Phillipe became a single dad when his daughter, Emma, was just 1 year old. Being a single parent came with many challenges, one of which Phillipe never expected would change the course of his life a second time. Raising a daughter meant Phillipe had to learn how to care for Emma's growing head of long, thick hair — especially down in Florida, where warm weather means a lot of ponytails and updos.
By the time Emma was 9 years old, she was constantly being complimented for her creative hairstyles. You see, over the years, Phillipe had taught himself to become a hairstyle pro, which in turn made him a better father and caretaker. Styling Emma's hair was a great way to spend time and bond with his daughter. He tried something new and different every day, which became a fun and creative ritual they both looked forward to. Whether it was intricate braids or delicate buns, parents began looking to Phillipe for tips on how to style their own kids' hair.
One day, Phillipe had a brilliant idea, and now other dads are thanking him for it. As soon as he shared his story on Reddit in 2015, this daddy-daughter duo went viral.
Scroll down to see where Phillipe and Emma's journey has taken them…
Philippe Morgese of Daytona Beach, FL, became a single dad when his daughter, Emma, was just 1. He was solely responsible for Emma and everything that came with raising a daughter — which included keeping her long hair out of her eyes.
As Emma grew up, her hair grew in long and thick. It was clear she had no intention of cutting her gorgeous locks, so Phillipe decided to step up his game.
Phillipe realized that styling Emma's hair was a great spend time with her and bond as father and daughter. Over time, the hairstyles he created became more intricate and impressive.
This doting dad taught himself how to achieve every type of hair style of which a little girl could ever dream, from 10-stranded braids to hair bows. Every day, Emma was flooded with compliments, and other parents started going to Phillipe for hair tips and advice.
One day, Phillipe came up with a brilliant idea. He decided to get a group of fathers together and teach them everything he learned about doing hair. Unsure of how many dads would actually show up, Phillipe secured a free space at the local beauty school.
The Daddy Daughter Hair Factory was so successful that it became a weekly class. Dads from all over the community — from a state correctional officer to a healthcare recruiter — meet every week to learn how to do their daughter's hair, bonding with them in the process.
Phillipe and Emma, now 9, have inspired millions of people all over the world in a way that goes beyond hairstyling. It's really a lesson in parenting.
'I get a lot of credit for doing her hair and hear compliments about my role as a father because of it,' Phillipe says. 'I want other dads to be able to experience that.'
Phillipe is such an inspiration to parents everywhere. If you agree, please SHARE this story with your friends on Facebook!
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