Building Confidence, One Braid at a Time: Week Two of For Dads Who Can't Braid at HMP Brixton

 

There's something powerful about seeing someone return.

Not because they have to, but because they genuinely want to.

That was the feeling as we walked into week two of For Dads Who Can't Braid at HMP Brixton.

Before the session had even officially begun, the dads were already making their way over to their practice heads — each one carefully labelled from the previous week. Combs were in hand, techniques were being revisited and conversations had already started.

No prompting.

No hesitation.

Just determination.

After only one workshop, these fathers had gone from wondering whether they could braid at all to eagerly picking up exactly where they had left off. It was a beautiful reminder that confidence isn't something you're given — it's something you build, one braid at a time.

Progress You Could Feel

Week two wasn't just about learning new techniques.

It was about seeing belief begin to replace self-doubt.

One father joined the programme for the very first time and, within a single session, learned both braiding and cornrowing techniques. Around him, the rest of the group continued refining the foundations they'd started the week before.

Of course, there were moments of frustration.

Braiding textured hair asks for patience, precision and practice. Fingers don't always cooperate, sections aren't always neat and every cornrow has its own personality.

But what stood out wasn't the mistakes.

It was what happened next.

Every father adjusted.

They asked questions.

They encouraged one another.

Then they tried again.

That quiet determination became the defining thread running through the room.

Host Spotlight: Timi Dorgu

Week two was hosted by Timi Dorgu, Mentor and Education Trustee, whose warmth and authenticity immediately set the tone for the session.

Rather than simply observing, Timi immersed himself in the experience.

He made time to speak with every participant individually, offering encouragement, checking in on their progress and celebrating the small wins that often matter most.

And then he did something that perfectly captured the spirit of For Dads Who Can't Braid.

He picked up a practice head and gave braiding a go himself.

There was laughter.

There were tangled fingers.

There was learning.

In that simple moment, Timi reminded everyone in the room that this programme isn't about perfection. It's about showing up, being willing to learn and recognising that growth looks different for everyone.

When facilitators learn alongside participants, it creates something special — a space where everyone feels comfortable asking questions, making mistakes and celebrating progress together.

More Than Learning Hair

One of the things we love most about FDWCB is how quickly the workshops stop feeling like lessons and start feeling like community.

You see it in the conversations between participants.

You hear it in the encouragement shared across the room.

You feel it every time someone finally masters a technique they've been practising all morning.

These are moments that extend far beyond hair.

They're moments of patience.

Of resilience.

Of fathers rediscovering what they're capable of.

A Father's Pride

Perhaps the most moving reflection from week two came from one participant, who spoke about what these new skills could mean once he's reunited with his children.

"Before starting the programme, I couldn't do it at all. But I'm a professional now. It's made me feel proud.

I know my youngest would love for me to do his hair before school. Watching him go to school knowing I've done his hair — I would be the most proud ever."

He went on to encourage other fathers to take part, highlighting the welcoming atmosphere created throughout the programme.

"Even if you didn't know how to do anything from the get-go, they didn't make you feel any embarrassment or out of place. It's very friendly, it's very engaging, and you get the help you need."

That sense of belonging is exactly what FDWCB strives to create.

Everyone starts somewhere.

Everyone deserves the chance to learn.

Seen Beyond the Workshop

Sometimes, the impact of a programme is best understood by the people watching from the outside.

One member of staff at HMP Brixton shared what stood out to them after observing week two, and their words captured something that everyone in the room could feel.

"It's refreshing to walk in here and see everyone enjoying and trying to help each other, support each other. It's just giving me a little fuzzy feeling in my heart.

It's good for the men to see products that are actually designed for Black Afro-Caribbean hair. And to see them in a social, natural environment — a lot of them will be fathers, sons, nephews, uncles. It's just putting all those different elements together that make a difference."

Representation matters.

Creating spaces where Black fathers can engage with textured hair care in a way that feels familiar, empowering and judgement-free matters.

And perhaps most importantly, creating opportunities for connection matters.

Looking Ahead

As the dads continue preparing for the family visit day, every braid, every section and every practice session carries a deeper meaning.

Each technique they're learning is another way to say, I care.

Another opportunity to create memories.

Another step towards reconnecting through something as beautifully ordinary as doing your child's hair.

Week two reminded us that progress isn't always loud.

Sometimes, it looks like fathers quietly picking up their mannequin heads before anyone asks them to.

Sometimes, it looks like encouraging the person sitting next to you.

Sometimes, it looks like believing in yourself just a little bit more than you did the week before.

And that's exactly the kind of progress worth celebrating.