SHAMPOO GUIDE FOR GROOMERS

The multitude of shampoo choices presented to us can be overwhelming, and the many formulations available to tackle specific issues can only compound and confuse the selection process. Below we have compiled a brief guide to help you understand the details and benefits of the different types of shampoos, in the hope that it will assist you in making the most-informed purchasing decision for your grooming needs.

Q: Do you need an everyday all-purpose shampoo for your shop that’s cost effective?
A: GENERAL PURPOSE SHAMPOOS
are the everyday shampoos that are used when you just need to get the dog clean in a gentle way that won’t damage the coat.

- - - SEE ALL GENERAL PURPOSE SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Does your client’s dog have allergies or sensitive skin , but still need a bath?
A: HYPO-ALLERGENIC SHAMPOOS
are generally free of ingredients that have been found to cause allergic reactions in dogs (e.g., chemical fragrances, dyes and coloring). A hypo-allergenic shampoo still can be considered hypo-allergenic even if it contains some of these ingredients, as long as the ingredients have not been found to trigger an allergic reaction in dogs.

- - - SEE ALL HYPO-ALLERGENIC SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Has an owner made an appointment for their dog who suffers from seasonally dry, itchy, flaky skin, mild seborrhea, or the occasional hot spot?
A: OATMEAL SHAMPOOS
are formulated with colloidal oatmeal, a finely ground mixture of oatmeal kernels and husks. This mixture, when shampooed into the coat, acts as a mild exfoliant that loosens dead skin cells while relieving itching and flaking. For best results: lather once as usual, rinse, then lather again, leaving the oatmeal lather on for 5 ̶ 10 minutes before rinsing. Oatmeal shampoos should never be used on pets with open or oozing wounds. Please seek veterinary assistance if the pet’s skin or coat appears abnormal.

- - - SEE ALL OATMEAL SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Have you encountered a dog that is showing signs of skin irritation, hot spots, dermatitis, psoriasis, oily-seborrhea, or acne?
A: MEDICATED SHAMPOOS
have ingredients that are designed to target some or most of the causes of skin and coat conditions. There are broad-spectrum medicated shampoos that are formulated to treat a wide variety of skin and coat issues. There are also highly specialized shampoos that are formulated to target specific problems. Medicated shampoos should never be used on pets with open or oozing wounds. Please seek veterinary assistance if the pet’s skin or coat appears abnormal.

- - - SEE ALL MEDICATED SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Has your client noticed that their pet has been itching a lot more than normal recently?
A. FLEA & TICK SHAMPOOS
help fight pest infestations on your pet using one of two methods:

  • Chemical pesticides like pyrethrin,
  • Natural pesticides like clove, cedar, and peppermint oils.

Treating the pet with the appropriate topical preventative can be very effective to help eradicate even full infestations. Additionally, taking the proper steps to treat the house helps ensure a pest-free environment.

- - - SEE ALL FLEA & TICK SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Did the dog come in with a slightly matted coat? Would the owner like to add some extra shine to their pet’s coat?
A: CONDITIONERS AND CREME RINSES
use silicones and other compounds to detangle and condition the hair without weighing it down.

  • Pack conditioners are heavy and thick in consistency. They bond to the hair structure and “glue” the hair shaft scales together. These need to be left on for a period of time before rinsed.
  • Leave-in conditioners are thinner and lighter in consistency. They add only a little material to the hair.
  • Ordinary conditioners combine some aspects of both the Pack and the Leave-in conditioners.

- - - SEE ALL CONDITIONERS AND CREME RINSES - - -

Q: Looking for something a little more special than the regular, every day, general-purpose shampoo?
A: SPECIALTY SHAMPOOS
have an enhanced, “spa-like” quality to them. They are usually made with cosmetic-grade ingredients and have pleasing specialty “theme” scents.

- - - SEE ALL SPECIALTY SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Have you encountered a dog with medium to long hair? Want to add that extra softness and shine without the extra step?
A: CONDITIONING SHAMPOOS
work like two-in-one shampoos for people: They eliminate the additional step of conditioning. Conditioning pet shampoo makes it relatively easy to comb through the pet’s coat after bathing.

