Joan feverishly tried to get the clipper to turn on again. She reached in the drawer and got her back-up pair of clippers, but they wouldn’t turn on either. Joan knew that they hadn’t been holding a full charge lately, but she had put off having them checked. Now they wouldn’t work at all.

In desperation, she went into the storeroom and dug out an ancient pair of corded clippers. She plugged them in, and thankfully they worked—well, sort of. They were loud, and when she put a blade on them, it vibrated pretty badly. Joan had no choice, though. If she wanted to finish that dog, she had to use them.

As she was working, the clipper got so hot in her hand that she had to stop and let it cool down. She eventually finished the groom, but there were blade tracks all over the back half of the dog that she couldn’t blend in.

When the client came to pick up the dog, Joan explained what happened and discounted the groom. The customer was less than pleased—and did not rebook. It was a costly day for Joan, but her disastrous day might have been avoided if she had just kept up with regular maintenance on her equipment.

Keeping them well-maintained and in top operating condition help you work more quickly and efficiently and allows you to get the finished groom you desire. Yet, it’s surprisingly easy to overlook routine maintenance until a problem surfaces.

Equipment that is not operating correctly can make an already physical job even more difficult. And, if a tool or piece of equipment fails in the middle of your busy work day, it can become a major problem.

Good equipment maintenance begins with one simple rule: Don’t put your tools away dirty. Hair, dander, product residue, and other debris can accumulate on all of your grooming equipment and affect its performance over time.

At the end of every day, take the time to properly clean your equipment before you put it away. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the cleaning, oiling, and care of your tools and equipment, because maintenance requirements can vary considerably between manufacturers.

For many groomers, scissors and shears are among the most important and expensive tools in their toolbox. They are precision instruments, and they deserve to be treated that way. In addition to the daily care, pay attention to how they feel while you are using them. Are they cutting smoothly, or are they bending or pulling hair? Does the tension feel off? These can be early indications that the shear needs more than basic cleaning and oiling.

Professional sharpening and servicing should only be performed by someone who understands grooming shears. Sharpening is not simply a matter of making an edge sharp. Different scissors have different designs, bevels and cutting characteristics, and improper sharpening can alter how it performs.

Clippers and blades collect hair and dander and generate heat during use. This makes regular cleaning and lubrication especially important. Remember, if a blade isn’t performing correctly, it can affect more than the quality of the haircut. It can force your clipper to work harder, which may contribute to premature wear.

Don’t overlook the rest of your equipment. Shears and clippers get most of the attention, but they aren’t the only tools that deserve regular maintenance. Dryers should be kept free of hair and other debris by cleaning the filters and other components daily. The cords should be inspected regularly for damage. Also check your tables, tubs, grooming loops, hoses, electrical connections and other frequently-used equipment for any signs of wear or damage.

Your goal when inspecting and maintaining your equipment is not to become a repair technician but to become observant and recognize when something needs attention. You know when something isn’t quite right with the equipment you use every day—your scissors don’t “feel” right, your clipper sounds different or a blade isn’t gliding through the hair. Don’t ignore these signs that something needs attention, because later can mean a broken shear, a damaged clipper or an emergency equipment purchase.

Your tools work hard for you every day. They help you create beautiful grooms, keep your schedule moving and earn your income. Take care of the tools that take care of you. Your equipment will last longer, you’ll work more efficiently, and you’ll be much less likely to experience a day like Joan had.

Groomers regularly demonstrate powerful strengths, often without naming them, including:

• Compassion in calming anxious pets and listening to worried owners
• Perseverance when completing difficult grooms with patience and care
• Fairness when applying the same safety and welfare standards to every pet
• Courage when saying no to unsafe or inhumane requests
• Love of learning when pursuing continuing education and certifications

Try this simple reflection exercise: Think of a recent hard situation at work. And instead of asking, “What did I do wrong?” ask, “Which strengths did I use?” and “Which strengths do I want to bring forward more clearly next time?”

