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Dads learning to style daughters' hair in the pub

Megan Jonesin Solihull
News imageBBC A group of men sitting around a long table. In front of them are dolls' heads attached to the tables, each with different colour hair. There is hairspray, brushes and clips on the table and the dads are playing with the hair.BBC
Around 17 dads turned up to the first Plaits and Pints session

Daniel Zakis is one of the dads who has come along to the first "Plaits and Pints" event at the Ale Rooms in Knowle.

His 11-year-old twin daughters Maisie and Eliza are very keen he learns new hair skills.

"They play a lot of football and I think I am below par on what they want, I am hoping I can learn something," he said.

"I am excited to try it out with them and hopefully I can impress them."

One of skills the dads are being taught is the French plait, and Daniel said it was not a "total disaster, it's better than I thought".

"I was quite nervous, it is quite stressful, I can't imagine trying it on a real child, but I am quite proud of myself."

News imageA man with black hair and a black moustache stares at the camera. He has a brown shirt on and a white t-shirt underneath. Behind him you can see a plain coloured wall and to his left is a partial view of a man in a blue jumper with black hair.
Daniel Zakis is among the dads at Plaits and Pints, run across Solihull for the first time

The workshop is being run by Sophia Gough, a mobile hairdresser from Deco Hairdressing in Solihull.

She wanted to set up a local event after her sister sent her details of something similar in Australia.

"It has been very popular and a lot of people have got in touch, we had one session fully booked within a week."

There are five sessions running in the Solihull area and one in Kenilworth during May and June.

But how difficult is it to teach people how to style hair?

"It is going to be interesting, I do not know what their skill level is," she says.

"Some dads may have never touched hair before, some might have tried, some might be okay but need some hints and tips."

The main focus though?

"I am hoping to keep it relaxed, as long as people are having a good time, I am happy."

News imageA woman with a side parting and long wavy brown hair looks at the camera smiling. She is wearing a black t-shirt. Behind her you can see dolls' heads and dads plaiting hair.
Sophia Gough is running six sessions across Solihull and in Kenilworth

Another dad who has attended because he "wants to be able to help out more in morning" is Oliver Jacobs, who has a five-year-old daughter.

He admits: "I want to do a better job than what I can do today."

After doing two plaits, he says he is "quite happy" and was feeling "increasingly confident" saying he was "happy with what I have done so far".

News imageA man with short spiky brown hair looks directly at the camera. He has a slight smile on his face and is wearing a brown shirt and white t-shirt underneath. To his right is another man looking at him with a maroon coloured top on and short brown hair.
The dads are learning how to do plaits, ponytails and buns

Matt Beard is here so he can try something "other than a ponytail" on his seven-year-old daughter Beth, who has long blonde hair.

When asked how he'd rate himself out of 10, he only gives himself "a weak 'one'".

He gives a messy bun a try, and admits it went okay.

"I am 100% better at it now than when I started, it is looking promising."

When trying to style his daughter's hair later at home, Beth gave him a 10.

News imageA man looks a the camera with a slight smile on his face. He has a grey t-shirt on and grey stubble. Behind him is a blue wall.
Matt Beard joined other dads at the Ale Rooms in Knowle, Solihull
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