- - - SEE ALL CONDITIONING SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Does the dog you are grooming have dry brittle fur or dry flaky skin?
A: SKIN & COAT SHAMPOOS
and sprays have ingredients with beneficial properties that aid in boosting the health of the pet’s skin and coat.

- - - SEE ALL SKIN & COAT SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Would your client like you to renew their pet’s coat color?
A: WHITENING & COLOR-ENHANCING SHAMPOOS
provide multiple effects.

  • Optical enhancers include ingredients that encourage the scales of the pet’s hair shaft to lay down flat, which improves the reflection of light and enhances the overall appearance of the coat.
  • Strippers strip away the outer layers of the dog’s coat to allow the true pigment to show through.
  • Color-enhancing shampoos work great to bring out the natural brilliance of the dog’s coat.

- - - SEE ALL WHITENING & COLOR-ENHANCING SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Was the dog you’re grooming sprayed by a skunk? Or does it just not get bathed as often as it should?
A: DEODORIZING & DEEP CLEANING SHAMPOOS
work to remove strong odors by using a number of methods. Some work on the molecular level, breaking down the foul odors at the source so they can’t come back. Others use the power of oxygen to stop the odors at the source.

- - - SEE ALL DEODORIZING & DEEP CLEANING SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Having difficulty with a dog that’s shedding their coat?
A: DESHEDDING PRODUCTS
work in a way that allows the pet’s skin to release the fur that is dead and ready to shed. These products let the hair work its way out of the coat in the bath, and while drying, rather than allow it to sit “packed” in the coat and release gradually over time in the customer’s home.

- - - SEE ALL DESHEDDING PRODUCTS - - -

Buying Tips: Here are some things to consider when purchasing shampoos for your salon.

  • Consider which shampoos/conditioners your salon uses the most of and be sure to keep more of them on hand in case of a “rush”.
  • Whenever you change shampoo brands always keep a close eye on your “customers” for new or unusual reactions.
  • Every grooming salon should at least have these seven types of shampoos on hand to cover any skin condition that “walks in the door”: General Purpose, Oatmeal, Medicated, Hypoallergenic, Flea & Tick, Whitening or Color Enhancing, and Degreasing.

The multitude of shampoo choices presented to us can be overwhelming, and the many formulations available to tackle specific issues can only compound and confuse the selection process. Below we have compiled a brief guide to help you understand the details and benefits of the different types of shampoos, in the hope that it will assist you in making the most-informed purchasing decision for your grooming needs.

Q: Do you need an everyday all-purpose shampoo for your shop that’s cost effective?
A: GENERAL PURPOSE SHAMPOOS are the everyday shampoos that are used when you just need to get the dog clean in a gentle way that won’t damage the coat.

- - - SEE ALL GENERAL PURPOSE SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Does your client’s dog have allergies or sensitive skin , but still need a bath?
A: HYPO-ALLERGENIC SHAMPOOS are generally free of ingredients that have been found to cause allergic reactions in dogs (e.g., chemical fragrances, dyes and coloring). A hypo-allergenic shampoo still can be considered hypo-allergenic even if it contains some of these ingredients, as long as the ingredients have not been found to trigger an allergic reaction in dogs.

- - - SEE ALL HYPO-ALLERGENIC SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Has an owner made an appointment for their dog who suffers from seasonally dry, itchy, flaky skin, mild seborrhea, or the occasional hot spot?
A: OATMEAL SHAMPOOS are formulated with colloidal oatmeal, a finely ground mixture of oatmeal kernels and husks. This mixture, when shampooed into the coat, acts as a mild exfoliant that loosens dead skin cells while relieving itching and flaking. For best results: lather once as usual, rinse, then lather again, leaving the oatmeal lather on for 5 ̶ 10 minutes before rinsing. Oatmeal shampoos should never be used on pets with open or oozing wounds. Please seek veterinary assistance if the pet’s skin or coat appears abnormal.

- - - SEE ALL OATMEAL SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Have you encountered a dog that is showing signs of skin irritation, hot spots, dermatitis, psoriasis, oily-seborrhea, or acne?
A: MEDICATED SHAMPOOS have ingredients that are designed to target some or most of the causes of skin and coat conditions. There are broad-spectrum medicated shampoos that are formulated to treat a wide variety of skin and coat issues. There are also highly specialized shampoos that are formulated to target specific problems. Medicated shampoos should never be used on pets with open or oozing wounds. Please seek veterinary assistance if the pet’s skin or coat appears abnormal.

