Do NOT cut the lashes!

I have only had this request about a half a dozen times in the 26 years that I have been grooming.

I still remember the first time a customer asked this of me.

Well, actually it was a new customer, and she asked my other groomer Not to cut the eyelashes off her dog.

 

My shop had only been open about a year.

This customer had two min. poodles, and she had very specific instructions for what she wanted done on her dogs.

She wanted a Lamb clip with very full legs, a very full topknot, and DO NOT touch the eyelashes.

My poor groomer had only been grooming a little over a year. (I had only been grooming for 3 years)

This customer had really intimidated my groomer, and me for that matter.

My groomer was so nerves and upset that she asked me to scissor the dogs topknot.

Now these dogs topknots left a lot to be desired when it came to scissoring a nice full, round topknot.

You know the ones...thin, fine, straight hair, only about one hair per follicle...

But that is for another blog.

Well, I got to work on that topknot, and if I do say so myself, it turned out pretty darn good.

Both my groomer and myself were very happy about the way the topknot turned out.

When the owner arrived, I proudly brought her first poodle up to her.

I had barely taken three steps out, into the lobby, when the owner started screaming!

YES, screaming!

"YOU CUT HER EYELASHES!" "YOU CUT HER EYELASHES!"

over and over and over again.

I just stood there with the dog in my arms.

OMG I forgot about the stupid eyelashes.

I was so worried about getting the topknot right, that I not only cut the eyelashes. I cut them completely OFF.

I knew exactly when I had cut them off...

With the very first cut.

I combed the hair forward and SNIP, right over the eyes!

All I could do was stand there dumbfounded. I did not know what to say.

Not that I could get a word in edgewise.

Meanwhile, to make matters worse, my groomer had followed me up with the other poodle.

When the owner saw that I had done the same to the other poodle, I thought she was going to pass out.

Was it really possible for a persons face to get that red, and for them to still be standing?

She grabbed the dogs, told me it was the worst grooming that she had ever had, and she would never be back, AND she would tell everyone how terrible I was.

Yes, I did apologize... or I tried to... over the screaming.

I tried to explain about the eyelashes curling up into the topknot.

I tried.

I did feel bad.

I did wrong.

I messed up.

I am only human.

But for goodness sake, who ever heard of saving eyelashes on a Poodle?

I cried.

My groomer cried.

I think it scared me for the rest of my grooming life.

I only have two customers now that want the eyelashes.

You better believe that I DO NOT forget to keep those eyelashes.

There are notes all over their files.

This is 'Scooter'.

I have been grooming him all his life.

You can't see it in the picture, but his eyelashes have grown all the way down to the end of his beard.

I am allowed to trim them so that they do not grow below his bread.

This is 'Oby'.

I just groomed him. He is a very sweet Cock-a-poo.

Mom likes his eyelashes.

His eyelashes grow off to the side a little.

Mom likes the hair over his eyes cut VERY short, BUT DO NOT CUT THE EYELASHES!

Mom's instructions:

Take him as short as you can go, but do not shave him.

Cut his face short with no hair on his cheeks, but don't shave.

Shave his butt!

1" off ears.

Cut top of head very short, No hair hanging over eyes.

LEAVE EYELASHES!

 

My interpolation of the owners instructions: 

 

Body: #5F 

Legs: #4F and scissor

Top of Head: #5F blade

Side of Head: #5F blade

Beard: off with #5F blade

Mustache: scissor to lip line, blend into cheeks, and softly round off mustache

Ears: scissor off an 1''

Over eyes: scissor very short and tight

Oh I forgot ;)...DON'T TOUCH THE EYELASHES

Oh, that poodle lady that screamed at me.

 

She called back a few weeks later. (I think it took her that long to cool down.)

She wanted to set up another appointment.

It was the best grooming she had ever had.

She would come back if I promised not to cut the eyelashes again.

Did I give her an appointment?

Of course I did. My shop had only been open for a year.

I groomed those dogs for years.

 

Yes, she was a PITA customer.

That's another blog...

Happy Grooming, MFF