A group of fathers are once again winning praise online after taking part in a powerful workshop designed to help them better support their daughters — this time tackling a topic many families still find difficult to discuss.

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The latest event from The Secret Life of Dads saw dads gather for a session called “Periods and Ponytails”, a follow-up to the viral success of their hugely popular “Pints and Ponytails” evenings.

But instead of learning how to braid hair, this workshop focused on something even more personal: understanding periods, women’s health, and how fathers can show up for their daughters during those conversations.

The event was held in collaboration with women’s health brand Fluxxbox, with founder Grace Gordon helping guide the discussion in what organisers described as a safe, judgment-free space.

Sharing the event on Instagram, The Secret Life of Dads explained the thinking behind it.

“We hosted our first Periods & Ponytails event with the amazing @fluxxbox,” the caption read. “Periods shouldn’t be a mum topic, they’re a parenting topic. A daughter who knows her dad won’t flinch or hand the conversation over to mum is a daughter who hopefully grows up with a positive outlook on men.

“Dads are the first example of how a man can show up for her. The big takeaway (there were many!) was that as a dad you don’t need all the answers, just to be willing to sit through the moments that make you feel uncomfortable & stay anyway.

“She’ll never forget it.”

The message struck a chord online, with many praising the dads for being willing to lean into a topic that has historically been stigmatised.

One Reddit user wrote: “This is so cool! Girls and women’s periods have been so stigmatized and taboo. For men to actually take the time and learn about what we go through is awesome. Its okay guys, you can purchase feminine products for you wife,daughter or girlfriend it doesn’t make you less of a man, it makes you more of one in our eyes.”

Another highlighted how meaningful that support can be, adding: “Even just knowing your dad was open to attending events like this would be amazing”

A third commenter pointed to the wider impact these conversations can have.

“I absolutely love that this is a thing! I think it’s one of those topics for the daughter and father that still can be a bit awkward to talk about, so giving the Dads more education on the topic can help tremendously. I think embracing the topic vs not maybe understanding or knowing what to do or say will help a ton for these guys,” the wrote.

The workshop is the latest in a growing movement from podcast hosts Mathew Carter and Lawrence Price, whose Secret Life of Dads platform has become known for creating spaces where fathers can pick up practical parenting skills while building confidence.

Earlier this year, the duo went viral with their Pints and Ponytails workshops — pub-based gatherings where dads sat with pints and mannequin heads learning how to braid their daughters’ hair.

What started with just a handful of attendees quickly exploded, with their second event drawing 35 dads and their social clips racking up more than 15 million views across TikTok and Instagram in just 24 hours.

At the time, Price told attendees: “This is only the second time that we’ve hosted this event, and a lot of you doing it alone as well, not knowing who you’d be meeting, it takes a lot of guts and courage.”

Carter added: “So it’s a testament to you as dads for wanting to be here to learn a new skill, to create a deeper connection with your daughter.”

Now, with Periods and Ponytails, the pair have pushed the idea of fatherhood even further — proving modern parenting isn’t just about the practical stuff, but about being emotionally present too.

And judging by the reaction online, plenty of people think that’s exactly the kind of example more dads should be setting.

Featured image credit: Instagram/The Secret Life of Dads (screenshots)