Groomer to Groomer July 2022 by Barkleigh Productions

“THE GROOMING INDUSTRY’S TRADE MAGAZINE!” VOL.41 ED.7 • JULY 2022

WWW. GROOMERTOGROOMER .COM

TO CONDITION OR NOT TO CONDITION

THAT IS THE QUESTION “CLEAN UP” WITH

A SELF-SERVE

PET WASH THIN SKIN, THICK HAIR

& THE CANINE IMMUNE SYSTEM UNDERSTANDING

HAIRCARE SILICONES

Our Concentrated Shampoos and Conditioners Provide

Best Value!

CONTENTS | JULY 2022

by Dr. Cliff Faver

David: To Condition or Not To Condition That is the Question...

Hosler: "Clean Up" with a Self-Serve Pet Wash

Bark & Bath Pet Salon is Going Places!

Bishop-Jenkins: Thin Skin, Thick Hair & The Canine Immune System

Oquendo: Why Your Business Needs a "How-To" Manual

Understanding Haircare Silicones

Hansen: "Welcome Home!" Offers to Attract New Cat Clients

Hernandez: One-Length Doodle Pet Trim

New Products

Show Schedule

by Daryl Conner

ON THE COVER EDITOR/PRESIDENT Todd Shelly todd@barkleigh.com

ART DIRECTOR Laura Pennington laura@barkleigh.com

MARKETING COORDINATOR Allison Smith allison@barkleigh.com

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Adam Lohr adam@barkleigh.com

SR. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Brandi Aurelio brandi@barkleigh.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR Gwen Shelly gwen@barkleigh.com

WEB MASTER Luke Dumberth luke@barkleigh.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER/ EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Karin Grattola karin@barkleigh.com

MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Shipman rebecca@barkleigh.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Cassidy Ryman cassidy@barkleigh.com

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & CLIENT RELATIONS James Severs james@barkleigh.com

“THE GROOMING INDUSTRY’S TRADE MAGAZINE!” VOL.41 ED.7 • JULY 2022

WWW. GROOMERTOGROOMER .COM

TO CONDITION OR NOT TO CONDITION

THAT IS THE QUESTION “CLEAN UP” WITH

A SELF-SERVE

PET WASH THIN SKIN, THICK HAIR

Kathy Hosler

Mary Oquendo

Deborah Hansen

Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins

Daryl Conner

Jonathan David

Dr. Cliff Faver

Blake Hernandez

& THE CANINE IMMUNE SYSTEM UNDERSTANDING

HAIRCARE SILICONES

Copyright July 2022. Groomer to Groomer is published monthly by Barkleigh Productions, Inc, 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Postmaster: Send change of address to Groomer to Groomer c/o Barkleigh Productions, Inc., 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. Annual U.S. subscription rate $25. Outside U.S. $79. year, surface rates. Groomer to Groomer is free to current Barkleigh Productions, Inc. customers. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Editorial offices: 970 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. (717) 691–3388 FAX: (717) 691–3381 Email: info@barkleigh.com

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

But Why? Con d Con d

itio ne

or Not To

Condition

That is the Question...

n all my years of grooming pets, I have been on a quest to find the right products or combination of products that give me the results that I desire. I’ve tried so many shampoos, conditioners and sprays, and I’ve consulted with friends in the industry to see what each of them prefers. In my quest, I have had some lengthy conversations with other groomers about conditioners—more specifically whether they use them or not. I see groomers post in forums on this very topic and I follow the reasons why some are for or against using conditioners. For some, avoiding conditioners is a timesaver as they feel conditioners make the coat dry more slowly, while others feel it makes the hair too heavy and limp, making it difficult to get a smooth finish. And then there are those that just simply don’t see the need… But why is using conditioner so important to the health of a dog’s skin and coat? To understand the benefits of using conditioners, we must first understand

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

by Jonathan David the anatomy of the hair itself. A hair shaft is made up of three layers; the cuticle, the cortex and the medulla. The medulla is the inner-most layer of an individual hair and this area is made up of cells that contain air cavities. The cortex is the middle layer of a hair shaft and this area is where pigment that colors the hair is found. The cuticle of the hair shaft is the outer layer and makes up approximately half of the entire hair structure. The cuticle is made up of scales similar to the shingles of a roof, overlapping one another to create a protective barrier for the hair shaft. There are three types of cuticle scales found in canines. The first type of cuticle scales are called imbricate, which are flat and more uniformed with narrow margins. The second type of cuticle scales are called spinous, and these cuticles are petal shaped with wider margins like a flower petal. The third type of cuticles in canines are called coronal. These coronal cuticles are crown-like with varying points of less even lengths.

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The hair follicles of canines are compound, meaning they are made of a central hair surrounded by three to 15 smaller secondary hairs all exiting from one pore. And the growth of the hair is affected by a combination of hormones, nutrition and the change of seasons. The hairs are growing from the dermis, which is the thickest layer of the skin. The top layer of the skin is called the epidermis, and this area contains the sebaceous glands which are responsible for the production of oil to hydrate the skin and hair. A healthy hair shaft that is sufficiently moisturized and sealed has cuticles that lay flat and tight against one another like a pinecone that is still closed and hasn’t released its seeds yet. A sealed cuticle gives the hair shaft a smooth texture, holds in moisture and keeps the coat strong and in good condition. During the grooming process, several things affect the cuticle and the way it lays along the hair shaft. The warm water, the use of products like shampoos,

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When the skin and coat are left lacking moisture, the body reacts by turning up the oil production in the skin to compensate for the lost moisture.

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

heat from blow-drying, and friction from brushing can all cause the cuticle to open up and allow the scales to pull away from one another like a pinecone that has released its seeds. Even the simple act of petting a dog can affect the seal of the cuticle. When a cuticle opens like this, it needs to be resealed. Picture this: A dog’s coat comprised of healthy hair shafts with sealed cuticles will appear smooth, shiny and tends to be more tangle-free as the hair has smooth edges that don’t “catch” on one another. When the cuticle is open and the scales stick out like spikes, this can create some big issues for the coat. First, the coat cannot retain moisture, which creates dryness. Dryness leads to a dull appearance and coat breakage with a less soft texture. The second big issue that occurs when a cuticle is open and the scales don’t lay flat is that the hairs that

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rub against one another tend to stick together, creating tangles and matting. Hair shafts with open cuticles are more difficult to maintain, harder to brush and comb, and easily become frizzy. When this happens, the coat tends to become difficult to work with and can result in a less smooth finish that doesn’t retain the plush appearance of a nicely blown-out coat with healthy cuticles. The third main issue that can occur from not using conditioner is that when the skin and coat are left lacking moisture, the body reacts by turning up the oil production in the skin to compensate for the lost moisture. This can result in an over production of oil, leaving the dog’s skin and coat with a greasy appearance which, in turn, traps more dirt and bacteria, lending itself to skin issues. So, how do conditioners work to smooth and seal the cuticle?

