Haircuts & Styling · Mobile Grooming
Hand Stripping
Pulling dead coat by hand to keep a wire coat's texture and colour.
About Hand Stripping
Wire-coated breeds — terriers, Schnauzers, some spaniels — have a coat that's meant to be pulled out when it's dead, not cut off. Clipping a wire coat softens the texture and fades the colour over time. Hand stripping preserves both.
We take the dead outer hairs out in small sections, working with the coat's natural growth cycle. Done at the right point in that cycle it doesn't hurt — the hair is ready to release. It is, however, genuinely time-consuming, so we'll plan a realistic session length with you.
Who it's for
- Wire-haired terriers, Schnauzers, Border Terriers, and similar
- Coats that have gone soft and pale from repeated clipping
- Owners who want the correct coat texture kept
Pricing
Appointments are priced by your dog's size, and hand stripping is booked either as part of a full groom or as an add-on to it. Call for an exact quote.
- $75
XS Dog (1hr)
Under 15lbs
- $85
Small (1hr 10mins)
16-25lbs
- $95
Medium (1hr 30mins)
26-55lbs
- $105
Large (1hr 45 Mins)
56-85lbs
- $115+
XL (2hrs+)
85lbs+
* Some coats simply need more time — heavy double coats, dense undercoats, and long silky hair all take extra brushing, drying, and scissoring. These breeds, along with doodles and doodle mixes, are quoted individually based on size, coat condition, and the degree of matting. Call (714) 716-3015 for an exact quote.
Common Questions
Is hand stripping painful?
Not when the coat is ready to come out and it's done in small sections. Stripping a coat that isn't ready is a different matter, which is why timing it correctly is the skill.
Can a clipped coat be brought back?
Sometimes, over several stripping cycles. How well it recovers depends on the dog and how long it's been clipped.
Often Booked Together
Book Hand Stripping
Available Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fri–Sun by appointment ONLY
Hand Stripping Across Orange County
Our mobile salon covers these areas — pick yours for local details.