A few years ago, a video of a dad using a vacuum to put his daughter’s hair into a ponytail went viral, encapsulating many dads’ frustrations with doing their daughter’s hair. Matt Rynder, the head of Daddy Daughter Hair Factory (DDHF) Denver and dad to Karleigh, six, and Breeanna, three, experienced the same frustrations when he became a single dad.

“I had no idea what to do with my girls’ hair,” says Rynder. “It was really discouraging and it hurt our relationship because I was hurting them.”

After feeling intimidated by YouTube hair tutorials, he stumbled upon a video from Phil and Emma Morgese, the father-daughter team behind Daddy Daughter Hair Factory in Florida. A friendship bloomed, and Rynder decided to start a Denver chapter of DDHF, with the simple slogan, “It’s not about the braid, it’s about the bond.”

“When the younger kids hear that, it just clicks,” says Rynder.

DDHF’s workshops start with detangling basics and build up to mastering braids and buns.
“Creating memories and bonds and getting to build the forever relationship you share with your child, that’s a gift,” says Rynder.

DDHF Denver’s next workshop is on January 4, 6:30 p.m. at the Woodbury Branch Library, 3265 Federal Blvd., Denver. DDHF will also host a monthly class at Pigtails and Crewcuts the first Sunday of every month, starting January 8 at 5:45 p.m.