Conditioners are typically water-based products in a crème form that, when applied to the skin and coat, restore moisture and help to strengthen the hair shaft. To answer that, we must look at what conditioner is and which types are the most beneficial for a dog’s skin and coat. Conditioners are typically water-based products in a crème form that, when applied to the skin and coat, restore moisture and help to strengthen the hair shaft. Conditioners can be derived from natural ingredients that are known to restore moisture such as plant-based ingredients, or they can be made from silicones, oils or emollients. When applied, the conditioners restore the moisture to the cortex and

cuticle of the hair shaft by penetrating the hair shaft, allowing the scales to lie flat and tight, again resulting in a smooth, healthy hair shaft. The hair follicle will also be moisturized, eliminating the need for overproduction of oils in the skin. In addition, the conditioner leaves a protective layer over each strand of hair, providing protection from heat, hot water, brushing and friction. Hair that is well maintained and adequately moisturized and sealed will also grow faster and thicker for a more healthy and luxurious coat. And obvi-

Con d

itio ne

ously a healthy coat will make grooming easier and result in a better finish. So, to answer the question, “To condition or not condition,” it is an overwhelming “YES—you should condition!” All hair needs moisture to remain healthy and strong. Skipping this crucial step of finishing the bath with conditioner is a disservice to man’s best friend. Experiment with a few and see which ones work best with various coat types and the water in your area, and I think you’ll see a marked difference. Happy Grooming! &

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

Grooming Gab

“Clean Up” WITH A Self-Serve PET WASH by Kathy Hosler

Would you like to boost your income without grooming more pets? Well, that's a no-brainer—who wouldn't??

ffering self-serve bathing could be the perfect addition to your business if you’re looking to increase your bottom line without adding a lot of additional work for you and your staff. I recently spoke with owners and groomers at several establishments that offer DIY pet washing. They provided a lot of insight that can help you determine if adding self-serve is a viable option for you. Their experiences, and the policies they put in place, may help you avoid problems and mistakes if this is a path you decide to take. Mary Jo Vaskorlis decided to add a self-serve pet wash when she was looking for a way to bring more customers (and income) into her salon: "My mom was a groomer for over 40 years, so grooming was in my blood," says Mary Jo. "A friend and I opened a grooming salon in my garage. The time came that we needed to find a different location. Because there were many grooming salons in our area, we knew that we had to offer something that no one else had. "We drove to Virginia and talked to a groomer who offered self-service and to look at their setup. We found a location for

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

our new salon, then opened with two stainless steel tubs that we purchased at Groom Expo that year. “We greet each self-serve customer and help them get their dog safely and securely in the tub. We give them a waterproof apron, clean the pet's ears, and put on the facial as we explain how everything works. Our motto is, ‘Whatever mess you make, we clean it up!’ And believe me, we get some huge messes. "Self-serve clients use the same high-quality bathing products as our salon does, and they have access to brushes and combs, but not scissors or clippers. We offer nail trims as an add-on service. Often, after trying self-serve a few times, people decide it's not so easy to do and we gain them as full-service grooming clients. "We've met so many wonderful families through this service,” Mary Jo continues. “Sadly, when the pandemic hit, we couldn't have customers in the building. COVID changed a lot for us." In a bold move, Kim Novak opened her self-serve pet wash during the COVID-19 pandemic. She just celebrated her first year in business by being awarded “2022 Best New Business in Placentia, California.” Kim shares her experience and advice:

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"I had zero experience going into this except for my love of dogs. I opened my self-serve pet wash with money from my savings, but it has supported itself from day one," says Kim. "We are a storefront, so even the selfwash is full-serve to a point. We greet the customers, walk them through the instructions, explain each product, set the water temperature, and hand them an apron. "I only have one pet peeve about self-wash and that is the customer who wants to stay all day and use the tub for over an hour (which is our maximum). Helping them along limits loitering and allows more clients to use one of our five tubs. That brings in more revenue for me as the owner. "When I opened, I expected to offer self-wash only, but soon realized that having a groomer would create more income. The customers who use our self-wash quickly gain a new respect for the groomers of the world and for how hard they work. "We are presently open five days a week,” continues Kim. “I am actually adding a second crew in July and will be open seven days a week. I am doing this to expand revenue options without opening another location. Running one location to capacity seems smarter to me than trying to open another." Dawn Kinney has had experience with more than one self-serve pet wash operation. She recently helped a salon owner set up and operate the DIY pet wash division of her business: "We saw a need for this service in our area," Dawn shares. "Pet parents with large dogs want to be able to bathe them without the extra chore of having to scrub down their bathroom afterward. There were no other salons in the area offering self-serve, and we saw this void as a potential for extra income. "The salon is basically divided down the middle from front to back.

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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Dawn says that one of the things she likes most about self-serve is meeting more of the pet community that she may not otherwise meet because they have lowmaintenance dogs.

The client enters the lobby, and at the reception desk, dogs either check in for grooming services on the right side or self-serve on the left. At check-in, selfserve clients are provided with slip leads so their own leash doesn't get soaked, two large towels, and pre-packaged specialty shampoo and conditioner concentrates in single-use containers with a lid (like the kind used for single-serve condiments and salad dressing). Clients may bring their own shampoos, but there is no discount if they do. Before we went to pre-packaging shampoos in little containers and limiting towels, there was a lot of product waste and unnecessary laundry. "There are three dedicated extra-large self-serve tubs, each in its own chain link fence enclosure complete with a gate. Each area is about five feet wide by six feet long. Every self-serve bay has a rolling cart that is

stocked with ear powder, ear cleaner, cotton rounds for cleaning ears, toenail clippers, brushes, combs, rubber bath curry comb, and mixing bottles for the concentrates provided. Each enclosure is fully tiled with rubber pool deck tiles for maximum protection from slips. Just outside the gates is a rubber-tiled walkway that leads to the drying room just to the rear of the tubs. "The drying room is enclosed and has a latchable screen door to help contain the hair, noise, water, and escapees during drying,” continues Dawn. “There are five heavy-duty hookups mounted into the studs at floor level with grooming loops. We do not have tables in there for safety reasons. An owner walking away from a table could lead to possible tragedy. Low stools are provided for the pet parents to sit upon. Disposable ear plugs are available and are included in the drying-room pricing.

SOCIA L MEDIA RELEASE FORM Pet Name

Your Pet is IMPO

No longer struggle with the dilemma of posting your latest & greatest groom that just so happened to be on your client’s dog!

Date

RTANT to Us!

I hereby authorize the use of photos and/or information relate d to my pet’s expe rience at this establishment. I understand my pet may be used in publications inclu ding electronic, audio visual, promotion al literature, adve rtising, community prese ntations, letters to area legislators, med ia and/or in simil ar ways. My consent is freely given as a public service without expe cting payment.

I release this estab lishment and their respective employee and agents from s, any and all liabil ity which may arise news media storie from the use of such s, promotional mate rials, written articl photographic imag es, videos and/or es. I grant permission

to use: (Please chec k one below) My pet’s name(s)/im ages My pet’s and my last name/images My pet’s and my and last name/imag es Establishment Name Owner Name Owner Signature

Barkleigh Produ

ctions, Inc. • 717.6

91.3388 • www .barkleigh.com

This simple form with space for client’s pet name, client’s name and signature is designed to make it clear to the pet parent their pet’s photo will be shared on social media.

www.barkleighstore.com 14

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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"People absolutely appreciate groomers more after they have experienced selfserve," Dawn says. "They have no clue till they've bathed in our shoes." The entire floor is covered in the same rubber pool tiles. "Clients pre-pay for bathing and any add-on services at the reception desk when they check in. Pre-pay came about after a few individuals wanted to 'put their dog in the car' only to hop in and drive off without payment. Pre-pay also eliminates any misunderstandings about pricing or clients trying to negotiate pricing after their dog has already been washed,” she explains. Dawn says their add-on services are prominently displayed on a sign at check-in. Which include: • Disposable doggy toothbrush and toothpaste (for clients to use)

