In a society that struggles with father absenteeism on a regular basis, an initiative has emerged to foster stronger bonds between fathers and their daughters.
Mahlatse Mashua, a devoted father of three daughters and an ambassador for Heartlines’ ‘Fathers Matter’ campaign, established ‘Papa, do my hair’ to challenge the societal norm of father absenteeism and to encourage fathers to embrace a broader role and play an integral part in their children’s lives.
According to the Weekend Argus, the inspiration for his initiative, ‘Papa, do my hair,’ arose when he found himself clueless about doing his nine-year-old daughter’s hair during a weekend when his wife was away.
Mashua recognised that fathers are often encouraged to fulfil the bare minimum when it comes to parenting, but he believed that fatherhood encompasses much more. He urged fathers to embrace a broader role, going beyond being mere helpers and opening up opportunities to play an integral part in their children’s lives.
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Recently, Mashua and a group of like-minded friends organised a salon day at his home in Vredehoek, Cape Town. To bridge the knowledge gap, they invited a professional stylist to teach them essential hair basics, such as braiding, styling, afro hairstyles and twists. Witnessing their daughters’ unanimous approval of the hairstyles filled the fathers with immense joy.

The experience was said to be challenging yet fun, and it offered them precious moments to connect with their daughters on a deeper level. Mashua’s vision is to encourage more fathers to experience the joy of learning how to style their daughters’ hair and spend quality time with them in the process.
‘With all the girls in unanimous approval of their hairstyles, the sense of elation from the fathers was apparent. It was challenging, it was fun, and we also had some great moments to connect. My vision is to have more dads experience the joy of learning how to do their daughters’ hair and spending time with them in the process,’ he told the Weekend Argus.

Akhona Gajula, a father who participated in the Vredehoek initiative, shared how the event strengthened their bond as a family. With his daughters growing older, he recognised the importance of finding new ways to connect with them.
The initiative provided a valuable opportunity for him to reflect on what it truly means to be a man and a father. He realised that embracing sensitivity and actively participating in household chores was a powerful way to set a positive example for his wife and kids.
‘This time was very bonding for us. My daughters are getting older, so I need to find new ways of connecting with them. As they enter their teens, this is something that I can carry over,’ he said.

Mashua’s daughter, Maisha, expressed her enjoyment and love for the experience shared with her dad. She appreciated the effort and love he poured into doing her hair, making the moment even more special.
Mashua’s daughter, Maisha, said, ‘I enjoyed this time with my dad. My father put his hard work into it and also added his love. I also love it because it looks awesome and I love my dad.’
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Mahlatse Mashua’s role as an ambassador for Heartlines signifies the organisation’s commitment to inspiring and encouraging men to be positive influences in their children’s lives, urging society as a whole to recognise the significance of active fatherhood.
To become part of reshaping the narrative about South African fathers and supporting this cause, anyone can visit the Fathers Matter website for more information at www.fathersmatter.org.za.
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Picture: Screenshot / HeartlinesZA / Youtube