This reframes tough experiences as part of your development rather than proof that you’re in the wrong field. You begin to see yourself as a professional who is growing skills, not someone who is constantly “messing up.”

• Realistic optimism: “This situation is hard, and I can grow through it.”
• Healthy boundaries: “I care deeply, and I still have limits.”
• Learning mindset: “Every difficult day can teach me something useful.”

One practical way to do this is to notice the stories you tell yourself after a hard day.

Instead of thinking, “I can’t handle this; I’m not cut out for grooming,” try, “Today’s situations stretched my current skills. I handled some parts well, and I can learn better ways for the parts that felt rough.”

Over time, this gentler inner voice builds resilience. You stay honest about difficulty while also noticing your competence and growth.

Written policies help your daily decisions line up with your ethics so you’re not re‑negotiating your values with every client. Consider:

• A coat condition and matting policy that explains, in simple language and photos, when a shave‑down is the most humane option and how you will proceed
• A safety‑first policy that spells out when you will stop or modify a groom (for example, extreme stress, health concerns or equipment issues)
• Clear scheduling, aggression and cancellation policies that protect your health, time and income

When your business structure reflects your values, you don’t have to rely only on willpower in stressful moments. The system itself supports you in doing what you believe is right.

Many stressful moments are also communication moments. Having a few well‑practiced phrases can turn panic into grounded resolve. For example:

• “My first responsibility is your dog’s safety and comfort. Given the coat condition, the humane option today is a shorter cut. From there, we can work together on a plan to grow the coat back healthy.”
• “I’m not comfortable using that technique because I consider it unsafe for your dog. Here’s what I can offer instead that will keep them safe.”

Each time you use a script like this, you are practicing courage, clarity and kindness. That practice gradually changes your self‑image from “I hate conflict” to “I am capable of compassionate, firm conversations.”

• Set up a regular check‑in with a grooming friend where you each share one challenging situation and brainstorm value‑aligned ways to handle it
• Join or create a small peer group (online or in person) focused on wellbeing, not just technique, where it’s normal to say, “This is hard,” and to ask, “How can we handle this in healthier ways?”

When your community treats struggle as part of growth—not a sign of failure—it becomes easier to stay in the field with your heart intact.

Seeking support is not the opposite of grit—it is one of the bravest expressions of it. You are not abandoning your resolve; you are investing in it.

By noticing when your values and your work are out of sync, drawing on your strengths, setting clear boundaries and staying connected to a supportive community, you can meet those moments with compassion and courage. In doing so, you cultivate the kind of grit and resolve that does not harden your heart but deepens it—and makes your work more sustainable and meaningful for years to come.

Peach Yahney, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and professional groomer who specializes in the intersection of mental health and animal care. She combines clinical training in positive psychology with hands‑on salon experience to help groomers build sustainable, value‑aligned careers. Peach offers education, consultation, and workshops to support groomer wellbeing and compassionate, science‑based practice.

One of the most valuable tools a business owner can have is not found in a grooming supply catalog—it is a spreadsheet. Why? Because the health of your business determines how many dogs you will be able to groom in the future.

If the business struggles, it does not matter how talented you are as a groomer—you may not have a business left to serve your clients. As salon and business owners, we need to understand not only how to groom efficiently but also how to operate efficiently. And that starts with measuring what we do.

Many business owners focus on daily sales, the number of dogs groomed or whether the appointment book is full. And while those numbers do matter, the real value comes from watching trends over time. Do you know what percentage of your available appointments are booked? How long does it take to groom the average doodle? Which services are your staff successfully upselling? Which days are consistently slower?

There are countless things you can track. Once you track them, you can manage them. Did you groom more dogs this year than last year? Did revenue increase? Did expenses increase faster than revenue? If your numbers went in the wrong direction, have you measured the change well enough to develop a strategy? Without the numbers, you are making decisions based on assumptions.

What if you knew exactly how long each type of groom takes and how long each groomer typically takes to complete it? You could schedule more accurately, reduce gaps and better understand how many appointments you can realistically complete each day.