• Anal gland expression by a groomer • Ear plucking and cleaning by a groomer • Nail trimming by a groomer: “Many people look at the nail clippers provided on the cart and then ask ‘Can't you do that?’ Yes we can—for $10 extra,” Kim adds. • Use of the HV dryers in the drying room: “We priced [the HV dryers] as an add-on because our Labrador Retriever owners usually wash, then towel off their dog, and go. The Great Pyrenees owners want to dry the dogs pretty well, and this uses extra electricity, and cleanup of the hair in the drying room takes employee time. This prevents the Lab owners from trying to work you for

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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a discount because they aren't using the dryers,” Dawn advises. Dawn says that one of the things she likes most about self-serve is meeting more of the pet community that she may not otherwise meet because they have low-maintenance dogs. She also likes the boosted revenues, especially from the add-on services. What she likes the least is people interrupting groomers for free advice or free help with holding their dog during the bath once they realize that their dog doesn't just stand there for the entire process. "People absolutely appreciate groomers more after they have experienced self-serve," Dawn says. "They have no clue till they've bathed in our shoes." Dawn's final piece of advice is this, in regards to protecting yourself: "It is really important to have prominently-displayed signage in your salon. It can protect your business from potential legal action. Also, we always have cameras trained on the self-serve area.” In addition, everyone I spoke to agrees on the need to have adequate insurance coverage. No matter what business you are in, today's society is so litigious that insurance coverage is a must. The key is to talk with an insurance agent who is knowledgeable about and specializes in the pet industry to find out what is available and necessary for your unique situation. Can self-serve pet washing be a profitable addition to your business? Absolutely! A well-thought-out design and business model could add substantially to your salon’s income. With self-serve, you could really “clean up!” &

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Salon Spotlight

is Going Places!

besides the positive landlord, including being

Pictures by TB Photography

a former hair salon, which worked in Voegtli’s

favor: “This saved me money on the build-out

passionate about it, it’s possible. I wish I’d done it sooner,” she shares about

County supports small-business growth with-

her journey to becoming a salon owner.

in the county,” she continues. “They also have

og groomer and salon owner Colleen Voegtli was nervous about

because the plumbing, electricity, lighting, and

opening Bark and Bath Pet Salon. Yet, seven months later, she has

layout were already in place.” The licensing and paperwork for the dog

three employees and over 1,000 clients.

“I don’t want to say it’s simpler than I thought it would be, but if you’re

In the summer of 2021, Voegtli started looking for the right location, and she found it! Bark and Bath Pet Salon is located in Lusby, Maryland, about 20 minutes away from the salon in Prince Frederick where she’d

grooming salon went smoothly, too. “Calvert

support staff in place to encourage businesses to start, grow, and flourish.” Voegtli shared that her biggest obstacle was leaving her old job: “I started at Rita’s Groom-

gotten her start and worked for fourteen years. “I wanted to be respectful of my mentor. Plus, I thought there was a

ing in Prince Frederick, MD as a bather when

demand in Lusby. There was no other pet groomer there,” she continues.

I was 14 years old. I started out prepping the

“I started looking at shopping centers. Some landlords don’t want dogs in

dogs for the owner, Rita. She then taught me

their space, but Town Square in Lusby worked out. The landlord was very

how to perform shave-downs on the dogs, and

accommodating and fine with dogs.”

later she taught me breed standard haircuts

With a positive landlord on board, Voegtli felt good about the space,

The location had other things going for it

by Jen Phillips April

along with scissoring skills. I couldn’t have

but there was an obstacle…It was big! “It was over 2,500 sq. ft. It was

done any of this without her. I’d like to thank

intimidating. But my husband was optimistic. He helped me see that it

Rita for being my mentor and introducing me

was a space I could grow into it,” she shares.

to the world of grooming.”

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

GroomertoGroomer.com

However, after 14 years of working

ence: “I created Doggie Suites. They’re

for Rita, Voegtli was ready to branch out.

around 6 ft. x 8 ft. for dogs with anxi-

“She was happy for me and wished me well,” she added. Though Voegtli initially planned

ety and owners who prefer a cage-free experience. It’s an upsell for $10.” She’s added two more team members,

to operate as a one-woman salon, she

too. Now a team of four, each groomer

expanded before she even opened: “A

works one on one with their dog.

friend and fellow groomer wanted to

“We don’t have a separate bather

come and work with me. We opened on

or dryer. Each of us works on one dog

October 5, 2021; myself and Victoria,

at a time. I like having the one on one

the other groomer.”

with the dog, and many of our clients

At her previous salon, people

appreciate that too. They like knowing

tended to drop off their dogs in the

who’s working on their dog from start

mornings and pick them up later.

to finish,” Voegtli says.

That allowed the groomers to work on

In addition, the one-on-one ap-

them throughout the day, but Voegtli

proach allows each groomer to do what

noticed that not everyone liked that,

they think is best for their client. “Ev-

and some wanted to pick up their dogs

ery groomer is particular about their

sooner. At Bark and Bath, she is able

dogs,” she continues. “We can take

to accommodate that.

our time and use the products we

“We work straight through on our clients. Of course, if customers need to drop off their dog before work and pick it

They’re around 6 ft. x 8 ft. for dogs with anxiety and owners who prefer a cage-free experience. It’s an upsell for $10.” -Colleen Voegtli

feel are the best for our client on that day.” With things falling in place

up later, we can accommodate that too,

for the Bark and Bath Pet Sa-

but 90% of my clients prefer to pick up

lon, Voegtli is excited. And in

their dog as soon as possible,” she shares.

order to provide the best-qual-

For the pups who’ll stay longer,

“I created Doggie Suites.

ity grooming experience, the

Voegtli came up with a creative way

close-knit team continues to learn

to offer a safe, yet kennel-free experi-

together: “We’re doing monthly con-

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

tinuing education training streaming webinars. We will also be attending expos annually. This ensures we are providing the best services and products to our clients,” she says. To conclude, Voegtli shares this parting advice to groomers considering going out on their own:

“Each of us works on one dog at a time. I like having

“Do it. I was really scared and nervous at first. I was wondering if I was making the right decision not only for my career, but my family as well. It has all paid off. It’s an astounding feeling to run your own salon and offer customers and pets the experience you want to provide.” &

the one on one with the dog, and many of our

Do you want YOUR salon featured in Groomer to Groomer magazine?

clients appreciate that too.”

Tell us why you should be the next Salon Spotlight! Email Rebecca@barkleigh.com

-Colleen Voegtli

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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Groomer’s Guide

THICK HAIR

ll groomers are essentially topical dermatologists; we work on the outside of the dog to clean, condition, and routinely care for the skin and the hairs that grow out of it. And I know I am not alone in wishing that some basic canine skin and coat education could be required of all professional dog groomers… Veterinarians often report that skin issues are the most common reason for patient appointments, other than routine annual examinations. A veterinarian’s medical function is to work on the inside of the dog—including disorders of the skin—and our job as groomers is the routine care of the outside of the dog; the skin and coat. Some groomers even go on to become Canine Estheticians, which means they are able to do non-medical therapies for skin and coat issues. Esthetician expertise requires significantly extra (but invaluable) training, but it’s a great enhancement to any groomer’s business. Dogs, like humans, are mammals. One definitive feature of all mammals is that we have skin consisting of multiple layers with impressively complex functioning. All mammals also have pores in their outer skin layer, or epidermis, that open down into hair follicles located in the dermis, which is an inner layer of the skin. Hair length in grooming matters to the health of the skin. It is not an understatement to say that perhaps the most hotly debated topic on groomer social media is how long or short certain kinds of haircuts should be for specific breeds. As with any complicated question, the answer is generally, “it depends.”

