Inside the Black haircare programme helping fathers in prison to connect with their kids
TreasureTress has brought its acclaimed For Dads Who Can't Braid initiative to HMP Brixton, teaching incarcerated fathers how to care for their children's hair
A programme teaching fathers how to braid their children’s hair has arrived at HMP Brixton, offering incarcerated men an opportunity to strengthen family bonds through an act of care deeply rooted in Black culture.
TreasureTress, the UK’s first and largest natural hair product discovery service for textured hair, has brought its acclaimed For Dads Who Can’t Braid initiative inside the South London prison as part of a special four-week series sponsored by ORS Haircare.
The workshops teach participants practical hair-care skills including braiding, parting and styling, before culminating in a family visit day where fathers can put their new skills into practice with their children.
Founded by entrepreneur Jamelia Donaldson, For Dads Who Can’t Braid began as a skills-based workshop designed to help fathers care for their children’s textured hair.
It has since evolved into a wider initiative centred on fatherhood, connection and caregiving.
Jamelia said the programme was inspired by the belief that hair care can be a powerful expression of love and connection.
“Hair is never just hair in our community. It’s love, it’s identity, it’s quality time,” she said.
“When a father learns to care for his child’s hair, he’s not just learning a skill, he’s learning a language of connection.”
Jamelia added: “Bringing this programme inside HMP Brixton felt necessary. These fathers love their children deeply and we wanted to give them something tangible to hold onto - a way to show up for their kids that goes beyond a visit; a bonding moment they can practise for and look forward to.
“What happens in that room is transformative, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
The initiative comes amid growing recognition of the role family relationships play in rehabilitation.
A recent prison inspectorate review found that family ties can influence almost every aspect of prison life, while warning that support for maintaining those connections is too often treated as an afterthought rather than a central part of rehabilitation.
Anita Tremain of HMP Brixton said the workshops offered fathers an opportunity to reconnect with an important part of their identity.
“For the fathers participating at HMP Brixton, this programme means far more than simply learning how to braid hair,” she said.
“It is an opportunity to reconnect with their identity as fathers, strengthen relationships with their children, and rebuild confidence in their role within the family.
“In prison, many men can feel defined only by their offence, losing sight of who they are beyond their sentence. For Dads Who Can’t Braid creates a unique and meaningful space where fathers can learn a practical, nurturing skill that symbolises care, love and connection.”
Participants have already spoken positively about the experience.
One described learning techniques he plans to use “immediately” when he returns home, while another said he felt proud of mastering new skills during the sessions.
“Learning how to do hair isn’t for the light-hearted, but I learnt how to cainrow today - It’s the first step on the ladder,” an additional participant said.
Perhaps the most powerful reflection came from one father’s application to take part in the programme: “The love I have for my child motivates me to learn how to care for her hair.”
After sessions on 4 and 11 June, the programme continues today (18 June) and on 25 June.
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