By Daryl Conner
August 1, 2020
Did you know there is a word for the concern of trying something new? It is neophobia.
In our industry, there is a constant influx of new ideas, techniques and tools. It can be daunting to break away from tried–and–true techniques and devices that we are used to, but stepping out of our comfort zone can drastically improve the way we work.
Here is an example. When I was learning to groom in the 1980’s, the method that nearly all groomers used was to pre–clip each pet, brush out the tangles and then bathe it. After drying, the pet dog was re–clipped and finished. When you think about it, this indicates each pet got groomed twice. I was scandalized when I first heard the idea of washing first, and then grooming. It took me a while to get up the courage to try it, but I did, and have never looked back.
Working on clean dogs has lots of benefits; clean coat is much easier on our tools so our blades and scissors keep an edge longer; it is better for our health, as we are not touching and breathing in dander, dust and pollutants from the pets’ coats; and clean coat brushes out much easier and with less damage to the hair shafts than dirty coats do. considering that damaged coat tangles faster, pre–washing helps keep the hair healthier in the long run.
I asked other groomers to share examples of things they were hesitant to try but ended up loving. here are some of the actions I got:
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Clipper Vacuum Systems
Many groomers shared that they were afraid to try this technology because they were anxious the skin would be sucked up into the blade, or that the learning curve for adapting to working with suction would be too steep. Others were terrified of making a large investment. Every single person, however, said they now cannot think of working without their vacuum system.
Working with a vacuum system allows groomers to style family pets faster and a lot more efficiently, while achieving beautiful, plush cuts on a large variety of coats. Vacuum systems also minimize the amount of hair and dander in the air we breathe—an especially crucial health bonus.
Wet Clipping
This technique is created for use on matted family pets when it is desirable to leave as much length as possible. The basic idea is to wash the matted dog, getting the pet as clean as possible, and follow with the proper conditioning treatment for the coat type and texture. then the pet is towel–dried, and often lightly dried with a high velocity dryer to push the coat away from the skin and remove enough moisture so that the pet is not drippy. Next, the pet dog is clipped using the longest blade that will go through the matting. and because wet hair is a bit stretchy, on some coats it is possible to get a blade as long as a #4 through the tangles. securely matted coats will require shorter blades. once all the hair is clipped off, the pet is dried and then finished.
I recently used this technique on a matted Bichon. I was able to use a #4 blade and finish the pet dog with a #1 snap–on comb, leaving a nice, plush coat. Without wet clipping I would have had to use a much shorter blade to get through the tangles.
Many groomers are hesitant to try this method—worrying about damaging blades or even spoiling their clipper by working on a damp coat. So to be safe, electric clippers must be plugged into a GFI outlet when wet clipping, or a cordless clipper can be used. remember to clean and oil your blades well when finished. This technique can be a real game–changer on some dogs and is a terrific technique to master.
Hand Stripping
This technique, used to maintain the right texture of harsh–coated breeds like lots of terriers, is a bit of a lost art for pet groomers in the United States. In Europe, lots of pet groomers still hand strip. The basic idea is to pull or pluck the dead coat out to create the proper coat length and shape, rather than clipping. This maintains the proper color and texture of the coat. considering that only dead coat is being pulled, it is not uneasy for the dog. (I have had dogs fall asleep while I am working on them!)
Because so few groomers in this country do it, it can be hard to find someone to learn from; however, there are videos and online tutorials to help get you started. Hand stripping is a fun skill to add to your expertise.
Distance Learning
Once looked down upon, distance learning has gained radical acceptance this year considering that the worldwide COVID–19 pandemic shut down schools, colleges and hands–on learning experiences of all kinds. For groomers, where much can be learned by enjoying someone and listening to them describe their technique, distance learning is a substantial gift. Thankfully, lots of industry talents generously share their skills this way—some for complimentary and some for a small, worthwhile fee. one of the best things about this method of learning is that you can enjoy the videos over and ovenull
