The Simplicity of a #5 All Trim (Part 3 of 3-Part Series: Styling the Head)
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In this lesson, award-winning stylist Suesan Watson takes us back to the basics: a simple #5 all over trim with a nice round head. It may not be very exciting, but it’s one of the most commonly requested trims we get.
Sue does this exact haircut every day in the salon, just like you. Once the dog is bathed and blown dry, the trim should only take 20 to 25 minutes to complete. Neat. Clean. Tidy. Those are the goals of a #5 all.
Sue says it’s important to know your coat types. You will have three blade options to work with. She walks you through the steps to determine which blade will work the best based on the type of fur the dog has.
Even though this dog is good for most of the grooming process, she is a bit fussy on the legs. That doesn’t faze Sue. She calmly continues to work with the fussy dog. Sue explains how she’s handling the dog and why. The corrections she makes are effective. The dog settles down nicely with Sue’s gentle – yet firm – handling techniques.
When you’re dealing withthis basic trim, there’s not a whole lot you can do with the body. But the head? That’s another story. As Sue says, “The face is the most important part. It will make the entire groom. You need to spend time.” She shows you how to do a very cute head. Not only is it quick, it instantly gives the dog a youthful face lift.
Sue reminds us, that even with these basic, short haircuts, it’s important to pay attention to the details.Those details will bring your clients back every time.
In this video you will learn:
- 3 different blade options do use on this haircut.
- where you should set your lines for the head.
- how to work with a dog that does not want its legs touched.
- a unique way to style the ears.
- how to style the head for a more youthful look.
Suesan Watson
Suesan is a third generation pet stylist whose dynamic career stretches over 40 years. A “Certified Master Groomer”, she owns a successful mobile grooming business, serving the Chicago/Northwest Suburban area. Sue is proud to be part of Wahl’s “Extreme Team” and is approved by the “United Show Managers’ Alliance” as a “Sanctioned Judge”.
She began grooming competitively in 1995, and has received many class and group placings. Sue is a winner of the “Wahl 2003 Groomer of the Year” award, and only recipient of three consecutive “Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards for American Groomer of the Year”. In addition, Suesan has been nominated multiple times for “Cardinal Grooming Contest Judge of the Year”, and Cardinal “Congeniality” awards.
Making “Groom Team USA” in 2000, Suesan was in the top five positions for five years in a row, before retiring from competing to become a judge in 2005. Her 2004 placings garnered her the honor of competing with the “Groom Team USA Travel Team” in France, in 2005; with the USA team placing second, only one point behind France. Sue also won “Best Clipping” recognition with her Mini-Poodle in the “individual open class”, at the same competition.
Her keen eye for dogs, understanding of the “standards” and knowledge of grooming techniques, coupled with her pleasant demeanor, has made Sue a sought after competition judge and speaker, both in the United States and abroad. And with a natural ability to communicate grooming techniques to others in an understanding and often-humorous way, she regularly draws crowds at her seminars and grooming demonstrations around the country. Sue also does private hands-on seminars with individuals and smaller shop groups.
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