In a sunlit room on the eve of Father’s Day, a group of Black fathers gathered not for a celebration, but for a transformation. They came with combs in hand, daughters at heart, and curiosity in tow. They came to learn how to twist, braid, detangle, and, above all, show up differently. This wasn’t your average barbershop talk. This was Curl Dads a revolutionary workshop and brotherhood launched by two lifelong friends, Prince Williams and Joseph Kollo.

Born from love, frustration, and fatherhood, Curl Dads is part tutorial, part tribe, and entirely a movement.

From DC Roots to a Brotherhood in Action

Prince Williams and Joseph Kollo both hail from Washington, D.C. They met through mutual friends in high school, but their bond deepened at Temple University. Over the years, their friendship matured through milestones marriages, kids, careers, and shared godfatherhood.

“We’ve been best friends and close for a very long time now,” said Joseph. “To create something like Curl Dads together it’s special.”

Prince, a father of two and an IT consultant for an affiliate of the World Bank, was the first in their circle to become a dad. “Fifteen years ago, it was scary,” he said. “But the moment I held my daughter, I knew I was going to give her everything I could better than what I had.”

Joseph, who works in the pharmaceutical tech space, became a father more recently. “Fatherhood slowed me down in the best way,” he said. “Now I look forward to chaotic mornings and conversations about Sonic or school buses. It’s all beautiful.”

The Curl Dads Catalyst

What started as a group chat joke quickly became a community blueprint. The idea was simple but powerful: what if there was a space for dads especially Black dads to learn how to care for their children’s textured hair?

“The idea hit because we were all struggling,” said Prince. “We’re great fathers, but when it came to hair, we felt helpless. And we knew we weren’t alone.”

Joseph added, “We said, ‘If this doesn’t exist, why don’t we build it?’”

And so they did. Curl Dads launched its first workshop on June 14 in Maryland. What they thought might be a small gathering of friends exploded into a full-fledged event, with 95% of attendees being new faces. Fathers came hungry to learn and left braiding, twisting, and parting with confidence.

“Watching these men show up and engage was emotional,” said Joseph. “We had videos sent in after the workshop of dads doing their daughters’ hair. It was powerful.”

Creating Safe Space & Strong Style

A key to Curl Dads’ early success is their intentional collaboration. Master stylist Gwynn Geohaghan led the workshop with warmth, patience, and joy.

“She gave every single dad her time,” said Prince. “She walked them through every braid, every twist, every question.”

Product support came from culturally conscious brands like Kreyol Essence, founded by fellow Temple alum Stephane Jean-Baptiste, and Kazmaleje , a brand revolutionizing hair tools for textured hair. Their products gave fathers the proper tools and the confidence to get hands-on.

Even the soundtrack of the event was intentional. DJ Exo , not yet a father himself, spun tunes to keep the energy high, offering his time simply because he believed in the mission.

More Than Hair: A Legacy in the Making

Beyond styling techniques, Curl Dads is teaching a new model of masculinity one where presence, vulnerability, and patience are core values. “My high school self would be proud,” said Joseph. “Fatherhood has redefined how I show up as a man, as a husband, and as a friend.”

Prince echoed, “I’ve been on this grind since my pops passed at 11. That grind never stopped, but now I can enjoy it through my kids. My daughter just got her first internship. I’m her Uber driver and proud of it.”

What began in a Maryland workshop is already expanding. Curl Dads has events lined up in Philadelphia, D.C., and beyond. They’ve been invited to schools, partnered with barbers, and started dreaming of a national tour.

“We didn’t realize we’d tap into something so universal,” said Joseph. “Yes, it’s Black dads. But really, it’s about any dad who wants to be better. Who wants to show up.”

What’s Next: A Call to Action

Prince and Joseph are clear they’re just getting started. They hope to scale Curl Dads up and down the East Coast and eventually nationwide. They want to continue enhancing their own skills while building up a village of fathers eager to learn and grow together.

“Fatherhood is the most beautiful thing a man can endure,” said Joseph. “We want Curl Dads to be a part of that legacy.”

If the first workshop was any indication, Curl Dads is much more than a pop-up event it’s a culture shift. It’s what happens when love meets leadership, when Black men dare to rewrite the narrative, and when brothers become co-builders of something generational.

Final Word

As Prince said, “There’s no falling back. We’re not going back to how things used to be. We’re showing up for our kids fully.”

That’s Curl Dads.

That’s fatherhood redefined.

Follow Curl Dads for upcoming events, workshops, and stories of Black fatherhood in action. Let’s change the world—one curl, one conversation, one dad at a time.