- - - SEE ALL MEDICATED SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Has your client noticed that their pet has been itching a lot more than normal recently?
A. FLEA & TICK SHAMPOOS help fight pest infestations on your pet using one of two methods:

Chemical pesticides like pyrethrin,
Natural pesticides like clove, cedar, and peppermint oils.
Treating the pet with the appropriate topical preventative can be very effective to help eradicate even full infestations. Additionally, taking the proper steps to treat the house helps ensure a pest-free environment.

- - - SEE ALL FLEA & TICK SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Did the dog come in with a slightly matted coat? Would the owner like to add some extra shine to their pet’s coat?
A: CONDITIONERS AND CREME RINSES use silicones and other compounds to detangle and condition the hair without weighing it down.

Pack conditioners are heavy and thick in consistency. They bond to the hair structure and “glue” the hair shaft scales together. These need to be left on for a period of time before rinsed.
Leave-in conditioners are thinner and lighter in consistency. They add only a little material to the hair.
Ordinary conditioners combine some aspects of both the Pack and the Leave-in conditioners.

- - - SEE ALL CONDITIONERS AND CREME RINSES - - -

Q: Looking for something a little more special than the regular, every day, general-purpose shampoo?
A: SPECIALTY SHAMPOOS have an enhanced, “spa-like” quality to them. They are usually made with cosmetic-grade ingredients and have pleasing specialty “theme” scents.

- - - SEE ALL SPECIALTY SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Have you encountered a dog with medium to long hair? Want to add that extra softness and shine without the extra step?
A: CONDITIONING SHAMPOOS work like two-in-one shampoos for people: They eliminate the additional step of conditioning. Conditioning pet shampoo makes it relatively easy to comb through the pet’s coat after bathing.

- - - SEE ALL CONDITIONING SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Does the dog you are grooming have dry brittle fur or dry flaky skin?
A: SKIN & COAT SHAMPOOS and sprays have ingredients with beneficial properties that aid in boosting the health of the pet’s skin and coat.

- - - SEE ALL SKIN & COAT SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Would your client like you to renew their pet’s coat color?
A: WHITENING & COLOR-ENHANCING SHAMPOOS provide multiple effects.

Optical enhancers include ingredients that encourage the scales of the pet’s hair shaft to lay down flat, which improves the reflection of light and enhances the overall appearance of the coat.
Strippers strip away the outer layers of the dog’s coat to allow the true pigment to show through.
Color-enhancing shampoos work great to bring out the natural brilliance of the dog’s coat.

- - - SEE ALL WHITENING & COLOR-ENHANCING SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Was the dog you’re grooming sprayed by a skunk? Or does it just not get bathed as often as it should?
A: DEODORIZING & DEEP CLEANING SHAMPOOS work to remove strong odors by using a number of methods. Some work on the molecular level, breaking down the foul odors at the source so they can’t come back. Others use the power of oxygen to stop the odors at the source.

- - - SEE ALL DEODORIZING & DEEP CLEANING SHAMPOOS - - -

Q: Having difficulty with a dog that’s shedding their coat?
A: DESHEDDING PRODUCTS work in a way that allows the pet’s skin to release the fur that is dead and ready to shed. These products let the hair work its way out of the coat in the bath, and while drying, rather than allow it to sit “packed” in the coat and release gradually over time in the customer’s home.

- - - SEE ALL DESHEDDING PRODUCTS - - -

Buying Tips: Here are some things to consider when purchasing shampoos for your salon.

Consider which shampoos/conditioners your salon uses the most of and be sure to keep more of them on hand in case of a “rush”.
Whenever you change shampoo brands always keep a close eye on your “customers” for new or unusual reactions.
Every grooming salon should at least have these seven types of shampoos on hand to cover any skin condition that “walks in the door”: General Purpose, Oatmeal, Medicated, Hypoallergenic, Flea & Tick, Whitening or Color Enhancing, and Degreasing.