Workshop teaches Las Cruces dads the overs-and-unders of braiding hair

LAS CRUCES - Dads, do you know the difference between a fish tail and a French braid? Or whether you should go under or over?

Yes, braiding your daughter's hair can be intimidating, but the cosmetology students and staff at the Computer Career Center are here to help.

Dads learned necessary braiding skills at the first Daddy-Daughter Braiding workshop held Saturday at the center, a division of Vista College.

Some dads braided hair with lightning-fast ease, while others took their time with the challenge. In the end, the daughters not only found their braids satisfactory, but were happy to spend some time with Dad.

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At the free event, dads were taught how to make four unique braids — the fish tail, the three-strand overbraid, the three-strand underbraid and the French braid.

Tasha Hill, a phase one cosmetology instructor at Vista College provided the primary braiding demonstrations.

“Braiding is something dads need to learn to give Mom a break,” Hill said. “We teach them memorization is key to braiding. It’s all about knowing which strand goes over and which strand goes under.”

Daughters sat in styling chairs in front of a large wrap-around mirror as their fathers practiced their new skills. Daughters also practiced their braiding, on mannequins, while famous Disney songs played throughout the morning.

Ashly Gutierrez, a first year cosmetology student, assisted Hill. She said she knows how frustrating it can be to have a dad who isn't the best with braids.

"My dad never knew how to do my hair and when my mom wasn’t there I’d have crazy hair going everywhere," she said.

Father Zach Eason said he attended the event to elevate his braiding skills past the beginner level.

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“The French braid was the most challenging, definitely, I don’t think I got one of them successfully, but the ladies here were really helpful,” Eason said. “I learned that I’ve been brushing hair wrong for three years. I frequently have to do Luna’s hair because she’s 3 and when we’re going places it just looks awful, so I figured I could use some pointers. Now she can have more than just a ponytail.”

Luna said she had fun at the event.

“My dad got it right," she said. "Dad was my favorite part of today.”

Leilanni Lara, 6, thought her father, Ramon Lara, did good work.

“I liked when my dad did the fish braid,” Lara said. “I tried to do one too.”

The speediest father was Xavi Olivas, who braided both his twin daughters' hair fast and correct after each braiding demonstration.

“When I first knew that I had twin girls, I knew I would have to learn for when they were old enough to have their hair braided. I think guys in this day and age have to help Mom out, and single dads need to learn more than a ponytail, too.”

Xavi's daughters, Kaitlin and Emma, age 6, both said the event went smoothly.

“I learned about the French braid and Dad doing my hair was the most fun,” Emma said.

At the end of the workshop, dads were presented with a certificate of completion featuring an image of Belle from "Beauty and the Beast." Daughters took home a hair ribbon of their choice, and a heart-shaped helium-filled balloon.

Program Director Brenda Renteria hopes to make the event an annual, or twice-a-year event. Renteria also encourages people interested in cosmetology to register for classes that begin in March. 

Spencer Taylor is a freelance writer and can be reached at sirspence7@yahoo.com.