DOGS VS HUMANS by Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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Since skin is the largest and most important organ in any mammal’s body, it helps to consider how dogs are

SEBACEOUS GLAND

EXOCRINE SWEAT GLAND

SEBACEOUS GLAND APOCRINE SWEAT GLAND

APOCRINE SWEAT GLAND

CANINE SKIN

HUMAN SKIN

different from the skin we know the best—our own. The thickness of the skin itself and the amount of protective covering such as hair, feathers, scales, etc., for any species, is generally inversely related. Our skin is much thicker than dog skin. And we have much less hair, as far as mammals go, than dogs. Dogs have much thinner skin and many more hairs and hair follicles. Yes, there are the very rare hairless dog breeds, but all other dogs, on the outside, are mostly hair and we are mostly skin. We have thick skin and thin hair, with one hair per follicle and not many follicles. Dogs are the opposite; they have thin skin and a lot more hair, with many hairs per follicle and lots more follicles. There are many vital functions that skin and hair provide to both people and dogs. Skin stores nutrients, aids in hydration, regulates temperature and a long list of other important benefits. Most importantly, skin and hair provide protection from external toxins, abrasion and other dangers in the environment. The skin is a barrier that protects our vital organs inside. The hair on a dog is the barrier that protects the skin. This is why many skin and coat educators do not recommend balding a dog, even in its groin area underneath the torso. I recommend no shorter than a #5F on the groin, leaving some protective hairs on very thin skin.

CONSIDERING THE COAT TYPE When trying to evaluate the optimal length of a haircut for protecting a dog’s skin, we should remember that, for the purposes of discussion, we are only talking about dogs that are “hair-type,” or UDL (genetically undetermined length hair). Like the hair on human heads, UDL hair grows and grows until it is cut or breaks. “Fur-type” dogs are shedders

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LANGERHANS CELL

These vital cells were found to be a central part of the body’s immune system; a complex network that helps the body fight disease.

with genetically pre-determined length hair, or PDL. Like the hair on our arms and legs, it should not be cut, just deshed. This is especially true for the upper torso or jacket area where the sun hits the most directly. It is not surprising that our customers are not aware of this distinction. They will commonly ask for their dogs to be shaved down or given a “summer cut” without regard to the type of coat or its vital function. This is why it is so important for groomers to be well-versed in the different coat types and be prepared to gently educate the customer to do what is best for the health of their beloved companion.

LANGERHANS CELLS In 1868, a German physician and expert in anatomy named Paul Langerhans discovered the cells in the skin that bear his name. Later, these vital cells were found to be a central part of the body’s immune system; a complex network that helps the body fight disease. Langerhans cells are key to the skin’s protective function. All mammals have these cells in their skin, and they are a very important part of our immune system.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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Many research studies have been published on the critical work of the Langerhans cells in mammals, including humans and dogs. The National Institutes of Health website, among several other sites easily found on internet searches, contains medical findings that connect problems that can develop in canine Langerhans cells with cancer. Now for some medical jargon: One example of a study published in the National Library of Medicine about the relationship between sunlight and canine skin cancers states, “Tumors developed in lightly-pigmented glabrous following chronic sunlight exposure… Microscopic examination of tissues from three dogs showed progressive development of epithelial hyperplasia through stages of solar keratosis-like lesions to invasive and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.” Translation, please?? Basically, in English, Glabrous is a kind of mammalian skin with no hair: Think palms of your hands or a dog’s foot pads. Epithelial refers to skin. Hyperplasia is when organs or tissue, in this case, the skin, see an increase in the reproduction rate of its cells, also a common precursor to cancer. Solar keratosis refers to precancerous scaly spots found on sun-damaged skin. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer. Several studies on the effect of sunlight on Langerhans cells find, in short, that if sunlight reaches a dog’s skin, it destroys Langerhans cells or causes them to become cancerous, just like it does on our own skin. It is especially impactful on dogs’ skin because their skin is much thinner and their lives much shorter. But they have their extra number of hairs and follicles to protect them, right? This is where the groomer’s role becomes critically important in the life of a healthy dog.

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WHAT THE INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAY The educator whose teaching first inspired me about the importance of grooming for the health of the canine skin and coat was Michelle Knowles, ICMG, MPAe. Her classes were a game changer in my grooming career. She says, "The very foundation of what we do starts with a healthy skin that grows healthy coat. Learning the concepts of the skin processes and how they are affected by tools and products is essential for maximum health and a successful career." Dr. Cliff Faver is a gift to our grooming industry when, let’s face it, many veterinarians do not regard us as professional peers or partners. A career veterinarian with expertise in diagnosing and treating skin problems in dogs, Dr. Faver teaches grooming seminars about how dogs’ skin and coat

work, and the techniques and products that are most helpful to each skin and coat type. He also offers advanced training for groomers in non-medical therapeutic approaches that we can use for problem skin and coats. When asked what length haircut is best to protect a dog’s skin, he recommends a minimum length of approximately one inch. But he is also clear that there are no published studies yet to offer specific set lengths, so this is just a generalized guideline. Linda Easton, ICMG, who runs International Professional Groomers (IPG), has also had a long and distinguished career showing dogs. She teaches regularly about the importance of protecting dogs’ thinner skin and vital Langerhans cells by leaving some protective-length coat. In dogs that receive haircuts, Linda encourages groomers to evaluate the individual

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color, texture and thickness of the coat when deciding length, but recommends no shorter than a #4 blade. If the coat is thinner and lighter in color, more length is needed for the coat to protect the skin.

THE DETERMINING FACTORS The reason that there is no one exact length shorter than which groomers should not go is because there are so many variations of texture, thickness and coloring in dogs’ vastly varied coats. Grooming is not “one size (or cut) fits all.” Good groomers differentiate their grooming based on that dog’s coat type. Artistry aside, to prevent skin cancers and other health concerns, we must first work to protect what the dog’s coat does for its skin. The first guiding principle regarding protective length of coat should be to know that only hair-type dogs (those with a UDL coat) should be trimmed at all—especially on the upper torso where the sun hits the most. This is not the case for fur-type (PDL) dogs. But how short can you go? The study cited earlier referred to “lightly pigmented” skin as being more at risk. This is true for humans as well. So, a good rule for haircut length is, the thinner, the lighter, the longer. Thinner hair protects skin less; lighter-colored hair protects skin less; therefore, more length is the most protective. Another helpful rule is, leave as much hair as you can. Groomers are in the coat preservation business, not the coat destroying business. We all must work with owner-length preference and grooming schedules. We all battle the effects of weather and puberty on a dog’s hair, which can vary the lengths we have to cut. The one-inch recommendation would be important for a dog with

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The reason that there is no one exact length shorter than which groomers should not go is because there are so many variations of texture, thickness and coloring in dogs’ vastly varied coats. Grooming is not “one size (or cut) fits all.” thinner, lighter hair. Thicker and darker hair could go shorter on the torso, but there the #4-blade-minimum recommendation would be important to consider. Avoid shaving dogs down, but if it becomes medically necessary to do so, make sure the dog wears clothing outside or stays out of the sun until the coat regains a length to protect the skin on its own. & Resources:

