Welcome back to Skills School.

Today we're learning one of the most important fundamentals of hairstyling: sectioning.

It might not be the flashiest skill, but almost every hairstyle - ponytails, buns, and braids starts with neat sections (like in the photo above). Spend a few minutes getting comfortable with this and future styles become much easier.

What You'll Need

• Hairbrush
• Tail (rat-tail) comb (you can find a link in the Supplies thread)
• 2–4 sectioning clips (optional, but very helpful)
• A willing subject (or snacks and screentime)

Before You Start

Brush all tangles out first.

Trying to section tangled hair is like trying to draw a straight line on crumpled paper—it makes everything harder.

If your child has very fine hair, lightly misting it with water can make it much easier to control.

Tutorial Videos

Types 1–3 Hair (Straight, Wavy & Curly)

I know it's a YouTube Short, but it demonstrates the technique perfectly and keeps it nice and simple.

https://youtube.com/shorts/B401R6LxC-g

Type 4 Hair (Coily & Kinky)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MMYLbKjpU0

Basic Methodology

What you're aiming to do is run the pointed end of the comb along the line where you want your parting, keeping light contact with the scalp the whole way. It should feel more like tickling than scratching.

Once you've finished the line, use your free hand to lift the hair on top of the comb. Then gently separate the hair underneath in the opposite direction, just as shown in the YouTube Short above.

Top Tips

• Hold the tail comb like a pencil.
• Use only the pointed end to create your parting.
• Lift the hair apart gently, don't drag the comb through.
• Clip completed sections out of the way before moving on.
• Don't chase perfection. Kids move, and "good enough" really is good enough.
• If your parting goes off course, don't try to fix it halfway through. It's usually quicker (and neater) to start again.

Common Mistakes

• Sectioning before brushing.
• Pressing the tail comb too hard against the scalp.
• Letting go of a section before you've clipped or secured it.
• Spending five minutes trying to get a perfectly straight parting.

Remember: you're learning a skill, not entering a hairdressing competition.

Homework

Create one centre parting or one side parting in your child's hair.

That's it.

Don't worry if it isn't ruler straight. Every dad's first few partings wobble a bit.

If you're happy with it, post a picture. If you're not happy with it, post it anyway.

As always, if you get stuck, ask a question below. We're all learning together.

Types 1–3

Welcome to Skills School! If, like many of us, your previous hair styling experience consisted of hope for the best, you're in the right place. Brushing your child's hair doesn't have to end in tears (especially yours). The biggest takeaway from this video is simple:

Less pulling = less pain.

1. Pick the right tool

Not all brushes are created equal. The video recommends:

• Use a brush designed for wet hair (e.g. a Wet Brush or Tangle Teezer). You can find the amazon link in the supplies thread stickied to the sub.
• Smaller brushes make it easier to work through hair in sections.
• Wider-spaced bristles reduce snagging and pulling. The goal isn't to brush faster—it's to brush more gently.

2. The best defence is a good offence

The easiest knot to deal with is the one that never happens. A few simple habits make a big difference:

• Tie long hair back during meals.
• Use a ponytail or hat on windy days.
• If your child has a favourite brush with princesses, cats or dinosaurs on it, lean into it. Five extra minutes of cooperation is worth more than your dignity.

3. Know when to brush

Timing makes a surprising difference. Aim to brush:

• Before bed or naps to reduce overnight tangles.
• After a bath or shower while the hair is still damp (note that for types 1 and 2 slightly damp is better than wet).
• Before leaving the house if it's become tangled. Trying to brush dry, knotty hair is basically hardcore mode.

4. Use the right technique

This is the biggest mistake most of us make. Don't start at the roots. Instead: Hold a small section of hair. Brush the last few inches first. Once that's smooth, move a little higher. Repeat until you can brush from the scalp to the ends. Work through one section at a time rather than treating it like you're trying to mow the lawn.

5. Know when to stop

You're finished when the brush glides smoothly from the scalp to the ends without catching. Congratulations. You've completed one of fatherhood's least-advertised side quests.

Bonus: Detangler and travel hacks

If tangles are a regular problem:

• Use a good detangling spray on damp hair.
• For particularly tricky knots, spray in detangling spray and leave it for 5 minutes to work its magic.
• Forgot the detangler? A tablespoon of hotel conditioner mixed with water works surprisingly well.

