![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/109046b7df67efb243c2003384caf5a2ffc010c699a3961744ef733e86521236.jpg\")
Ren Cherlet instructs Caleb and other fathers as they participate in \u201cBeers and Braids\u201d at a local brewery in\u00a0Winnipeg, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods<\/p>\nWith a hairbrush in one hand and a craft beer in the other, Curtis Einarson takes a seat behind a mannequin head with long, vibrant pink and blue hair.<\/p>\n
The father of three young girls is one of a dozen dads sitting in the corner of Sookram\u2019s Brewing Co., in\u00a0Winnipeg\u00a0on a recent Wednesday evening. The goal is for them to upgrade their limited hairstyling skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cAverage at best. I can do a ponytail, I think OK. Maybe ask (my daughters),\u201d Einarson said when describing his prior proficiency in styling girls\u2019 hair.<\/p>\n
A post on the social media site Reddit led Einarson to the Beers and Braids event.<\/p>\n
The concept was introduced in Manitoba\u2019s capital earlier this year by makeup artist Ren Cherlet, who came across the idea after seeing a similar event on social media called Pints and Ponytails in England.<\/p>\n
The two-hour hair classes are designed for dads or father figures to learn how to do hairstyles, including ponytails, ballet buns and braids. Each class happens at a brewery and the ticket price includes one beverage.<\/p>\n
Ren Cherlet instructs Caleb and other fathers as they participate in \u201cBeers and Braids\u201d at a local brewery in\u00a0Winnipeg, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods<\/p>\n
Cherlet, a self-described dance and sports mom, said she saw single dads in her circle struggle to do their daughters\u2019 hair for extracurricular activities, and moms who just needed a break.<\/p>\n
After hosting her first Beers and Braids in March, her inbox flooded with men asking when the next class would be.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really phenomenal. It\u2019s taken off,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such a necessity for dads to be able to kind of come together collectively for a common ground, get out together, have a beer, and then go home and practise what they learned.\u201d<\/p>\n
It can be easy to fall into more traditional gender roles, she said, but \u201cit\u2019s important for the roles to change and be fluid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Einarson has been trying to nail down doing his daughters\u2019 hair for years. His three girls are ages six, eight and 10.<\/p>\n
They generally ask for ponytails, he said. It\u2019s the pigtails \u2014 twin ponytails or braids on opposite sides of the head \u2014 that he hoped to ace in the class.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be better at it for them,\u201d he said,<\/p>\n
For even the most-skilled stylist, doing someone else\u2019s hair can pose a challenge.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why Cherlet keeps the class size capped at about 20. She has participants go over styles once they feel like they have mastered them. For those who need a little extra guidance, Cherlet or her assistant offer one-on-one help.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all about making sure dads don\u2019t walk away defeated.<\/p>\n
She said some come in a bit trepidatious, but \u201cyou can kind of see throughout the evening that their confidence is just building and building.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Caleb jokes with his friend Petrus as they and other fathers participate in \u201cBeers and Braids\u201d at a local brewery in\u00a0Winnipeg, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods<\/p>\n
Caleb Doerksen said doing hair for his three daughters was a big learning curve.<\/p>\n
The time crunch in the morning before school didn\u2019t help, and his daughters \u2014 ages three, six and eight \u2014 would be quick with salty remarks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll let you know pretty quick if you\u2019re pulling too hard or if there\u2019s knots,\u201d Doerksen said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried a bun the other day. That didn\u2019t work very good. I just called it a fun bun. She wasn\u2019t thrilled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doerksen said his goal in the class was to learn the intricate fishtail braid, a style that mimics the look of scales on a fish\u2019s tail.<\/p>\n
By the end, he was creating his own style of braid on the mannequin.<\/p>\n
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Fathers participate in \u201cBeers and Braids\u201d at a local brewery in\u00a0Winnipeg, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods<\/p>\n
Some join the class with dads they know, while others, like Einarson, show up alone and walk away with a new friends.<\/p>\n
Cherlet said the classes provide opportunity for not only fathers to create bonding moments with their daughters but for men to hang with others trying to master a ballet bun or high ponytail.<\/p>\n
Einarson and two other fathers sitting at the same table exchanged tips throughout the night.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of fun. I\u2019m really proud of myself so far,\u201d Einarson said. \u201c(I\u2019m) meeting some new friends here and just having a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2026.<\/p>\n
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Arla Melgar Franco take a photo of Mike, from left, Tim and Curtis as they and other fathers participate in \u201cBeers and Braids\u201d at a local brewery in\u00a0Winnipeg, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods<\/p>\n
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