We often underbook or overbook. Underbooking leaves money on the table, while overbooking creates stress for groomers, delays for clients and complaints when dogs are not ready by the promised time. Knowing your numbers allows you to schedule based on reality.

Add-on services are another opportunity for measurement. Do you offer teeth brushing, deshedding treatments, specialty shampoos, nail services or other upgrades? How many did you sell last month? Was that more or less than the previous month? How does it compare with last year? These numbers are easy to track and can reveal important trends.

If one groomer consistently sells more add-ons than another, ask why. Are they better at explaining the service? Are they more comfortable making recommendations? Could the rest of the team benefit from additional training? The goal is not simply to collect numbers—it’s to use them to make better decisions.

Efficiency also means understanding what it costs to provide a service. For example, how much does it cost to bathe a 30-pound, short-haired dog? Consider shampoo, conditioner, water, electricity, laundry, towels, labor and other associated costs. Now change your bathing technique. Did you use less product? Did you save time? Did you use more products but reduce labor? Sometimes the greatest cost is not the product—it is employee time. Without measuring, it is difficult to know which changes actually improve your bottom line.

Start by asking, “What do I hope to gain?” If your goal is greater profit, identify your biggest money-makers. It might be deshedding, baths for short-haired dogs, cat grooming or specialty services. Measure where you are today, develop a strategy, then measure again.

It is common to have a theory about what is helping or hurting your business, but tracking the numbers allows you to prove or disprove that theory. Instead of saying, “I think this is working,” you can say, “The numbers show that this is working.” If the numbers prove you wrong, that is valuable information, too. You can change direction and move forward with knowledge rather than a guess.

If you are not familiar with using spreadsheets, there are many courses and resources available. A business coach or mentor can also help you determine what to track and how to make the information useful. The goal is not complicated reports but useful information that helps you make better decisions.

The spreadsheet may not be the most exciting tool in the salon, but it can be one of the most powerful. It helps us understand our businesses, identify opportunities, correct problems and make informed decisions. Measure it, manage it, improve it, then measure it again. That is how we turn a good grooming business into a healthy, efficient and sustainable one.

Dr. Cliff Faver graduated with a BS in Biology/BA in Chemistry before getting a Veterinary degree in 1987. He is the past owner of Animal Health Services in Cave Creek, Arizona and now the US distributor for Iv San Bernard products, teaches the ISB Pet Aesthetician Certification program, and speaks internationally on hair and skin. His passion is to merge groomers and veterinarians to aid in helping and healing pets. He is also a member of AVMA, AAHA, AZVMA, Board member with Burbank Kennel Club, and has served on Novartis Lead Committee, Hill’s International Global Veterinary Board, and a Veterinary Management Group.

In practice, that means giving groomers the tools, training and authority to build lasting careers. Team members have autonomy to establish pricing based on their experience and the work involved. They can decline a risky groom, recommend another setting, or stop a service if a dog is reaching its physical or emotional limit—without fearing that management will pressure them to continue.

“We wanted to elevate the craft of grooming and position our groomers as highly skilled tradespeople who could have sustainable career paths,” Maria shares proudly. “We said we would know we were successful when every top groomer in San Diego wanted to work for us because it was the best place to work.”

Protecting that culture shapes hiring, too. Groomswell often develops new talent from the ground up rather than relying primarily on experienced hires whose methods may not align with the salon’s approach. New team members typically begin in reception, then those pursuing grooming move into the bathing academy for at least a year before advancing to the grooming academy.

Those expectations also include time and price. Services are based on hands-on time and complexity, with the cost discussed before work begins. Each stylist works straight through on one dog at a time, and even an experienced groomer generally completes no more than five or six dogs a day.

“We are definitely not a high-volume place,” Maria shares. “We go at the dog’s pace and do whatever its skin, coat, or temperament demands. We are known for beautiful aesthetics, but it is never a one-length-all-over kind of salon.”