The one thing to remember

Less pulling = less pain. Being gentle will almost always beat being quick.

Type 4 Hair

Type 4 hair needs a different approach to Types 1–3, but the aim is exactly the same:

Less pulling = less pain.

I'm just summarising this video so please do tell me if I'm saying anything stupid.

1. Pick the right tool

Unlike Types 1–3, you'll usually want:

• A spray bottle filled with water.
• A leave-in conditioner or detangler to add slip.

2. Preparation is everything

Before you even think about brushing:

• Lightly mist the hair with water.
• Apply a leave-in conditioner or detangler.
• Split the hair into manageable sections. It might feel like extra work, but spending two minutes preparing can save twenty minutes of wrestling with knots.

3. Know when to brush

Just like Types 1–3, timing matters. The easiest time to detangle is:

• After washing while the hair is still damp

• After applying a leave-in conditioner or detangler.

• Whenever the hair is moisturised—not dry. Dry detangling is generally best avoided.

4. Use the right technique

The same golden rule still applies. Don't start at the roots. Instead: Hold one section of hair. Gently separate larger knots with your fingers first. Start combing or brushing from the ends. Gradually work your way towards the roots. Take your time and work section by section rather than trying to tackle the whole head at once.

5. Know when to stop

Once the brush or comb moves smoothly through each section without snagging, you're done. No need to keep brushing for the sake of it—your child will appreciate the restraint more than your newfound confidence.

The one thing to remember

Moisture + patience = happy hair. Keeping Type 4 hair damp, moisturised and working in sections makes detangling easier, reduces breakage and helps make the whole experience much more comfortable for everyone.

This braid is tight as heck. That is all.

Most of y'all are probably doing these things already, but on the off chance you're not I thought I'd share some of the things I do to make my daughter's ridiculously fine hair (see pic below) somewhat manageable.

• Spray detangler is absolutely our friend. Her hair is fine enough that it can break off if I'm brushing out snarls. Detangler makes the snarls and tangle come out easily and preserves her poor hair. I go through gallons of the stuff.
• Get a Wet brush. It's the easiest on her hair that I've found, and it's less trauma to her when the tangles brush out more easily.
• I have a little tote that I keep all her hair stuff in so it stays organized. It makes school mornings where we're in a hurry a lot easier (see pic below), and I can do her hair while she's eating breakfast. It's nice to be able to come to where she is to do her hair, rather than having her have to stand in the bathroom while I work on it. It's easier and more pleasant for her, which means it's easier and more pleasant for me!
• If her hair is dry, I use a spray bottle with water to mist it when I'm working on it, usually combined with some detangler spray. It really helps to capture all the stray hairs, and your braids, pigtails and ponytails will look much better.
• My daughter's hair tangles when you just look at it hard. When I put her hair in a ponytail, l spray it with dry finish texture hair spray (see pic), then immediately brush the spray into the ponytail. It doesn't make her hair crunchy like most hairsprays,, or even really change the texture at all, but it help keep it from tangling over the course of the day and it's in much better shape at day's end.
• Because my daughter's hair is so fine and smooth, most hair ties just slip right off. The little super-grippy hair bands that come about 1000 to a jar are the only thing that hold it well. I usually use a regular hair band because it looks better, but add three of these underneath it, which holds it great all day. The only problem is that they're hell to take out, and can damage her hair when I do, so I use a seam ripper (again, see pic) to carefully snip the bands off, avoiding any damage to her hair.
• My daugher has fairly long hair that tangles easily, so I put it in a quick braid every night before bed. It can be a sloppy one, it doesn't matter how it looks, but it helps keep her hair from tangling while she sleeps. It makes a huge difference in the morning.
• A silk pillowcase makes real difference. It helps keep tangles from forming overnight.
• If your daugher has straighrt hair, put it in a tight braid while it's still wet at night and give it a quick spray with dry finish texture spray. In the morning, take the braid out and voila! Instant wavy hair. It's a fun change my daughter loves.
• You can go even further and divide her hair up and put it in a bunch of small braids. That'll make her entire head of hair wavy or kinky. It takes a while to do, but it's fun if you have the time at night.

That's everything I can think of. If you'd told me before my daughter was born that I'd be looking at youtube videos on how to do a young girl's hair, I'd have called you crazy. But it's just me and my daughter full time, and I don't want her to be the kid at school who's embarassed about her hair, so here I am, posting about it on reddit lol. Hope it helps somebody out!

