Beers and Braids: Dads Learn Hair Styling in Rural Australia

A night at the pub and a crash course in hair styling might not seem like a common pairing, but with the help of social media the trend is catching on globally — including in rural Australia.

"Beers and braids" events, an Australian version of the "pints and ponytails" viral sensation, have been popping up across the country.

The events teach dads the basics of hair styling while also providing a safe space to connect over the trials and tribulations of parenting.

When mechanic Chris Delaney heard about the idea in the western NSW town of Dubbo, he put up a Facebook post to gauge the community's interest.

He said there was a flood of responses.

"We did have a couple of comments to say that some of the gents do hair quite often but they want to learn some new skills," Mr Delaney said.

Brett Power, who was among the first participants in the inaugural Dubbo Beers and Braids event, said it had boosted his confidence.

"[It's] definitely going to help me with my two young girls in the future and hopefully not have them yell at me anymore when I brush their hair," he said.

The gathering aims to encourage men to take a more active role in domestic tasks traditionally perceived as maternal, and build a stronger connection with their daughters.

Hairstylist Shantelle Mayne, who led the evening, said it could help build role models.

"I think every woman, whether they be your, mum, aunty, sister, cousin, will all agree that when you are young, your hair becomes a very big part of your identity," Ms Mayne said.

"It becomes a way to express yourself and build confidence.

The spray bottle is your best friend

At the event, dads practice hairstyles on mannequins.

Mr Delaney has a one-year-old daughter for whom he occasionally does ponytails.

He hopes eventually he will be able to try a range of different hairstyles.

"She leaves it in there all day and gets lots of comments on her little ponytails," he said.

The first skill the dads learned was how to detangle hair correctly, which means consistently using a spray bottle and always starting from the bottom and working your way up when combing out knots.

Once the basics were covered, they tried their hands at ponytails and plaiting — always making sure to use the same-coloured hair ties.

Ms Mayne said she passed everyone in class.

"We're talking about blokes that are on tools and working with heavy machinery," she said.

"Breaking things down into small basic steps so that they can practice at home will only build their confidence moving forward."

Given the success of the launch, Mr Delaney hoped to line up similar events in the future.

"We're trying to make the most of it and I suppose make it available for everyone to get involved."