Dads Can Do Hair Too!

Taking care of your little girl's natural hair can be quite the task, especially for dads. Whether you're a single dad, dad on duty, or just helping mommy, knowing how to do your princess' hair is a must. I know this thought terrifies most dads, but it's a good way to get some father-daughter bonding time. If you have more than one girl, it would be especially helpful to have some tricks up your sleeves. There are three basic hairstyles that seem to be the easiest for men to do. Like everything else in your life, practice makes perfect so don't beat yourself up if the first couple of times your hairstyle doesn't look the way mom's hairstyle does.

1. Beginner hairstyle: the ponytail. This is the most basic hairstyle that I encourage dads to master. The technique will include a brush, water, (varies, ask mommy's permission), and an elastic tie. Simply gather all of the hair, brush it back and wrap the elastic tie around the hair. Be sure the ponytail isn't too tight because it can cause a headache and pull the hair out. In the beginning most "daddy tails" are loose so you won't have to worry about that. 
2. Intermediate hairstyle: the pigtails. This is a classic variation of the ponytail. You'll need a brush, a comb, water (again, varies), and two elastic ties. Starting from the front of her head (in between the eyebrows) make a part with the comb straight down the middle of her head. This will take more than one time to get a decent part, but be patient. Once you are satisfied with the straight part, put one section of the hair in an elastic tie. Now just as if you were doing a ponytail gather the hair, brush it back and wrap the elastic tie around the hair. You'll do the same to the other side and there you have pigtails! For your little girl's sake, make sure the pigtails are even and not lopsided (she'll tell if they are anyway). 
3. Advanced hairstyle: the two strand twist. Little girls love twist, she'll be delighted that you've learn how to do them for her. You'll need ponytail equipment and accessories for the ends of her hair (barrettes, bows, etc.). Once you've gotten the ponytail technique under your belt you can start to make smaller sections, maybe three to four. Make each section into a ponytail, separate the hair into two pieces and twist them around each other. End it by putting a barrette or other accessory at the end to ensure her hair doesn't unravel. Repeat for each section you made.

Each of these can be combined with hair accessories to glamorize your little girl's hairstyle. Invest in headbands, barrettes, bows, hair knockers and plenty of elastic ties. Believe me, it gets better and easier as you get more experience with her hair. My brother struggled with doing my niece's hair when her mom deployed, but eventually he reached the advanced level and mastered the two strand twist. 

Mini two strand twists in pigtails.

She loves her daddy's hairstyle!

Once he mastered the two strand twists, my brother started doing mini twists so her hairstyle could last longer. This week long (sometimes longer) hairstyle was the answer to his struggle. As for my niece, she enjoyed the different hair accessories added to the hairstyle. Dads don't be scared, you can do it!

Signing off, a true naturalista.