Early estimates suggested repairs would take four to six months. Instead, the rebuilding process stretched the shutdown to almost 11 months total. The family had been in the process of acquiring a second location, but suddenly their attention shifted from expansion to rebuilding.

Groomswell tried to remain visible through Instagram, neighborhood Facebook groups, Nextdoor and occasional text updates through its booking platform. Maria admits she wishes the company had told the rebuilding story more consistently, but the messages and construction photos reassured clients that the salon intended to return, along with its employees.

Expansion remains part of the long-term plan. The family still sees potential for another location, and Maria believes a carefully developed mobile service could help pets that struggle in a salon and clients who cannot easily travel. Still, growth will not come at the expense of the original model that brought the team back.

“The brick-and-mortar salon gives us the space to train and develop team members the way we want,” Maria shares. “We have created something very special.”

After a year that could have dismantled the business, Groomswell’s reopening offered proof that the Serpas had built more than an attractive salon. They had created a community strong enough to wait, return and begin again—together.

Most groomers know that the care of their shears matters—how we set them down and pick them up, how we hold them while scissoring, how we clean and disinfect them, how we store them, and how and where we get them sharpened. But how many of us know what they are made of?

One of the descriptive factors that experts will tell us about the metal in our professional shears is its hardness. This is often measured by what is called the “Rockwell scale.” The higher the number, the harder the metal. The hardness of metal used in professional hairdressing shears typically ranges from the upper 50s to low 60s on the Rockwell hardness scale, which provides a balance between edge retention and durability without being overly brittle.

While hardness is important to be aware of in the metal, if it is too hard, the metal can become more brittle and even snap or fracture under impact or stress. The Rockwell scale measures the metal’s resistance of being deformed by pressure applied to it. But if the metal is too soft, then hair can sometimes fold between the blades instead of being cut by the sharp edges.

Sheared edge quality is crucial in manufacturing, affecting the performance and durability of materials. Various standards, such as ISO 9013, provide guidelines for assessing edge quality, including defects like dross, which can impact the shear’s final integrity.

Dross refers to the waste material or impurities that accumulate during the cutting process, particularly when metal is cut using high-heat methods like plasma or laser cutting. This material can negatively affect the quality of the cut and may need to be removed for optimal results.

If a shear says “Japan” on them, it is because they were made and put together in Japan. It is advisable for groomers to ask questions about the labeling of Japanese steel on the shear because they may contain a fraction of it, all the while the actual country of origin is China or a different place altogether.

“Metals from different parts of the world, while being the same metal, are uniquely different from one another in density, hardness, and strength,” notes Jonathan David with Kenchii shears.

“That I know of, no one makes American scissors that I have ever seen,” says Dennis Geib with Sensei shears.

Dennis also went on to warn about the leading manufacturing challenge: the less money put into the steel, the higher the profit for the company. He also advises groomers to ask about the percentage of steel in the metal.

Some of us prefer a heavy substantive shear, while others prefer light and quick and super sharp. And there is something out there that will be optimal for each of us. It is a very good thing that there are so many choices for us, given the huge range in sizes of dogs and their behavior, coat and owner preferences, as well as options for every budget.

With so much variation, it can be tempting to simply charge what everyone else around you is charging. While it’s important to understand your local market, pricing your services should start with something much more important: knowing your numbers.

Calculating what to charge isn’t nearly as complicated as many groomers think. Start by adding up your monthly overhead. This includes rent, insurance, utilities, software, licensing, equipment maintenance, supplies and any recurring business expenses. Then, factor in payroll, payroll taxes, employee benefits and the salary you want to earn as the owner. Don’t forget annual expenses like continuing education, retirement contributions, equipment replacement, veterinary bills for accidental injuries, emergency cushion or other miscellaneous costs. Divide those yearly expenses by 12 so they become part of your monthly budget.

If your main clipper failed right now, would the same combs fit the backup? Some combs are built around a particular blade type or cutting head, and two products described in near-identical terms can still fit differently.

If you lean on attachment combs day to day, test the actual combination rather than assuming it will work. You don’t need every accessory in the salon to cross over between clippers—you just need the ones you actually use to finish a normal day.

