Shampoos and Conditioners 101

Does  it really matter what type of shampoo or conditioner that you use? Yes! Especially when you are putting show dogs into the equation. If you didn’t know, not all shampoos and conditioners are the same, particularly when you are considering the brand and what it was intended to do. I can guarantee if you take your time to actually sit down read labels, compare and contrast products, you will either be very confused, give yourself a headache, give up or find yourself sitting in the isle of your local cosmetic store for hours. There are many breeders, owners and handlers that make choosing the correct shampoo and conditioner seems like rocket science .

There are several things to put into perspective, before you make a purchase. Following these pointers can be done to help avoid a lot of stress in the future and save you money. First off all you have to consider what type of coat you are working with, is it a rough, wire, silky or smooth for example. Then the color is also to be taken into consideration, is it white cream, red or brindle. You must ask yourself, what is it that you hope to achieve? Do you want preserve your Schnauzer’s wire texture, or have your Yorkshire Terrier silky smooth? Then above all, you must know your budget. These are some factors to consider when trying to determine your best course of action. You should not plan on using a product stating that it makes the hair feel soft, on a rough, or wire coated breed. However, something that mentions bringing out the natural texture. It doesn’t make sense on using a colored designated shampoo on a Doberman Pinscher that doesn’t requires it. If the dog already has the optimal color for the breed, then that is money that can be saved and focused else where.

Color designated shampoos are used either to revive dull coats or to enhance the natural colour. There are products that are used to whiten/brighten white and light colored coats, and to darken red and black coats as well. Whitening/brightening shampoos work by either adding microscopic crystals to the hair strands creating a prism effect, or by adding a light tint of blue to the coat. This allows light to reflect off of the coat, making it appear much more brighter. Shampoos that are used to enhance colored coats add light tints of color to the coat, which help darken coats giving them a more intense look. An important thing to note is that not all breeds come in just one color or shade. So it is important to take an educated guess on which is best to use, by selecting a product that will assist the dominant color. For instance the Papillion is predominantly white, so you would use a whitening shampoo as to a shampoo for red or black coats. The white will become brighter, contrasting with the colored areas making them stand out more. Although whitening/brightening shampoos were intended for white or light colored coats, when used on blacks, they make the coat shine. Read labels and be cautious when using a shampoo that contain enzymes. Enzymes tend to fade colors, so using a product with this ingredient on parti-colored or light colored coats is not recommended.

Volumizing shampoos work by either coating strands of hair with a film to make it appear fuller, or by penetrating the hairs by swelling the strands to give a temporary fullness. The shampoo generally contains some sort of protein either from a rice or wheat source. These protein strengthens hair making them more durable. Also its best to look for volumizing shampoos that contain amino acids as well (which are the building blocks of protein). These amino acids also give added strength and adds luster to the coat. The protein connects themselves to the coat and sealing the broken protein bonds (remember hair is made up of a protein substance called keratin). Please note these products are not recommended for drop coated breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu and the Maltese. The reason for this is because over time the protein will build up on the coat, weighing it down and may cause breakage. Although occasional use is okay. Do note as well, that there are volumizing shampoos that do not weigh down hair, so these ones that specifically states this on their labels or official web site I would feel more comfortable using.

As you go through the isle you may find “Reconstructing” or “Restoring” Shampoo, these products were designed for dry and damaged hair, to re-hydrate and repair. This variety of shampoo would be recommended for long dropped coated breed like the Maltese, Shih Tzu and the Yorkshire Terrier which tend to experience damage to the coat far more than other breeds. These brands of shampoo should be used as a part of the regular bathing routine to avoid further damage and dehydration to the coat.

There are also shampoos that assist in constructing a breeds proper harsh coat texture. These shampoos were intended for the use of wire and rough coated dogs such as Terriers, Collies, Chow Chows, and Pomeranians. These products tend to have texture and volume in mind where it is important for the presentation and the breed standard in regards to the coat in the ring. Generally you may find that after bathing such breeds, the coat softens, and may take days to regain its correct texture. These shampoos can come in quite handy for that emergency bath before the show, or for baths up to the show to make sure that the correct coat texture is in play.

