Workwear for dog groomers

Add hot blasters, nail clipping on a dog that does not want it, and a day spent standing on a wet floor. Groomer kit has to be built around those facts, not around how it looks in the shop.

Fabric that dog hair cannot grip

Hair sticks to cotton, fleece and knitted polos. Smooth, tightly woven polyester, like a grooming smock or a beauty-style tunic, lets it slide off with a quick brush. Zips and poppers beat buttons, which hair wraps around.

Avoid fleece entirely in the grooming room. Keep your branded fleece for the walk from the van or the reception desk. Lint rollers are no substitute for the right fabric.

Bath time

A waterproof apron over the tunic during bathing keeps your front dry. Wet clothing in a hot salon is uncomfortable and, combined with the blaster, can leave you cold and damp later in the day.

Short sleeves keep cuffs out of the tub. Carry a spare top; a big double-coated dog can soak you through in one shake. Dry it overnight in the salon.

On your feet on a wet floor

The floor around the bath is wet and hairy all day. Slip-resistant footwear is a must, and many groomers choose shoes or wellies with good grip and a wipe-clean upper. If you lift heavy dogs on and off tables, think about toe protection too. Wipe-clean uppers matter because shampoo, water and hair cling to mesh trainers, which soon smell. Keep a dry spare pair for the end of the day.

Mobile grooming vans

Mobile groomers are seen on driveways and doorsteps. A branded tunic and gilet that match the van livery make you look established. A gilet keeps your core warm while loading in winter without bulky sleeves to fight with. Plain dark trousers or shorts with a tough seat cope with kneeling in the van and climbing in and out all day.

Where to put your logo

Embroidery is the best choice on smooth tunics: dense stitching sheds hair, while a soft printed transfer can attract it. Put the logo on the left chest or the back between the shoulders, which shows in photos of you with a finished dog. Many groomers add a social handle or phone number on the back of tunics and gilets, so owners at the door can rebook. Keep the logo on aprons too, as they appear in bath-time videos.