There’s a real advantage to two machines sharing manufacturer-approved batteries, chargers, blades and accessories—one set of consumables covers both, and swapping between them is effortless. But there’s also a case for a different power source altogether.

A corded clipper makes a genuinely useful backup to a cordless main machine because it takes the battery and charger out of the equation entirely. Mobile groomers need to check that any corded backup suits the power available in the vehicle.

If shared batteries matter to your plan, confirm the manufacturer actually lists them as compatible, and check the same for charging stands and power supplies. It’s also worth putting the spare on a simple routine: charge or test it at sensible intervals per the manufacturer’s guidance, run it briefly, and check that the battery, lead and switch are all behaving normally.

Handle it before you buy if you can, or at least choose a supplier who can talk you through the product properly. A backup needs to be different enough to solve the failure without being so unfamiliar that it slows you down or throws off your handling.

A backup clipper doesn’t need to be the newest, fastest or most expensive machine you own. It just needs to be ready, compatible with enough of your working kit and simple to bring into service the moment something goes wrong.

So don’t just ask which second clipper to buy—ask which clipper can step into your current job with the fewest new problems. Get that right, and your backup finally becomes what it was always meant to be: insurance for your working day.

Your most-used tools should be easy to reach, supplies should go back to the same location, backup equipment should have a designated spot and inventory should be stored in a way that makes it relatively easy to see when something is running low. If you have ever spent several minutes searching for something that was just two feet away from you, you know how ridiculous this particular waste of time can feel. Those minutes count, too.

If your primary clipper stops working at 10 a.m., do you have another one? If your dryer quits, what is your plan? If your favorite blade breaks, do you have a replacement? And one of the most important questions: Does your backup equipment actually work? Checking backup equipment should be part of your routine, too. Make sure it is clean, charged, accessible and functional.

It is also worth having a routine for the financial side of equipment. Setting aside money regularly for repairs and replacements can turn the day your dryer finally gives up from a financial crisis into an annoying but manageable business expense. You cannot prepare for every possible problem, but you can prepare for the predictable ones.

Your schedule may look completely different, and it should. The important thing is that you have made the decision ahead of time. Because if something is important to your business but only gets done when you happen to remember it, you do not really have a system.

Start with what is causing you the most frustration. Maybe it is equipment maintenance, inventory, opening and closing, client communication or workspace organization. Pick one problem and create one simple routine that you do consistently. The best routine is not the most impressive one, it is the one you will actually keep doing.

We spend a lot of money protecting and maintaining the tools of our trade, but we should put the same amount of thought into protecting our time. Good routines are not about squeezing another dog into an already full schedule. They are about making the business easier to run.

Take a look at your workday and pay attention to the things you repeatedly waste time doing, remembering, searching for, fixing or reacting to, and then ask yourself: What simple routine could I put in place so I don’t have to keep dealing with this?

We will always need good dryers, dependable clippers, sharp shears and all of the other tools that allow us to do our jobs well, but none of those are the most valuable tool in your business. Your time is. Protect it accordingly.

What the cat tolerates heavily influences that decision. Saving coat isn’t a victory if doing so requires significantly more handling, discomfort or stress.

Clean, intentional shaved areas instead of little holes scattered throughout the coat are preferable whenever possible. Spot shaving may solve today’s problem but can leave uneven areas that are more likely to tangle with surrounding longer coat as they grow back. Sometimes shaving a little more now makes maintaining the coat easier later.

Even then, temperament isn’t a permanent label. A cat that tolerates nail trimming may hate having its belly combed. A cat that is wonderful for bathing may have a very short fuse for clipper work. Health, age, matting, previous experiences and simply how long the groom has taken can all change what that cat is willing to tolerate.

Starting small before committing to larger shaved areas is a good idea, particularly with a cat you haven’t groomed before. A sanitary trim or small amount of clipper work can tell you quite a bit about how the cat responds to the sound, vibration, positioning and sensation. Nobody wants to discover halfway down the back that the cat has decided the lion cut is over. A reverse mohawk is difficult to explain at pickup.

