I'd like to buy a drink for the person who first introduced guide (also known as snap-on) combs to the pet grooming industry. These inexpensive tools give groomers a far wider range of options for leaving coats longer on the pets we groom.
Initially only available in plastic, now guide combs are available in metal, which glides through coats more efficiently, and they even come in wide widths for the increasingly popular wide clipper blades. Plastic combs can be used with a #40 blade under them, but because of how they are configured, the delicate teeth of a #40 blade will be damaged by the metal snap-on blades. Instead, metal combs require number 9, 10, 15, or 30 blades. Full-sized clippers and most popular brands of trimmers have guide comb sets available.
Guide combs work fabulously when paired with a vacuum system but do work without one as well. The trick to getting the most out of these tools is to use them on a beautifully cleaned and well-prepared coat that is entirely free of mats, tangles, or any spots of thick undercoat. For best results, you must be able to get a grooming comb through the entire coat from the skin to the tips to ensure the guide combs can smoothly move through the fur to leave it a uniform length. A light finishing spray can help prepare the coat for the guide combs.
If you find thick areas that are not exactly tangled but cannot be easily combed, try using an Andis dematting tool (even on those stubborn poodle mix coats) to remove some bulk.
If you find that the guide comb still does not easily go through the coat, check to ensure your blade is sharp, clean, and oiled. If it is, check to make sure your blade drive is not worn. A worn blade drive means that the cutting edge of the clipper blade cannot move the full range it is designed for, and this will cause dragging.
Clipping in reverse with guide combs works well if you are not using a vacuum system because it causes the comb to lift the coat as you work, so you don't have to comb and reclip as frequently. Choose a slightly longer guide comb when doing this because the result will be slightly shorter when you clip in reverse than if you work with the coat growth.
Guide combs can be used on body coat, legs, tails, and even top knots to set the desired length and pattern. After clipping with guide combs, very little scissor work will be needed to tidy up your design. Adorable "teddy bear" style heads are easily created using these tools, saving time and producing beautiful finishes.
Guide combs can be cleaned with hot water and a little shampoo. Give each comb a blast with your high-velocity dryer to get water out from under the metal attachment, and let them air dry on a towel. Treat them to a visit in your dishwasher's silverware basket for deep cleaning. They will come out looking like new.
Yes, indeed, I'd like to thank the person who gave us guide combs. They have saved groomers countless work hours, leaving beautifully groomed dogs behind. Cheers to them!
https://www.petedge.com/master-grooming-tools-30-blade-and-10-pc-attachment-combs-set
https://www.petedge.com/wa-ss-attachment-combs
https://www.petedge.com/an-small-universal-snap-on-combs
By Daryl Conner, MPS, MCG
Daryl Conner has been devoted to making dogs and cats more comfortable and beautiful for almost 40 years. You can find her happily working at FairWinds Grooming Studio with her daughter and infant granddaughter, or typing away at her latest grooming-related article. Daryl was awarded both a Cardinal Crystal Award and Barkleigh Honors Award for journalism. She shares her meadow-hugged antique Maine farmhouse with her practically perfect husband and too many animals.
