help with topknot advice

[ColleenT]

I have two Chinese Crested Powder Puffs that I groom myself, but I am not a groomer. They have had long hair on their crests and so I try to keep it in a topknot (band) every day. The problem is that the bands said they would not break the hairs, but over time, they did. Both my girls ended up with broken hairs on top of their head and I had to shave off their crests the other day.

Now I am starting all over again. When the crests grow out, I will have to band them again to keep them out of their eyes. What type of band should I use, and Should I do anything else to prevent the hair from breaking? I have read about papers, but I do not know how to use them.

The bands I was using were for little girls pigtails and said they were gentle. they were like a plastic/rubber band. Barrettes do NOT stay in, and my girls will rub them out. They have a cottony type of hair.

Here is a pic of one of my girls( before she got shaved) so you can see what I mean. This is when the hair was still ok.

[Helly]

You might try braiding, either one or two braids. If you can, find someone who'll show you how to sew the braids at the ends, so no need to use a band at all.

Other hints; if you are using bands, and need to take them out, cut them, don't pull them out. Pulling will break a lot of coat. Try weaving a rubber band between the teeth of barrettes, then put them in. The rubber band will grip the hair better.

[ColleenT]

thanks for the tips. I'm writing it all down.

[cattledawg]

You probably would do better to buy Latex show grooming bands instead of the rubber bands that grab and break the hair.

My boss has a poodle that has been in show coat with his topknot up for 14 yrs now, she will only use those soft latex bands and does the row of like 4 connected ponytails so its not all in one big ponytail pulling it tight.

[itsgot2bme]

I have nothing to add to the great answers you have so far but I just wanted to say your Crested is adorable! I can't wait to have one...

[ColleenT]

i thought the bands i had were not supposed to break the hair, that is what the package says, but it's not for dogs. Thanks i'll write that down, too.

[poodlelover]

you can try the little cloth hair ties that they make for kids, if you know what i mean...

[Makere]

the bands do make a huge differance. You will find that the soft grooming bands also do not have to be wrapped around as many times. I have found that they often stretch too much. If the grooming bands dont work for you then try the soft cloth wrapped baby ones. I use those of some of my fine haired grooms. You have to redo them a little more often but i havent had any hair breakage.

[Pet_Styles]

Top Knot

Another thing I would suggest is to make sure you actually take different hair or add or remove hair to the Top Knot each day, changing the hair that you are setting. If you are just keep resetting the same knot each day the hair will get weaker and break.
To set with paper you can use the small paper that they use for perms in the beauty shop using a grooming rubber band to hold the knot . It is extremely hard to explain in words. Maltese breeders use them the most. Or used to. Try and locate one if you need visual instruction.

[Smart-n-Pretty]

I remove my bands by sticking one tine of my metal comb into a single thickness of band, stretching it & cutting it w/ nail scissors. You don't have to spend big money on show grooming bands. Go to a store where AA ladies buy hair weaves and extensions and you can get gentle latex band from the clerk there & it will be much cheaper. One tip I like is change the hairs, use papers, (the weave clerk will show you how) and DEFINITELY do not leave a pony tail up for more than two days before removing it & brushing plus combing it out.

[ColleenT]

I have nothing to add to the great answers you have so far but I just wanted to say your Crested is adorable! I can't wait to have one...

Thank you. She is a little clown. So is her sister.

[ColleenT]

Thanks everyone. I did usually use the same hairs all the time. I'll have to switch it up. Because it's the hair in front, it's difficult. I know Sally's has end papers and there are latex bands online. i just need to stock up when they grow their crests back.

[henrythe8th]

Cherrybrook has the rice paper for wrapping, they also have a plastic kind. We use to use deli tissue, the kind like when you get a donut they use to pick up the donut...or used to.... If you use the deli tissue it has to be folded so you get a smooth edge against the coat or it will break the hair. The wrap needs to cover the length of the hair, in other words, the entire TK should be in the wrap and then you fold it and band over the paper wrap, not the hair.
Sorry that is not the best explanation but I hope you get a general idea.