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1. Immunophenotypic and ultrastructural evidence of the langerhans cell origin of the canine cutaneous histiocytoma. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/8984828/ 2. Sunlight-skin cancer association in the dog: a report of three cases. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/7334163/ 3. Langerhans cells: an update. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/25482693/ 4. Decrease of e-cadherin expression in canine cutaneous histiocytoma appears to be related to its spontaneous regression. https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/29/7/2713 5. Animal model: solar dermatosis (keratosis) and solar dermatosis with squamous cell carcinoma. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC2042228/

Mary’s Musings

by Mar y Oq

uendo

A business manual allows someone to temporarily take over your business for the period of time you need them to, whether it be a week in the Caribbean or a month in the hospital. (Hopefully it’s the former!)

get way too many emails, but every once in a while, a subject line catches my attention. This particular line read “The Work Is the Shortcut,” and it got me thinking…I could apply that to almost anything! Mastering a task always makes whatever you’re doing go faster. But as I am knee-deep in creating a business manual for my new educational training program, I realized that because I am putting in the work in creating templates, it has already saved me oodles of time. But let’s talk about your business… Why do you need a business manual in the first place? You don’t think it could ever happen to you, but what if you are hospitalized

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

for any of a hundred reasons? Is there someone who can run your business in the way that you are currently running it? Will your business still be there when you recover? Or worse, will mounting bills and no income force you into bankruptcy? OK, let’s not get so dramatic and start with this question: Can you take a vacation and not worry about your business? I hear many of you saying, “What’s a vacation??” A vacation can literally save your life. A recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that over 700,000 people died in 2016 from heart disease and stroke associated directly to working long hours. In fact, working 55 hours or more a week was associated with a 35%

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Known benefits of taking a vacation include: • Increases the feeling of being present in your life. (You get off the hamster wheel and onto solid ground.) • Improves heart health and sleeping patterns (both of which will add to your personal longevity). • Reduces stress. Reducing stress has numerous health benefits, but it also increases productivity. • Boosts brainpower. (You’ll make better decisions!)

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Include in Your Business Manual: 1. Employee, vendor and provider information 2. Login and Passwords to accounts 3.Business credit card information 4. Current year's business plans 5. Notes from planning sessions 6. List of daily business routines 7. Current marketing plan and metrics 8. Copies of all forms, waivers and lists 9. Copy of the employee handbook

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

A business manual should include higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher the following: risk of dying from heart disease than if 1. Names and contact information of you worked between 35 to 40 hours. vendors, employees and all service The bottom line is that a business providers. Everyone who provides manual can keep you from living in your something to your business, no car or simply allow you to enjoy a vacamatter how small, should be includtion by detailing the how-to’s of running ed. Contact information should be your business in a neat little package. It separated by category and include allows someone to temporarily take over names, addresses, email, phone your business for the period of time you numbers and what is provided to need them to, whether it be a week in the your business. The vendor cateCaribbean or a month in the hospital. gory should include copies of past (Hopefully it’s the former!) orders, as well as how and when to A business manual will streamline any place orders. For the service protraining you need to do for employees, viders, you should include copies especially if you decide to hire a manager. of service contracts along with the An additional benefit is that a business provided services. The employee manual will also increase the value of your information should include job debusiness should you decide to sell. scriptions and pay. 2. Login and passwords for software, banking and websites. Many applications have options to add people as editors and not admins. These sections should also include customer service contact information in the event of service disruptions. 3. Business credit card information. Include how to make payments and information on reporting lost or stolen cards. (Keep in mind that any sensitive financial information can be kept in a separate manual.) 4. The current year’s business plan. Without a business plan, there is no way to accurately price your services and account for everything your business needs in order to be healthy. 5. Monthly planning-session notes. Running a business on a wing and a prayer will only work until it doesn’t. Regular planning sessions can help you course correct before a problem becomes too big to fix. By setting aside this time monthly, it provides the opportunity to base it on solid information and data.

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A business manual will streamline any training you need to do for employees, especially if you decide to hire a manager. 6. Daily business routines. This should

spending a significant amount of time

sured can be improved. This would in-

include everything your business does,

compiling this, but it is well worth it. I’ve

clude who’s responsible for what, what

starting from when you unlock the door

created a template for everything I do in

the budget is, and what has and hasn’t

in the morning until you shut off the

my business.

worked in the past.

lights and go home. This will also streamline training new employees. You will be

7. Current marketing plan, along with metrics. That which can be mea-

8. Copies of all forms, waivers and checklists. Separate according to category to make them easy to find when needed. I’ve found that having the colored tabs you stick on paper to be very helpful in locating items in my manual quickly. I also color code. For example, red tabs are for safety, blue for clients, yellow for marketing and so forth.

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9. Employee handbook. For an employee handbook to be legally binding, you must follow the guidelines for your state. Every state will be different. You could hire a business attorney to put one together for you, or you can use any of the many online legal services to add “the things” your state wants and anything else that is particular to you. Either option is worth the money. You don’t want an unemployment claim that should have been denied and wasn’t simply because your employee manual was not legally binding. While that particular email with the catchy subject line actually wanted me to buy into a program that will teach me to eat healthier (No thank you, there are gummi bears with my name on them), it did make me feel good about the amount of work that goes into making a business manual.

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Derm Connection

s h a m poo by Dr. Cliff Faver

If you were suffering from a cold, would you take a birth control pill to treat the symptoms? Sounds ridiculous; however, often we do a similar thing by reaching for the wrong product in our grooming salons.

e assume that because the product does a decent job of cleaning, has a pleasant smell or feels good that it is the solution to all of our problems. For example, when people on Facebook mention that they have an itchy dog, others will chime in recommending their favorite shampoo. Shampoo is made to clean and strip sebum, not hydrate or soothe. In fact, because shampoos are drying in nature, they are often the source of the issue to begin with. Shampoos can be mild, but that doesn’t mean they address the problem at hand. Itching (pruritus) is a factor of inflammation and/or dry skin. To relieve itching, we need to be thinking about using a good hydrating conditioner and possibly even an anti-inflammatory. When dealing with issues outside of the ordinary, we need to take a scientific approach. Using the example above regarding an itchy dog, we need to think through the problem and use the right technique and products to accomplish the

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

task. We need to analyze all of the possible reasons. The most common issues that cause itchiness in a dog are allergies, parasites, dry skin and several other diseases or conditions. All of these should be approached in a different manner and none of them will have great resolution with just a shampoo. Some may even need veterinary involvement for resolution. One common denominator in all of these conditions is good conditioning is needed to return the skin back to normal health (replace the sebum). We often think our routine shampoo serves multiple functions, which may or may not be true. Most shampoos in a concentrated form do kill fleas but they don’t work as efficiently for ticks and mites. Shampoos are meant to clean but not disinfect or kill bacteria, yeast or fungus. We do get a false sense on this issue because by diluting down the number of bacteria and yeast/fungus, we often see a short-term benefit. In many cases, the infection returns as soon as

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we stop the frequent baths because the shampoo did not actually kill the bacteria or yeast/fungus. For best results, we need to pick shampoos that are designed for the specific problem at hand and then follow them with a quality conditioner. A good conditioner will feed, hydrate, and replenish the nutrients and trace minerals that have been lost in the disease process. Your technique also matters. If you are dealing with a pet that is super greasy or producing a lot of skin debris and you use a degreasing product, you may exacerbate the issue. The reason many of these animals produce grease and skin debris is because they have some form of irritation. The body is producing grease to try to alleviate the irritation (not very effective in most cases). If we degrease the animal that is trying to compensate without addressing the underlying problem, often we will send their body into shock, causing it to overproduce to make up for the loss.

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"Hydration" is the absorption of moisture from the air or through humectants and then infusing the cells with water to improve the skin's ability to absorb moisture and nutrients.

