Elevate Your Grooming
Maximized Miami Trim with Some Solitaire Spice typographic title in orange and red
by Blake Hernandez
A portrait photograph of a dark black colored Poodle dog sticking tongue out posed on top of a pedestal
A portrait photograph of a dark black colored Poodle dog posed on top of a pedestal in a left side perspective with the finished Miami Solitaire patterned variation trim
The Miami trim is one we know all too well; short and manageable with all the quintessential Poodle grooming details like bracelets and a topknot. This article will detail how to spice that up with a “Solitaire” Poodle pattern variation.
Shave the feet, face and tail as you would with any Poodle trim.
Fig 1) Shave the feet, face and tail as you would with any Poodle trim.
Transition your shave work into the coated portion of the dog with a thin and straight scissor.
Fig 2) Transition your shave work into the coated portion of the dog with a thin and straight scissor.
Clip the body, excluding right along the spine, and the tops of the legs to the desired length. In this dog’s case, I am using a #2 guard comb.
Fig 3) Clip the body, excluding right along the spine, and the tops of the legs to the desired length. In this dog’s case, I am using a #2 guard comb.
Clip the backs of the dog’s hind legs one length shorter than the previous step. This is to enhance the dog’s turn of stifle while also achieving a more square build and an even more sanitary groom.
Fig 4) Clip the backs of the dog’s hind legs one length shorter than the previous step. This is to enhance the dog’s turn of stifle while also achieving a more square build and an even more sanitary groom.
Transition your shave work into your bracelets by clipping off the hair that comes past your shave line on all four feet, allowing it to begin the shape of the bevel.
Fig 5) Transition your shave work into your bracelets by clipping off the hair that comes past your shave line on all four feet, allowing it to begin the shape of the bevel.
Comb all of the hair on your bracelets up and use a curved scissor to shape them from the bottom up. The bottom will have more structure from your bevel and can support the leg puff.
Fig 6) Comb all of the hair on your bracelets up and use a curved scissor to shape them from the bottom up. The bottom will have more structure from your bevel and can support the leg puff.
Because this is a Solitaire variation, you’ll shave the neck like a Retro trim which goes around the dog’s entire neck.
Fig 7) Because this is a Solitaire variation, you’ll shave the neck like a Retro trim which goes around the dog’s entire neck.
Transition this shave work into your body coat with any scissor you are comfortable with. I used a mid-length, curved scissor.
Fig 8) Transition this shave work into your body coat with any scissor you are comfortable with. I used a mid-length, curved scissor.
Achieve the perfect Poodle expression by trimming the outside corners of the eyes tight with a thin, small scissor.
Fig 9) Achieve the perfect Poodle expression by trimming the outside corners of the eyes tight with a thin, small scissor.
Shape the topknot into whichever variation you would like. For this, I used a large, curved scissor.
Fig 10) Shape the topknot into whichever variation you would like. For this, I used a large, curved scissor.
For the Solitaire, I find the point on the spring of rib that is as far as I can go while still being able to view both lines from the top simultaneously.
Fig 11) For the Solitaire, I find the point on the spring of rib that is as far as I can go while still being able to view both lines from the top simultaneously.
Starting at the point you marked, carve in with a #30 or #40 blade and make an obtuse angle.
Fig 12) Starting at the point you marked, carve in with a #30 or #40 blade and make an obtuse angle.
Comb everything over your carve lines and transition them with a detail scissor of your choice. I used using a small, straight scissor.
Fig 13) Comb everything over your carve lines and transition them with a detail scissor of your choice. I used using a small, straight scissor.
To finish, sit the dog down and view the pattern from behind to make sure it is symmetrical and clean up your lines where necessary.
Fig 14) To finish, sit the dog down and view the pattern from behind to make sure it is symmetrical and clean up your lines where necessary.
A portrait photograph of a dark black colored Poodle dog posed on top of a pedestal in a right side perspective with the finished Miami Solitaire patterned variation trim
I find that adding any carved pattern to a trim will not only give that dog their own custom cut and personality, but the pattern also encourages owners to come in more frequently as they see their beloved signature grooming detail become overgrown. The Solitaire trim is something fun that you can offer to adventurous owners of not only Poodles, but also Bichons, Doodles or even Kerry Blue Terriers to enhance their given trims.
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