It should be routine when bathing your dog that conditioners should follow. The lathering agents in most shampoos tend to strip the coat of it’s natural oils, causing the hair to become dry and brittle. Conditioners are there to re-hydrate, replenish and rejuvenate the coat to how it is suppose to look and feel naturally. Do keep in mind the purpose that you need, because the ingredients in conditioners differ greatly, which will give different results. However, do remember for every shampoo, there is a conditioner to correspond with it. Often they even come within the same brand. So once you have selected the appropriate shampoo, you should not have strayed from the path when finding the appropriate conditioner. There are also Deep Conditioning Treatments which essentially are conditioners, however the key ingredients are at a higher concentration so as to repair, strengthen and to protect the coat in a quicker time than regular conditioners. Some treatments claim to do this in as little as one treatment. This can be done once every other month or as needed (generally with drop coated breeds). There are even conditioning sprays which further conditions. These make good supplements to the coat and also make brushing easier, however, I don’t recommend that these be used solely to condition the coat.

There are also your 2 in 1 Shampoos and Conditioners. These dual purpose products do both the cleansing and conditioning of the coat at the same time. These products generally cost two for the price of one. I recommend these for coats who generally just need a good cleaning and conditioning. This one step process generally lessens the time that it would have to do both shampooing and conditioning, and it makes a good maintenance cleanser. I do suggest these for thick coated breeds such as Chow Chows, Keeshonden, and Golden Retrievers, where conditioners maybe difficult to penetrate the dense coat. These cleansers can be quite adequate to use on smooth and short coated breeds such as the Weimaraner, Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Boston Terrier. However, it is believed for a dry coat that the 2 in 1 shampoo may not have sufficient conditioning power behind it, so a separate (moisturizing) shampoo and conditioner maybe best. If not, one can simply just add more (separate) conditioner. The 2 in 1 formula is believed to work by adding Dimethicone, which is used to condition and Glycol Distearate which is used to bond the conditioner and shampoo together. When water is added the Glycol Distearate weakens leaving the conditioner behind, to moisturize and penetrate the coat.

 Please do keep several things in mind when choosing a shampoo and conditioner to use or any product for that matter. “You only get what you pay for.” Generally this is always the case, however, I am not saying that you would not be able to find a lower costing product that will give you the same or as close to as possible results as other premium products. Top brands can be very pricy and run up a high bill. If you decide to use these products it is cheaper to purchase them in the larger sizes than the 16 or so ounce bottles. One thing I love about these specialty products is that many of them are super concentrated, that they are generally directed to be diluted. This then means it last very long and you get more for your money. However, I wouldn’t recommend regular use of these products (unless you can afford them). In that case you can use shampoos and conditioners out of your local cosmetic store that can maintain the coat until time to show. When there is an up and coming event you can then switch about a month or so in advance to achieve your desired results. On the other hand, there are certain products that can not be found in your local stores, and if you truly need them you have no choice but to get these specialty brands. Also you’ll find yourself reading labels that were intended to do A, and you’ll notice they also state that they do B and even C, I see these as purchasing several bottles for the price of one. So it is possible that you can find a product that cleanse, moisturize and bring out the hairs natural texture all in one. Another thing is is that sometimes you may not be able to get what you want  with one product, and may require the use of several products to acheive your goal.

These are some product brands that I recommend:

Satinique

Pantene Pro V

Pure Paws

Chris Christensen

#1 All Systems

Suave (Professionals)

Top Performance

Bio Groom

VO5

Wen

Please keep in mind that there are so much more brands and types of shampoos and conditioners out there. So do take your time and decide wisely.

If you are confused like I said earlier (which I would commend you if you weren’t), carry a paper and pen and write down the name  and manufacturer of the prospective product and search for their web site. You should be able to find more information on the product than what the label carries. If you are still confused consult your breeder, or a friend in the same or of a similar breed, they most likely will be able to help. Then talk to other breeders, owners and handlers who may have been showing dogs longer than you, generally the more experienced are wiser. So do take your time when selecting the next shampoo you purchase and remember that conditioners should follow.

Shane

Tags: 101, Conditioner, Groom, Shampoo