Moisturize

Moisturize "Moisturizing" is trapping and locking in the moisture to build the skin's natural protective barrier. This will prevent any water loss and ensure that the skin remains soft and smooth.

A much better approach is to condition first (oils break down oils) which allows us to break down the top layer (or layers) of the oil. Then we use an appropriate mild shampoo that doesn’t strip all the sebum away. It is very important to replace the hydration and oils in a final conditioning stage to relieve some, if not all, of the irritation. This is a much healthier approach which will calm the body versus sending it into shock. Another example of getting lost in what a product is capable of doing is when we try to use an oil to “hydrate” the skin. If we break that down, in order to hydrate, we have to add water. Oil and water don’t mix, so how do we hydrate with an oil? When we use oils, we can moisturize, which means we put a layer of oil or fats (e.g., emollient conditioners) over the skin which holds moisture in, but it does

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

not “add water.” So, if you start off dry and put a barrier (fats or oils) over the top, you are still dry. If you truly want to hydrate the skin and hair, you need to consider a conditioner with a good humectant. The oils do play a significant role once the skin is hydrated as they protect the skin from further dehydration, but oils by themselves do not hydrate. Whenever we have issues outside of the routine bathing scenario, we need to think through the problem to get the best resolution. In other words, treat with intention versus just doing the routine and hoping for good results. The approach may even include a veterinarian since there are many skin issues that come from internal factors; therefore, any product used topically is not going to resolve the problem. There isn’t a product out there that cures hypothyroid or Cushing’s disease by a topical method. We can do a lot to bring the skin and hair back to normal, but it will be a constant battle because the body will be working against you. In summary, if you want resolution to problems, pick products and techniques that are designed to solve the given issue versus just using your favorite product…and no, I don’t recommend birth control for a cold! &

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Grooming Matters

by Daryl Conner Photos by Anjie Coates

“I

t all started years ago with a Guinea Pig named Rumble,” Anjie Coates told me. “He belonged to a yoga instructor and would follow her movements in her classes. She

Coates is currently completing a book about rabbit grooming, which will be the first of its kind. “I love talking rabbits,

wanted me to groom him. I checked the library, trying to find in-

and I teach others how to groom them,” she continues. “In

formation on grooming small mammals, and there was nothing.

addition, I have a rabbit certification program for groomers

I searched the internet, too. This was back in the dial-up days.”

that would like to learn rabbit grooming.”

Though information was scarce, Coates gleaned tidbits

I asked her why a groomer might want to learn this special-

where she could. “The more I learned, the more customers with

ized skill, to which she replied, “There are six to nine million

small mammals magically found me,” she shared.

pet rabbits in the United States and only around 100 rabbit

Fast forward to today, and Coates has a thriving business,

groomers. If groomers want to have a niche market and be

including many small mammals, at Furry Tails Grooming Salon

the only game in town—possibly the only game in the entire

& Spa in Holden, MA. She even has a special room dedicated to

state—rabbit grooming is that niche. Because it is a specialty

grooming rabbits and other small mammals.

market, groomers can charge much more for rabbit grooming

“I groom seven to eight rabbits one day a week in this space. I have a complete set of tools there; everything I could

narians from as far away as Maine,” she says.

than they can for dog or even cat grooming. “Additionally, for the most part, I have never been bitten

possibly need,” Coates continues. “Rabbits are prey animals

by a rabbit. They are really easy to bring back to balance if

with 360-degree vision. I want all the animals that come here

they become stressed. There is a method of soothing them

to have a spa day, and a prey animal cannot relax if they see

where you pet them from the top of the nose up the head

other pets looking at them as if they want to eat them.”

and up the ears.” (The sensation mimics the act of one

Coates has been grooming for 34 years, and has groomed

rabbit grooming another.) “I often groom rabbits in tandem.

rabbits all throughout her career, but her rabbit clientele has

My assistant’s job is to soothe the rabbit using this method.

greatly increased in the past four years. “They come to me from

That is the area of acquiescence; it says you are the boss

all over the state, and some are referred to me by their veteri-

bunny,” she shares.

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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Here are some rabbit grooming tips from Coates:

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• Don’t bathe the bunnies. Rabbit fur is far denser than dog or cat fur. For

have the large digital pad that dogs and cats have on their feet. The hair on their feet and

takes a very long

legs cushions them as

time. In addition,

they move. Cutting

since most pet

the fur can lead to

rabbits have not

a condition called

been trained to be groomed and are not socialized to the process, they can’t

pododermatitis, or “sore hock.” • Don’t hold rabbits vertically. If a rabbit jumps from this position, it can

high-velocity dryer. It would take so

hyperextend its legs behind its body,

long to dry one with a regular dryer

breaking its own back.

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• Don’t trim the fur on their feet. While rabbits have toes, they do not

tolerate being dried by a

process can be completed.

per follicle, but some rabbits have that getting them dry

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becoming hypothermic before the

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“Rabbits are basically fuzzy raisins. Their skin can easily feed into the space between the teeth of a clipper blade." -Anjie Coates

• Don’t “trance” rabbits. This prac-

• Don’t use cologne, waterless sham-

tice, where someone holds the rabbit

poos or leave-in products on their

horizontally on their back, induces

fur. Because they are self-groomers,

the rabbit to go into a state of tonic

rabbits will ingest anything left on

immobility. As prey animals, it is

their fur. In addition, they have deli-

believed that this behavior was devel-

cately balanced digestive systems and

oped as a last resort to escape being

upsetting that can cause fatal gastroin-

attacked by a predator. However, a

testinal stasis.

rabbit in tonic immobility has a dra-

• Don’t trim vibrissae (whiskers) on

matically elevated heart rate, which

rabbits. Coates says, “While rabbits

can lead to a fatal heart attack. Veter-

have excellent distance vision, they

inarians may use this for a brief treat-

don’t see well directly in front of their

ment, but it should never be used for

faces and have limited depth percep-

prolonged grooming.

tion. Therefore, their whiskers are

• Don’t put ear cleaner in a rabbit’s

crucial sensory tools for them. It is

ears. If necessary, the skin in the ear

possible to pluck long hairs between

can be gently cleaned with a moist

the whiskers gently, but you must leave

cloth, but no fluid should be intro-

them intact.”

duced into the canal. Doing so could

• Do use small, very sharp trimmers

cause severe problems with balance

for claw care. Larger clippers made

(i.e., vestibular disease).

for dogs make it hard to see the claw

• Don’t use any blade shorter than a #10, and never use a skip-toothed blade. Coates says, “Rabbits are basi-

when clipping and may increase the risk of accidentally cutting the quick. • Do check the genital scent glands.

cally fuzzy raisins. Their skin can easily

They produce a waxy substance that

feed into the space between the teeth

sometimes (especially in chubby bun-

of a clipper blade. Number four and

nies) becomes impacted. It can be

five blades or guard combs can be used

gently cleaned with a warm, wet cot-

if the rabbit is not matted.”

ton swab. But, Coates says, “They are

10/15/21

2:42 PM

malodorous enough to make you gag, vomit and cry.” • Do provide rabbits with a soft, textured surface while working on

Wisdom & Grace

them. A grippy surface they can dig their feet into helps them feel secure, while a slippery surface induces panic. • Do maintain a quiet environment while grooming rabbits. Choose the quietest clipper and avoid loud motorized tools like Dremels. “An oldstyle nail file is best,” says Coates. If rabbit grooming sounds like something you would like to learn more about, hop on over and check out Anjie Coates’ Facebook page for rabbit groomers. You will find it by typing "Professional Rabbit Groomers" into the search bar. Hoppy grooming! & GB4th-2022-July-GroomersBest.pdf 1 6/17/2022 1:52:26 PM

CMY

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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“Your sun shall no longer go down, Nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the Lord will be your everlasting light, And the days of your mourning shall be ended.”

