Top Recommended Grooming Tools
Grooming is a vital part of keeping your pet healthy and happy. Maintaining a consistent and complete grooming routine is necessary for all pets, no matter the length of hair your pet has or how often grooms are needed. Whether you’re taking your pet to the grooming salon or doing it yourself at home, you want to be sure you’re using the best grooming tools. Our professionals at Shear Standards of Grooming are here to give you the rundown on the basic grooming tools and what brands we recommend for our furry friends.
Nail Clippers & Grinders
Overgrown nails can cause problems for your pet. Trimming your pet’s nails keeps their feet happy and can alleviate discomfort with walking and standing. Proper nail care helps avoid issues with breaking or splitting nails.
There are two types of tools you can use to trim your pet’s nails: clippers or nail grinders. You may find your pet having a preference for one of another - that's okay!
Generally speaking, clippers are the most effective at trimming long nails. Clippers are ideal for removing length from a nail and are usually quicker than a nail grinder. Make sure to be mindful of not trimming too close to the quick and to start off making small clips
A nail grinder, also called a Dremel, can be used to file your pet’s nails down. It can be easier for pets with dark nails or if the nail's quick is difficult to see. It’s also great if you want a smoother, finer finish. The best practice is to first trim the length off the nails with a clipper, then follow up with a Dremel to get the nails as short and smooth as possible.
Slicker Brush
For pets with any type of hair that is not short and/or smooth, slicker brushes are the best choice for brushing. This brush can keep your pet’s coat healthy by preventing matting and separating tangles and removing loose hair. A slicker brush has brush heads that are covered with tightly packed wire pins that are angled, to separate the hair. When you are using a slicker brush, you should avoid dragging the pins across your pet’s skin and instead brush out and away from the skin. Be mindful not to overbrush any one area at a time with any instrument to avoid irritation.
Pinhead Brush
A pin brush has wide-set, straight pins (as opposed to a Slicker Brush that has a slight bend) Pin brushes have a softer feel than a slicker brush and can even have soft protective caps at the end of each bristle. The purpose of the caps is to ensure a soft brush against your pet’s skin. It’s important to know that a pin brush won’t remove loose hair on your pet as well as other brushes. Their ideal purpose is to separate long, clean hair and prevent tangles. They should not be used to break up mats or on dogs with thick undercoats.
Bristle Brush
If your pet has a short coat with a silky finish, you may want to use a bristle brush. A bristle brush has tightly packed, natural, or synthetic bristles that help remove loose hair and dander. This type of brush smoothes the coat and brings out its natural shine.
Rubber Curry
Rubber Curries are great to use on short-shedding coats. They help loosen up the undercoat and remove dead skin/dander. Rubber brushes have short rubber nubs that are gentle on the skin while still effective. While ideal for short coats, they can be used on a dry coat or during a bath to help lather in shampoo, even on dogs with longer fur.
Undercoat Rake
Undercoat rakes are great for pets with a double coat (a top coat and an undercoat). Double-coated dogs can come in all fur lengths; a few examples are Huskies, Corgis, Aussies, and Shepherds. These tools have rows of metal pins designed to get through the undercoat to remove loose fur and prevent (or remove) mats. Be sure you are using the correct tool for the length of your pet’s coat. Longer pins are generally used on longer coats. The correct tools should not cut the fur but help gently remove dead, loose undercoat. It's important to only apply light pressure so as to not overwork or aggravate the skin.
What About Scissors for At-Home Grooming?
Scissors come in a wide variety of options, including but not limited to lengths, edge finish, colors, handle arrangements, safety tips, and left or right-handed. When choosing scissors, individually or in a set, it's essential to find what works best for you, what feels comfortable to hold, and what you want your scissors to accomplish. Holding them in your hand is the best way to pick the “right” pair for you. If picking them in person is not an option, here are a few quick tips to help a beginner decide:
Safety tips have a rounded tip, which lowers the risk of ‘poking’ your pet. (These are great for around the eyes or feet)
6 to 7in is a great beginner length. Longer enough to scissors most pets without being overwhelming.
Smaller scissors are great for delicate areas like feet, faces, ears, and privates
To stay budget-friendly, you can accomplish most things with just straight and/or curved scissors
Straight Scissors
As the name suggests, these scissors are straight. Straight scissors are the most commonly used scissors in the grooming process.
Curved Scissors
These scissors have curved blades and come in a wide variety of curve types. Curved scissors are meant to curve to the natural contours of the pet more easily than straight scissors. This makes making those rounded edges of areas like the feet and faces easier to accomplish.
Thinning Shears
Thinning shears have teeth on both sides that look like a comb. Generally these ‘teeth’ are closed together, allowing you to only cut small sections of hair with each cut. Thinning scissors can be used to thin out a pet’s coat that is too heavy/bulk (seems obvious, right?) They can also be used to soften harsh scissors or clipper lines. To help some coats appear less bulky and lay more flat, you can do LIGHT thinning at the root of the hair.
Blender Scissors
The blender scissors have one serrated edge and one straight edge. By having two types of edges, you limit the hair that is trimmed with each close of the blades. This allows you to be more detailed and helps to smooth out the appearance of the hair.
Clippers & Trimmers
Clippers can be used on any coat type and are used for full-body cuts. A powerful motor in the clippers allows you to do more heavy-duty grooming. Clippers can be corded or cordless, but all clippers have interchangeable blade lengths. Clippers can do close, ‘shaved’ like trims, as well as longer, fluffier lengths with the proper attachments.
Trimmers are smaller and ideal for more intricate areas on your pet, like their paws, their face, or under the arms. Trimmers have fixed or limited blade lengths that are very close to the skin. Since these are smaller, they can be more precise than clippers.
When In Doubt, Ask a Grooming Professional
Every pet is unique in their grooming care routine. Our job is to ensure you do what’s best for your pet. We now offer classes on how to provide the best at-home grooms for your pets. Don’t stress over this list of tools; this is just an outline to help get you started. Our groomers are happy to answer any questions regarding tools or routine grooming maintenance questions you have for your pet.
