Dads learn to do their hair: With beer and a brush: practicing hairstyles in the pub
In the dim bar light, hairdressing heads stand on the tables, with colorful hair ties lying between them. Then the first guest enters the restaurant: he is male, middle-aged, and has little hair on his head. He is one of 20 men who were at the Fux inn that day Munich meet for a workshop. Hair and make-up artist Anita Erdmann teaches participants how to style long hair – from ponytails to elaborate bubble braids.
The offer is called “Dads do hair”. It is aimed at fathers who want to learn to do their daughters’ hair. Because this task shouldn’t be left to the mothers alone: “I’m the dad and I have to be able to do it too. “It’s very simple,” says Michael Bartmann, father of a four-year-old daughter with long blonde hair. He was over Instagram attention to the course. “I thought the idea was great and I was really keen on it.”
With others fathers The impetus for this came from the family. “My wife sent me because I have two little daughters,” says Johannes Pauli. He still has to send the children to their mother for hairstyles. He hopes that after the evening with Anita Erdmann he can take the hairdressing into his own hands.
From ponytails to space buns
And the chances are not bad at all. Anita Erdmann starts the course with brushing. The trained hairdresser explains a few tricks so that combing your hair doesn’t become a drama. Her tip: Always start from the bottom and hold the strand of hair with your hand. And then we start with the first hairstyle: a ponytail.
The dads can test their skills on the hairdressing dolls provided. Meanwhile, Erdmann walks through the ranks and provides support. From hairstyle to hairstyle it gets more complicated. Space buns, i.e. two buns high on the head, or special bubble braids make the participants sweat a lot. The pub air, which now smells a bit like beer, may also contribute to this. “A beer always falls over,” Erdmann warned at the beginning of the course. And barely a quarter of an hour later, the golden liquid spills over the tables. But no one lets that bother them.
The pub as a feel-good factor
But why is this course taking place in a pub of all places? “Because it’s really important to me that the atmosphere is right,” explains Erdmann. The fathers were already leaving their comfort zone. Erdmann thinks: “The dads should feel comfortable.” This regulars’ table atmosphere makes everything much more relaxed and relaxed.
The participants also seem to like this: “It’s good to know that there are other men who suffer with you. But you motivate yourself and give yourself courage,” summarizes Johannes Pauli. Mutual support is also evident in practical work. If the braid doesn’t sit quite right, the neighbor knows how to help. Erdmann likes the team spirit: “Then I think to myself, that’s really cool. That’s exactly how it should be.”
Idea from London
The idea came from Anita Erdmann from London, where the two hosts of the “Secret Life of Dads” podcast started the “Pints & Ponytails” event months ago, which in German means “beer and ponytails”. Traditionally British, fathers meet in the pub to drink beer and learn how to skillfully comb and braid hair. Shortly after the first event, according to the podcast’s Instagram account, the offer went through the roof. There are now also events such as “Periods & Ponytails”, where men can learn everything important about menstruation.
Erdmann himself discovered the project on Instagram and thought to himself: “My God, that’s such a nice idea.” The idea hasn’t left her mind since then. “Everyone actually benefits from it. The moms are relieved, the dads have a cool evening with friends and learn to do hairstyles. And of course the kids benefit the most because they then have this time with their dad and he can give them a cool hairstyle,” she says.
The hairdresser thinks this is also needed in Germany. And the concept is successful: all dates in Munich are already fully booked. But Erdmann also offers courses in Frankfurt and Heidelberg and is looking for further dates because demand is so high. “It’s been incredibly well received. The dads are excited, the moms are excited.”
Dads want more
The next day she often receives photos of proud fathers and proud daughters with chic hairstyles. And the dads want more: “Lots of questions about advanced courses.” Erdmann said she had already thought about thematic courses. “It definitely has potential for expansion.”
And how did today’s course go? Participant Johannes Pauli is happy. “It was very enlightening, very fun,” he says. And Anita Erdmann is also proud of her course participants: “Today went really well. So I was really excited.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa:260716-930-391818/2