Isaiah 60:20

Understanding Haircare

ilicones by Dave Campanella

Groomers will find liquid silicones in everything from their shampoos and conditioners to styling products such as foams, mousse and specialty serums. In fact, silicones make up a vast sub-category of cationic hair-conditioning agents all to their own.

ome who know me think I enjoy poking the bear on social media a bit too much. But honestly, I would never intend to anger or hurt anyone—especially when advocating for science and groomer education. However, it can get uncomfortable when moving beyond any status quo. I typically won’t hesitate to stick my neck out or dodge a few arrows along the way when there’s a learning opportunity on the line. For example, many of us have observed “silicone-free” being called out in a thirty-second TV ad by some familiar haircare brand we may or may not use. Doesn’t it strike you as peculiar how such claims are never explained, as if they assume the viewer understands the concerns being thwarted? Such a claim for some could imply that silicones are not so good or perhaps even dangerous. From time to time, companies

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

intentionally malign hair and skin care silicones as fake, plastic, environmentally-threatening or toxic. As a result, some groomers may feel the urge to stop using a product based on these assumptions. But that’s misleading. Let me be your guide down the rabbit hole in an attempt to sort through the hubbub some find alarming about silicones in today’s grooming liquids. I promise to make it worth your while and take just few minutes of your time… Generally speaking, silicones are a family of specialty, high-performance materials found in a wide range of consumer and industrial goods. Did you know they are mineral-based, derived from the elements silicon and oxygen? Please allow me to get nerdy for a few paragraphs…

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Silicon 28.086

Silicone liquids are merely large molecules formed by chemically connecting a succession of building compounds together, not unlike everything else that surrounds us.

More than 90% of the Earth's surface is composed of silicate minerals, making silicon the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust next 1 to oxygen. When silicon is linked up with oxygen, it often forms the mineral compound Silicon dioxide (SiO2), known 2 as Silica, which is merely quartz sand. Synthetic polymers are formed when two or more compounds are 3 added together. Adding oxygen and other varying compounds to silicon creates silicone polymers. Solid and liquid silicone polymers have been used

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

in everything from non-stick baking pans, lubricants, car parts and smart phones, to name a few. Healthcare, digital communications, transportation, construction and personal care are just a few of the industries that pass down the benefits of this technology. Groomers will find liquid silicones in everything from their shampoos and conditioners to styling products such as foams, mousse and specialty serums. In fact, silicones make up a vast sub-category of cationic hair-conditioning agents all to their own. Why

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then are silicones so controversial to some in the pet industry? For some, going silicone-free is a matter of personal choice, not wanting to use synthetic ingredients on the body. Let’s be honest; silicones don’t exactly fit the narrative professed by today’s trendy “natural” product claims. Since silicones are clearly manmade, they simply don’t meet the criteria for being completely natural ingredients. That’s understandable…or is it? Herein lies the rub: Aren’t most cosmetic and hygiene ingredients derived from Earth’s natural resources altered or processed through some form of extraction, distilling, refining or manufacturing? The answer is “Yes”—granted, some more than others. Surely they don’t grow a ready-to-mix shampoo formula… Please understand that haircare chemistry vastly differs from that of food and culinary chemistry. Formulating shampoo surfactant mixtures isn’t like making a salad. Even today’s trending USDA-certified soap bars and liquids (saponified oils) are basic chemical surfactants altered by man. Arguably soap is less synthetic by comparison, but just because silicone is more synthetic than other ingredients doesn’t mean it’s more dangerous and shouldn’t be used on you or your dog’s hair. Did you know that silicone can be infused into soap and some bar soaps use synthetic detergents instead of saponified oils? Things are not always what they appear to be! Even though haircare silicones are non-toxic, some prefer avoiding them all

together and say the real issue with silicones is that certain types build up on hair, leaving a residue that blocks moisture from penetrating the hair strand. Using the wrong kind of silicone can in fact foster undesirable finish effects. For example, many old school hair silicones like Dimethicone can leave an oily residue and weigh down or flatten hair. Some people claim it dehydrates and causes static. Bear in mind that silicone technology is always evolving and never stagnant. Not all silicones are created equal; some act entirely different than others. Truthfully, more and more are water friendly and wash away easily. Today’s hair silicones are much lighter and offer way more benefits than not. Here’s what silicone conditioners 4 can do: • Act as a superior sebum replacement that repels oil rather than attracting it. • Bolster tensile strength, protecting hair from further brush and tool damage. • Help manage the hair’s porosity by closing lifted cuticle scales. • Rehydrate, moisturize and extend manageability. • Fill in and repair damaged surfaces like split ends. • Enable force dryers to be one’s electronic brush, reducing coat damage and physical effort. • Safely release tangles, mats, and shedding undercoat in the tub and while drying. • Decrease drying time and reduce static. Some still say the impact that producing silicones has on our planet is the reason they must be avoided. Silicon and oxygen are the most abundant resources on the Earth, so that can’t be it. Yet others insist it’s the emissions from man-

In other words, the benefits they bring to society—be it home life, transportation, farming, manufacturing, production or even pet grooming—now have smaller carbon footprints thanks to silicones. What if you still want to opt out of silicones altogether? Aren’t there a few plant-based, silicone-free alternatives available to groomers? While efforts have been made in the haircare industry, there honestly isn’t anything that comes close to liquid silicone polymers. Please be weary of products making such claims. They may not be as natural as portrayed, have limited applications and ultimately fall short of all that silicone polymers bring to the grooming table. Silicone liquids are products of science, and that’s not a bad thing. They are merely large molecules formed by

While efforts have been made in the hair care industry, there honestly isn’t anything that comes close to liquid silicone polymers.

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ufacturing silicones and siloxanes that must be considered. However, research has concluded that the use of silicones actually reduces the carbon footprint of 5 many essential products and services.

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

chemically connecting a succession of building compounds together, not unlike everything else that surrounds us. They are mineral-based, derived from the Earth’s silicon, refined and physically processed in a plant. The end product is a highly-engineered, man-made ingredient offering profound benefits. Better yet, their science is progressively evolving in technology and proficiency, currently 6 outpacing the pet grooming industry. Silicones benefit grooming in so many ways. Fortunately, most grooming liquids today safely intertwine sustainable, natural and synthetic ingredients like silicones together, providing the best of science and nature. I challenge you to take a look at other claims and opinions out there concerning pet grooming liquids such as “parabens,” “sulfate-free,” “preservatives” and “fragrances.” You might be surprised at what you’ll learn by doing some fact checking on your own. I wholeheartedly encourage healthy debate over such topics—provided one can base their views on informed opinion and facts, rather than pseudo-

science and hearsay. Surely the topic of silicones can be confusing, but that does not mean they should be dismissed all the same or in spite. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to make their own choices. Silicones may or may not be the right choice for you, but please determine whether your references are based on fear, misinformation, or science when choosing whether to support or avoid using silicones. Then you’ll know what’s best for you and your dogs. & Dave Campanella is a PGC Educator, entertaining seminar speaker, popular podcast guest, and industry columnist. He is Best Shot Pet Products sales and marketing director with over 30 years of pet industry wisdom. He and his wife Tracy co-owned a full-service pet salon and selfwash in Ohio prior to relocating with Best Shot to Kentucky over 17 years ago. To-

References: 1. https://www.britannica.com/science/silicon 2. https://www.britannica.com/science/silica 3. https://www.britannica.com/summary/silicone 4. https://paragonpetschool.com/ wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ CONDITIONER.pdf 5. https://www.silicones.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SIL_exec-summary_en.pdf 6. https://groomblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/silicones-quest-for-truth. html?fbclid=IwAR2QO0zuIq72uVxmY_swt_f7adWjfNXJX74ZXNYM8LJ9hHVrN60YGLQif48

gether they enjoy exhibiting at grooming shows, being industry ambassadors, dog breeding and showing Kerry Blue Terriers along with their Samoyed and Lowland Polish Sheepdog at AKC events.

