How the world of beauty and care for animals is organized – excursion from the director of the largest network of grooming salons in Kiev Goncharik Yana Goncharik
Grooming salon is not a building, not a room, but a philosophy of careful attitude to animals. It is a place where the groomer reads the animal’s body, feels its mood, takes care of each area of hair and skin. As the head of an entire chain, I can say frankly: good grooming is like good medicine. You don’t notice it when everything is good, but its lack is noticeable immediately.
What is a grooming salon in the modern sense?
The stereotype of the “doggie hair salon” is outdated and even offensive. A modern grooming salon is a grooming center where an animal is helped to stay healthy, clean, tidy and confident. Because yes, animals feel it too. The owner sees a shiny coat, clean eyes, and the Pet is just happy.
Grooming is a regular need. For some it is a hygienic haircut once a month, for some – trimming twice a year, and for some – SPA every two weeks. It all depends on the type of coat, lifestyle, breed and even…. the dog’s personality. And of course on the condition of the owner.
What goes on behind the closed doors of a grooming salon?
We are used to showing everything – transparent doors, cameras, open dialog with the client. But there are things that you can’t see. For example, how the groomer before the procedure studies the structure of the coat, looks for irritations, hears the breath of the animal. This is not mechanical work – it is contact. Invisible, but key.
Behind each procedure is a scenario. First, adaptation: letting the animal sniff the room, feel safe. Then – assessment of the condition of hair, skin, emotional state. Next – selection of cosmetics, tools, sequence of actions. And only then – the process: bathing, drying, haircutting, combing, hygienic procedures.
And yes, a groomer is a specialist who combines knowledge of veterinary medicine, zoopsychology and aesthetics. And that’s very important to understand.
Equipment working for quality and safety
You can have expensive hair dryers but not know how to use them. In our salon, equipment is just a tool. And it must be perfect:
Grooming tables with adjustable height, so as not to traumatize the animal and not to torment the master.
Safe large bathtubs with all safety techniques – not for luxury, but for the comfort and safety of our tail-wagging clients.
Dryers with reduced volume – so as not to frighten even the most sensitive cat.
Trimmers, clippers – sterilized,sharpened and tailored to the specific coat.
And a lot of other things that have been collected over the years and are updated almost every six months, because standards do not stand still, technologies are developing. All equipment is checked daily. Because working with animals is a responsibility, and we have no right to make a mistake.
What services does a modern grooming salon provide?
Every visit to the grooming salon is an individualized session of care built around the needs of your Ponytail. We don’t work from a “template”, we create a package that suits your pet – from basic hygiene to premium care.
Thehygiene package is the foundation of proper grooming. This includes claw trimming and grinding, delicate cleaning of eyes and ears, brushing, bathing with professional cosmetics, drying, light styling and hygienic haircuts in delicate areas.
A complete package is everything that goes into hygienic grooming plus a full pet haircut. We take into account the breed, season, coat condition, owner’s wishes – and choose the style: model, breed or author’s style. Such a haircut is functional – the hair is easy to comb, does not bunch up, the animal is comfortable.
DELUXE complex is aesthetics and restoration at the highest level. It includes special masks for the coat with silk proteins, which moisturize, strengthen, protect from external influences and give a luxurious shine. Lapacure is added – care of pads and interfinger areas, treatment with protective wax, as well as cleaning of teeth, paraanal glands and the final chord – a light perfume.
All this we perform without sedation, taking into account the psychological state of the animal. Our groomers have experience even with sensitive or first-time clients. We have even developed a special complex of adaptation to grooming for them.
Who is a groomer really?
It’s not an “aunt or uncle with a machine.” It’s a person who takes in someone’s Pets on a daily basis. We don’t learn for a year or two – we learn for a lifetime. Every new breed, every allergic reaction, every stressful Tail is a case study that perfects us.
In our network all groomers – with diplomas, practice, victories at competitions, constant professional development at master classes and love for animals. Because without the latter – it all makes no sense.
