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The Bath Matters: Shampoo, Rinsing and Drying Right
A great haircut starts in the tub. Here is how to make the bath and dry do their part.
The bath is often handed to the newest person in the salon, but experienced groomers know it shapes everything after it. A coat that is not fully clean, rinsed and dried will not clip smoothly, will not scissor evenly and will not hold its shape. Getting the bath right saves time on the table and makes your finished work look better.
Brush before you bathe
Water tightens mats and tangles. Brushing out loose hair and checking for mats before the bath means fewer problems to fight later and gives you a chance to spot skin issues, lumps or parasites before the dog is wet. If a coat is too matted to brush out humanely, have that conversation with the owner before the bath, not after.
Choosing and using shampoo
- Use dog products. Choose shampoos made for dogs and follow the label.
- Dilute as directed. Many professional shampoos are concentrated. Diluting properly makes them easier to work through the coat and easier to rinse out.
- Work it to the skin. On thick or double coats, use your fingers or a bathing tool to get the lather down to the skin, not just on top.
- Be careful with medicated products. If an owner brings a medicated shampoo from their veterinarian, follow those instructions, including any contact time.
Rinse, then rinse again
Leftover shampoo can leave a coat dull and sticky and may irritate the skin. Rinse until the water runs clear and the coat feels squeaky clean at the skin, paying attention to armpits, the groin, under the ears and between the toes. A good rule many groomers follow: when you think you are done rinsing, rinse a little longer.
Protect ears and eyes
Keep water and soap out of the ear canals and eyes. Tilt the head back slightly when rinsing the face, use a damp cloth around the eyes and dry the outer ear afterward. Never point a high pressure spray directly into the face.
Drying by coat type
- Double coats often benefit from a high velocity dryer, which pushes out loose undercoat while drying. This is where much of a deshed really happens.
- Curly and continuously growing coats such as poodles and doodles are usually fluff dried straight, brushing as you dry, so the coat is ready for an even clip or scissor finish.
- Short coats may need little more than a towel and a quick blow out.
Whatever the coat, make sure it is completely dry to the skin before you start the haircut. Damp patches clip unevenly and dull blades faster. Use moderate heat and keep the dryer moving; watch the dog for signs of overheating or stress, and be extra careful with older dogs and flat faced breeds.
Bath time is pay time
In many salons a bather and a groomer split the work. If you are paid on commission for the whole groom, a slow or sloppy bath costs you finish time. If you are the bather on hourly pay, a thorough bath makes the whole team faster. Either way it helps to know how the work and pay are divided; the guide to how grooming commission works explains common setups, and the hourly vs. commission calculator compares the two.