Many people do not use conditioner on their dogs, and some of that stems from a lack of understanding of the purpose of conditioner. When you wash hair, the dirt and oils are lifted from the hair shaft and the hair dries out, leaving the scales on the hair shaft lifted up and away. This makes it easier for the hair to tangle and snag, and makes it harder to brush without pulling.
Conditioner coats the hair and smoothes the hair shaft, allowing the hairs to slide apart from each other. This doesn’t mean you have to use a product that is oily or heavy; many light conditioners will do this job effectively. Conditioners also help hold moisture in the skin.
Conditioners can mean the difference in how long you are able to leave the hair. If your dog has a long coat, you’ll want to protect it and keep it looking good, so the right kind of conditioner is important. There are so many variables in the water we use; conditioners really are a must in most cases.
Silicones get a bad rap because many people believe they dry out the hair or damage it. Most groomers that use them find the opposite is true. Silicone products coat the hair and help protect it from damage caused by brushing, drying, and detangling. It gives each hair shaft a smooth coating so it is easier to comb out. Many spray-on or leave-in conditioners contain silicones to make brushing easier on you and the dog.
When You Don’t Need Conditioner
You can overdo conditioner just like you can overdo shampoo, especially if you are using a very heavy type of conditioner. You may wish to use a light conditioner that is very diluted; just be sure to rinse it out well. If you are trying to keep a crisper coat on a Terrier, or maybe a Poodle or Bichon for scissoring, you may want to skip conditioner on those areas that have limp hair.
You don’t want to weigh down hair with conditioner if you need it to stand up. In many grooming competitions, depending on the coat, the groomer may skip conditioning so the hair stands up nicely for scissoring. It’s all a personal preference, but if you like a soft, pet-able dog, use it.
Leave-in Conditioners
There are leave-in conditioners for pets as well as people, and you can use the people products on most pets without problems. Some conditioners you mist on the hair, brush in, and let dry. This gives you a little protection on the hair and makes it shiny without weighing it down, unless you overdo it.
Some coats, such as Yorkies and Maltese, look oily when you use leave-in conditioners, so you may want to test it first, using just a little bit. Remember when bathing and conditioning your dog, a little bit goes a long way, especially with silk protein type conditioners.
Hot Oil Treatments
For many pets with dry skin, a hot-oil treatment can help give some relief. There are hot-oil treatments for people available that you can use, as well as some conditioners formulated to be very moisturizing, and when you massage them in and leave them for five to ten minutes, they have the same effect.
Many groomers find that in the wintertime, a thicker conditioner is necessary for most dogs due to the lack of humidity in the home. Most pets have drier hair and skin with more static buildup. Some pets love to lay by the fireplace, and can literally burn their coat and dry out their skin severely—their skin actually feels crispy when you touch it. For this condition, a hot oil treatment is necessary, along with measures to keep the dog further away from the fireplace.