I'd love to hear any tips and tricks you've heard or come up with. What makes doing your daughter's hair easier?

Welcome to the first Style Saturday.

Every Saturday I'll pick a hairstyle for the community to have a crack at. It doesn't matter whether you've been doing hair for years or you've only just figured out which end of the comb goes where. The idea is simple: if you have a go at one new style every week, you'll be surprised how quickly you improve.

This week's challenge is the Half Up, Half Down.

Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtH5FA__n-w

I've put my own attempt in the gallery above so you can see how I got on. This isn't Instagram, so don't worry about perfect photos or perfect hair. As you'll see... neither did I.

I honestly found this a little tougher than I expected. I think part of the problem was that she'd gone to bed with plaits in, so brushing and combing everything through was a bit of a challenge.

One thing that really stood out to me was the difference between photos 2 and 3. It shows just how useful a sectioning comb can be (you'll see one being used in the tutorial).

The Challenge

Give it a go at any point this week and post your result.

Whether you absolutely nail it or it ends up looking like your daughter wrestled a hedge, we'd love to see it.

When you post, let us know:

• How long it took
• What you found difficult
• Any tips you'd give the next dad

The goal isn't perfection. It's just getting a little better each week and helping each other along the way. Everyone who's good at this was rubbish once.

You know those surveys where loads of Americans reckon they could beat a bear in a fight? Let's bring that same completely unjustified confidence to doing our daughters' hair.

If I pitch the difficulty wrong, just let me know. For now, I'm going to assume everyone's starting from the point of being able to do a basic ponytail, but if you can't please do let me know and I'll absolutely make a tutorial on exactly that.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with. Good luck!

Seems to be a common problem. I've seen suggestions such as role playing "let's play hairdressers" (which I have to say is bloody clever).

My go-to, shamefully, has to be their favourite TV programme and some good snacks. Guaranteed to keep her in the chair, at about the right height, for enough time for me to get something done.

What works for everyone else?

First, start by brushing (and detangling).

Second, section (split down middle of head and grab a handful towards the back of her head as shown) and bobble. Note, you should brush the hair in the direction of the bobble just before you stick the bobble in.

Third, plaits. Note, the bobbles at the bottom of each plait should be loose, it ain’t staying there.

Fourth, pull plaits together, get another bobble and place it higher than the other two.

Finally, pull out the two lower bobbles and brush remaining hair.

Optional: admire your handy work and be proud of yourself.

It’s true that showing up is 90% of the battle. That last 10% can be tricky. Show us your worst.

Know of a regular class for dads (or father figures) who want to learn how to style their children's hair?

Leave a comment below and I'll add it to this list.

Please only submit classes that:

• Run regularly (rather than one-off events)
• Welcome dads, fathers or father figures
• Teach practical hair care and styling

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United Kingdom

Scotland

• Dads Rock (Edinburgh, Glasgow & Ayrshire)
• Bonnie Braids (West Lothian)

Yorkshire

• Menfulness × Pretty Plaits Hair School (York)

North West

• Little BigHeads (Bramhall, Cheshire)

South East

• Mamas That Braid – Dads That Braid (Aylesbury)

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United States

National / Online

• Dad Braids

Wisconsin

• Ahava Salon – Daddy Daughter Styling Class (Appleton)

Colorado

• Greg Wickherst's Daddy Hair Classes

Michigan

• Beers & Braids (Midland)

North Carolina

• DS Studio Daddy-Daughter Hair Class (Greensboro)

Washington DC

• Curl Dads

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Canada

Ontario

• Beers and Braids (Ottawa)

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Australia

Queensland

• Glitter & Braids: Daddy & Daughter Hair Workshop (Bulimba, Brisbane) — monthly, first Saturday

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If you know of another regular class anywhere in the world, comment below with:

• Country
• Town/City
• Organisation name
• Website or social media page (ideally)

I'll keep this directory updated.

A really simple introduction to some of the basics to get you practicing, fancy clips will make your daughter happy!

Edit: it’s been pointed out to me that those bands are terrible, and I agree.

A simple tutorial on a 3 strand braid. I personally just keep the bobble on a table nearby because I don’t want to stretch them but you do you.