Assessment should continue throughout the entire groom. Every step gives us new information, and the grooming plan should be allowed to change based on that information.

On easier areas like the back and sides, this means keeping the cat comfortable while holding the skin taut opposite the direction the clippers are traveling. Follow the natural curves of the body and keep the angled teeth portion of the blade flat against the skin rather than digging into it.

The harder areas require even more attention to positioning. Armpits, bellies, groins, and sanitary areas contain folds and loose skin that can disappear underneath coat, especially when matted. Move the cat so you can actually see what you’re doing rather than blindly pushing a blade into an area you can’t clearly assess.

Sometimes the cat’s natural skin flexibility can work in your favor. Rolling the skin can move a difficult fold onto a flatter surface. An armpit or tuck-up area that feels awkward in one position may become much safer when the skin is gently shifted to a shoulder or hip nearby.

The legs don’t always need to be stretched as far as possible, either. Relaxing a leg can sometimes flatten the skin better than pulling it outward. The goal isn’t to put the cat into a textbook position but to create a safe working surface while keeping the cat comfortable.

Towels can provide comfort as well as protection, and appropriate protective-handling tools can be useful for nervous or defensive cats. The goal is always to create enough control to safely complete the necessary grooming without escalating the cat unnecessarily.

During initial mat removal, you can use lighter pressure to remove the bulk of the coat so you can better see what is underneath. Once you can see the wrinkles, nipples and skin folds, you can finish the haircut more precisely with taut skin and controlled clipper passes.

Trying to create a perfectly finished haircut while working through dirty, heavily matted coat can waste time and increase risk. Sometimes the safest strategy is to remove what needs to come off, get the cat clean and refine the haircut afterward.

Your equipment matters here, too. Clippers and blades should be appropriate for the coat and the job you’re asking them to perform. Detail work requires maneuverability, while thick, dirty or heavily matted coats may require more power. Blades should be clean, sharp, oiled and properly maintained, and backup equipment should be readily available. A struggling tool encourages us to compensate with more pressure and more passes. Neither makes shaving safer.

It is better to start with the sanitary area, armpits and the rest of the underside as the first areas to shave a cat for the first time. That way if they start to lose patience, you have the “easy” areas left where the cat can sit or lay on the table more easily.

Learning how to move a cat comfortably, support the body, relax a leg and flatten an area of skin can happen before shaving enters the equation. If you are able to confidently handle the cat, then the tool in your hand doesn’t matter—whether it be a comb, clippers, dryer nozzle, hose, etc.

When you’re ready to build clipper skills, start with tolerant cats and small areas. Practice under the supervision of an experienced cat groomer when possible and gradually introduce more challenging situations as your handling improves. Attempting a difficult cat (e.g., elderly, matted, aggressive) alone without any cat-specific grooming training is a recipe for disaster.

Handling mastery comes before shaving mastery. If you can’t safely position the cat without clippers in your hand, adding a sharp moving blade isn’t going to make the situation easier.

This is why setting expectations with owners before the groom is so important. It is always best to under-promise and over-deliver than guarantee a perfectly finished lion cut before you’ve had the opportunity to work with the cat.

Sometimes the safest groom isn’t the prettiest groom. Sometimes we remove the painful matting, accomplish the essentials and leave the cosmetic finishing for another day. Sometimes we modify the plan entirely. And sometimes the correct decision is to stop and refer the cat for assistance at a veterinary clinic or a different grooming environment.

Shaving cats safely requires technical ability, but the clippers are only one piece of the equation. Good shaving begins with assessment, handling, positioning, skin control, appropriate equipment and the willingness to adjust your plan based on the cat in front of you.

The Norwich Terrier being groomed here has had odd layering and timing for his grow out, so it was decided to not pull for pattern but to just pull a single layer off everywhere. This will allow the groomer to start sculpting and manipulating his shape and furnishings more easily at upcoming appointments.