Why Product Choice Should Never Be Left to Chance

In a grooming salon, products are more than simple tools, they are the invisible partners of every treatment. Yet, how many professionals still choose their shampoos, conditioners, or sprays based on a pleasant scent, an attractive label, or old habits?Selecting grooming products should be a conscious, informed, and professional act, as it directly affects skin health, safety, and animal comfort, as well as the groomer’s credibility.

A Technical and Scientific Gesture

Every product applied to skin or coat interacts with a complex biological system: the skin barrier, the microbiome, and the protective lipid layer. An overly harsh shampoo, an unsuitable mask, or an irritating fragrance can disrupt these delicate balances and cause irritation, itching, or excess sebum. Choosing a product therefore means understanding how it interacts with animal skin. This is where professional knowledge becomes essential beyond skill, it’s about understanding the science behind the gesture.

Common Mistakes

Wrong choices often come from simple reasons:

• The power of marketing, which makes visual appeal look like a guarantee of quality;

• Price, mistakenly used as a measure of effectiveness;

• Fragrance, chosen to please the owner rather than the animal;

• Or simply habit, because “it’s always worked.”

These are human reactions, but they move us away from professional reasoning.A good groomer does not choose with emotions, they choose with knowledge and critical thinking.

The Role of the Professional: Analyze, Don’t Follow

A product label is a valuable source of information.Ingredients, surfactant types, preservatives, directions, safety notes, every detail matters. Knowing how to read them is part of the groomer’s craft: the craft of a knowledgeable caregiver. This is what separates routine grooming from a conscious and responsible practice.

A New Generation of Groomers

The profession is evolving. More and more groomers want to know what they are really applying to animal skin. This scientific and ethical approach not only improves results, but also strengthens client trust and professional credibility. It lies at the heart of the philosophy promoted by the International Grooming Society (IGS) and the DAATA-ICDG method, which place knowledge of skin, coat, and products at the center of modern grooming practice.

In Conclusion

Choosing products is not about “following trends”, it’s about practicing with awareness. Each treatment is a dermatological act, and a groomer’s expertise also lies in their ability to protect the skin they touch. The first step toward responsible grooming is to rethink our selection criteria.