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Kitty’s Corner

H e m o o m c l e e ! ” W “ Offers to

Attract

New Cat Clients by Deborah Hansen

ttracting new clients can be

are too long. Advertising that focuses on

too. When I run these types of offers, I

overwhelming and tricky. Often

keeping the family safe from long nails

like to give them something free and also

we spend money running social

typically draws in new clients.

a percentage off of a full groom.

media campaigns or advertisements in

When advertising the offer, it is

local publications hoping our ideal client

the opportunity to meet the cat and the

important you make the terms clear,

will see and respond to our advertising.

owners while doing something beneficial

especially if you are going to offer a deep

While social media can help us narrow

for the cat. During this appointment,

discount. I usually make the offer good

down who sees our advertisements, we

you can find out what bothers the family

for the first three months of the kitty

are often paying to market to people

about the coat condition or point out

being in the new home. Many people get

who will not need our services. Directly

other issues that you observe. Many

multiple cats at a time, so you need to

targeting new, local cat owners is often a

times, you will discover matting during

carefully consider if the offer is one per

better strategy and a more effective use

the free nail trim visit which can be used

home or one per cat. If you accept one

of our time and money.

as an opportunity to educate clients on

per cat and an owner walks in with their

how and why matting occurs. In addi-

three recently adopted cats, can your

business, we need to develop something

tion, you can discuss shedding which

business absorb those costs?

to specifically offer new clients. When

can be used to encourage the family to

targeting new clients, a free nail trim is

schedule a full groom.

Before we announce or promote our

often a successful strategy. Long nails are

A free nail trim appointment gives us

Choosing a promotion that fits your unique business and local population is

A “Welcome to Your New Home”

something that takes careful consider-

an irritant for most cat owners. Family

package can also be successful. These of-

ation. After you have your promotion

members get scratched and home décor

fers can be directed towards kittens with

established, it is time to design and print

tends to get ruined when a cat’s nails

a disclaimer that older cats are welcome,

a flyer or brochure to distribute. There

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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are many online platforms that can help you design and then print material for

Welcome to your new home!

A “Welcome to Your New Home” package can also be successful. These offers can be directed towards kittens with a disclaimer that older cats are welcome, too.

ringworm prior to being adopted out. Once you have chosen where to

your business. I have found that the best

deliver the flyers, you must carefully

investment is to hire a graphic designer.

plan your distribution day. I like to arrive

A graphic designer keeps your colors and

about an hour or two into the start

logos true to your branding and does

of operations. This seems to give the

quality control for your printed material.

organization time to work through any

My biggest tip is to choose a high-quality

opening crowds and kinks. I also like to

paper as it will stick out in a pile of papers

plan the delivery in an order that makes

in the home or on a table full of flyers.

sense as far as driving.

After you have your promotions

In addition, you want to make a good

established and printed up, it is time to

impression when you drop off the flyers.

plan to whom and where you will dis-

Taking time to look your best and dress-

tribute the information. I like to choose

ing business casual will make a notable

about five organizations or establish-

first impression. Making eye contact and

ments. A new-cat advertisement should

introducing yourself is always important.

go to your local animal control plus

Arriving with treats (edible or not) for the

any other organization that adopts out

organization staff or volunteers helps get

cats. This can be a little tricky as a lot of

your company talked about. Remember,

rescues do not have a physical location

the key here is getting attention for your

or a set adoption schedule. Research is

business. If you can get the volunteers

important to help you plan your delivery

or staff talking about your business, the

schedule and to get a sense of how

buzz should attract new clients.

specific adoptive organizations operate.

While you are making face-to-face

Obviously you want to be sure you are

contact with the local shelters and rescues,

attracting cats that have gotten the

it is always nice to have a special offer

medical care they needed and are free of

for them so they can see your work. My favorite rescue-organization offer is one

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This is your bread & butter grooming…the client that wants to come in every 8-12 weeks and flare is not a concern. This is a trim that will satisfy most hard-working and busy American pet owners. From nose to rump and down to the toes, we are going to use one length and then show you how to scissor it across the finish line.

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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Fig 1) I like to go in the same order as I do with fancy trims. So here I am coming down the spine and the trunk of the dog with a 5/8" guard comb. Fig 2) Continue with that

FIG 1

length directly under the ear,

FIG 2

following that muscle down to the shoulder. Fig 3) Remember which way the joints can move when manipulating the limbs for clipping. Fig 4) I use the same length guard comb underneath the dog, but I use it in reverse to cut shorter and cleaner in one move.

FIG 3

FIG 4

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

FIG 5

FIG 6

FIG 7

Fig 5) Comb all the hair down on

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Fig 7) Use that same blade going

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GROOM

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EDUCATE, INFORM, ENTERTAIN & PROMOTE

2 Summer

❏ It’s tim e to “freshly-groget that look for omed” Please cal your pet. l now for an appoi ntment!

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Aurquic hom k rub embe thei y ed must learn and oving, va ily ’s him some treats appointm star eet, anhim Praise to new people, be m new experiences. and give places, and stylisthim them in uses e stressPets ents to keep can help Our salo of yo sh d tip-t as m een fam tothaccept at ca le n canfor ar e floo other animals. The earlier you start being good. .When youif are everything l or toa corner that happens drying op shape. In addi take el n care you tw op lin tio have sm of all your be pe rena tion, in a special e of working with him, the better – but, your own hair, situa them let your pet the grooming hen during process, event plan youlook willatbe any ss. W ch as ad al ’s sens odor of ned, re it’s never too late to be effective. and hear your hair dryer when it sure to get the hold su toan the lvall im stillizethrough ingof it. to st onesand time slot vo An Preparing your pet for his ‘big day is on. Soon the noise and blowing cogn your pet to have a n in horm dies. Weeyallrewant bo uatio our great, th as a sit e Continued inside Continued is so rmon inside ho the

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FIG 8

FIG 10

FIG 9

FIG 11

FIG 12

Fig 8) Next, the 5/8" comb can be used on top of the head and face to complete the all-over length. Fig 9) Use thinning shears to trim the inside corners of the eyes. Fig 10) Then trim the outside corners of the eyes also using thinning shears. Fig 11) Tidy the chin using thinning shears or curved shears and connect it to the 5/8" length on your cheek. Fig 12) Comb up the entire body so that you can go over your work again for a smoother finish.

Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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FIG 13

FIG 14

Fig 13) Then clip it all down again with the 5/8" comb. Fig 14) To finish, scissor-tidy your underline.

Wham, bam, Thank you, Ma’am! That is a triple-digit haircut in a double-digit time frame, and there is no beating that! &

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Groomer to Groomer • Vol 41 Ed 7 • July 2022

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