to the salon to learn more about working with textured hair so they could better support dads whose daughters have different hair types and styling needs.

Armed with a couple of our Janet mannequins, they got to work learning, practicing and building their confidence all over again.

See how they got on.

It’s a reminder of something we believe deeply at Pivot Point: learning never stops. The more we understand the why behind what we do, the more confident we become in putting those skills into practice.

From the Local Pub to the National Spotlight

What started in the pub didn’t stay there for long.

Pints & Ponytails—and a few familiar Pivot Point faces—have since popped up across national television, radio and some rather unexpected locations.

The team has appeared on national television, taken the conversation to BBC Radio 2 with Jeremy Vine and even had the opportunity to discuss the importance of fatherhood with Keir Starmer.

And Pints & Ponytails was only the beginning.

The team has since created Pilates & Plaits to raise money for charity; taken hair education to new heights with Sights & Ponytails on the London Eye; and launched Periods & Ponytails to help dads navigate another set of conversations that can sometimes feel difficult to approach.

They’ve even taken Pints & Ponytails on tour, visiting nine locations across the UK and playing to sold-out venues.

Not bad for an idea that started with dads learning to do ponytails at the pub.

The Impact That Matters Most

The television appearances, sold-out events and unexpected locations have been exciting to watch. But the most meaningful part of the story is the response from the dads and families themselves.

The messages shared following the events tell a story of fathers feeling more confident, daughters enjoying special moments with their dads and families connecting over something as simple as doing hair.

 

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A post shared by Slod Pod (@thesecretlifeofdads)

That’s the kind of impact that makes this collaboration so special.

What’s Next for Pints & Ponytails?

The movement isn’t slowing down.

Most recently, Lawrence and Mathew have launched THE SHOW, bringing celebrities into the conversation to talk about life as a dad while putting their increasingly advanced hair skills to the test.

And similar events are beginning to pop up elsewhere, bringing dads together to learn, talk and connect—all while developing a newfound appreciation for the skill that goes into doing great hair.

Because in the end, Pints & Ponytails isn’t really about perfect ponytails or flawless plaits.

It’s about giving dads the confidence to show up for the everyday moments that matter—and creating a little more connection along the way.

And that’s something we’re incredibly proud to support.

Follow @thesecretlifeofdads to keep up with Pints & Ponytails and all the great work Lawrence and Mathew are doing.

Photos courtesy of @everbyphotography

Pints & Ponytails FAQs

What is Pints & Ponytails?

Pints & Ponytails is a UK event series that teaches dads practical hair styling skills while creating a relaxed environment for conversations about fatherhood. Dads get hands-on experience learning how to style their daughters’ hair while connecting with other fathers.

What hairstyles do dads learn at Pints & Ponytails?

Dads learn a range of practical hairstyles, from everyday ponytails and pigtails to three-strand plaits, fishtails, French and Dutch braids, boxer braids, buns and space buns.

What mannequins are used at Pints & Ponytails?

Pints & Ponytails uses Pivot Point professional training mannequins with different hair types, textures and lengths, giving dads a realistic, hands-on experience before putting their new skills into practice at home.

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Pivot Point is the world’s most trusted name in beauty, barber, and wellness education. For nearly 65 years, we’ve helped aspiring professionals build confidence, develop skills, and create sustainable careers through industry-leading curriculum, hands-on tools, and effective digital learning experiences. Our mission is to elevate education, improve outcomes, and prepare learners for real-world success.

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