Grooming Products & Tools

España SILK

España SILK™ All Natural Grooming Products

I can't say enough about how wonderful these products are.  They're formulated with a light, refreshing European inspired, cucumber-spa fragrance and provide superior conditioning and moisturizing for people and animals of all ages.   

España SILK™ products are made in the USA with the finest and safest ingredients available and have been formulated to hydrate and reduce static to bring out the natural luster of both your hair and your pets coats.   These products are safe for puppies.

 

Detangler  
España SILK All Natural Protein Detangler/Full Body Sheen/Protectant Spray with Sunscreen - this is my go-to for daily brushing.  You never want to brush a dry coat, especially when grooming for show.  Brushing dry hair causes static & breakage and this product not only moisturizes the coat, but leaves it soft, without heavy buildup and provides a protecting sunscreen.  A little goes a long way in this ready-to-use spray bottle.

Shampoo 
España SILK Pro Natural Whitening and Brightening Shampoo - Cleaner, whiter and brighter without the extra drying out of the coat.  Great for faces and tender/sensitive skin areas or paws.  This "Lilly of the Valley" Pro Whitening & Brightening Shampoo deep cleans and brightens the lighter coats as well as being safe for dark coats and still rinses out nicely.  No bleaching to be concerned with and made with a natural blend of coconut cleansers, vegetable protein, aloe vera and rosemary extract.  Environmentally friendly, safe for puppies and able to be used in up to 10:1 dilution.

España SILK All Natural Protein Shampoo - Naturally soap and detergent free and properly ph balanced.  This shampoo deep cleans, conditions and moisturizes.  A special blend of extra Silk Proteins, Vegetable Proteins, Coconut Surfactant and Jojoba Oil provides superior conditioning to accentuate natural gloss and sheen. Don't expect heaps of suds; because they actually inhibit the cleaning and moisturizing that hair requires due to suds clumping hair shafts together.  Environmentally friendly, safe for puppies and able to be used in up to 15:1 dilution.

Conditioner 
España SILK All Natural Protein Conditioner - Provides conditioning where it's needed most. Properly ph balanced, Repairs damaged/dry skin, hair, coats and tails while providing enhanced coat texture, body and fantastic shine. It eliminates the toughest tangles, matting and static in hair. A unique blend of botanicals and conditioners provides a natural soothing to the skin for incredible results and show-stopping appearance.  Environmentally friendly, safe for puppies and able to be used in up to 5:1 dilution. 

Antiseptic
España SILK All Natural Protein Antiseptic Topical Spray - It's better to be safe than sorry!  I keep this on hand for emergencies as well as regular use after trimming the hair between pads.  Even the most gentle trimmer can graze the skin and leave this tender area uncomfortable for hours.  A quick spray of this antiseptic cools irritated skin and also can also be used to stop itching and scratching on contact, to promote healing.  Apply directly to areas as needed.  A must have in all grooming or tack boxes.  Environmentally friendly and in a convenient ready to use spray bottle.

#1 All Systems

Ken Alta, Inc.'s #1 All Systems Products

This European company has a line of shampoos and conditioners which are recommended by many professionals.  I've tried the below products and find them to be exceptional with a great price point.   While they do have products which are good for puppies,  I do not recommend the pure white for puppies (or dogs with skin problems), as it does have a bleaching effect.  

 

Shampoo
#1 All Systems Pure White Lightening Shampoo - The price is the same whether buying direct from the Mfg. or from this great pet supply website so this is where I buy from.  The pure white formula is great for whites, creams, light silvers and pale golden colored dogs.  Do not leave this product on parti-colored or darker coats for longer than 2 minutes as it does have a bleaching effect.  This may be diluted up to 10:1 if desired.  Not recommended for puppies or dogs with skin problems.

Conditioner and Detangler Rinse (diluted)
 #1 All Systems Super Rich Protein Lotion Conditioner - A protein lotion conditioner which is all natural and formulated with pure vegetable protein and herbs for all types of coats. This luxurious dog conditioner will help detangle, is an excellent anti-static conditioner and helps coats repel dirt. Especially recommended for building body and for harder textured coats, this conditioner maintains proper texture, enhances volume and puts a shine on the coat.  With a natural ginger scent this may be diluted 10:1 for normal use.  Excellent when diluted up to 40:1 for use as a leave in spray during daily grooming as well.  

Cleansing Rinse
#1 All Systems Product Stabilizer Coat Retexturizer Skin Refresher 32oz - This is the perfect solution for dogs with skin problems from parasites and fleas, dermatitis, old dog skin, or from harsh chemicals being used. This product will help to restore and maintain natural coat texture and reduce static! It helps skin to naturally get rid of infection causing bacteria and lowers the pH of the skin to make it a hostile environment for bacteria, allowing skin to heal quickly from dermatitis.  This is a critical product for the double-coated Lhasa who is being maintained in oil and conditioners between shows.  It is used after the #1 All Systems Pure White Lighting Shampoo in order to ensure thorough removal of all shampoo product and prior to conditioning.  Also neutralizes urine, skunk odor, saliva and food stains and eliminates odors with a natural ginger-scented citrus fragrance.

Tools

Tools & Products

Coats

Combs & Brushes
Chris Christensen Butter Combs 7.5" Fine Coarse / Coarse Comb - I love this butter comb because it has both fine and coarse teeth.  The finer side is great for fluffing up feet after a daily groom and for face and ears.  This is my must-have and I have many of them.  I have these in several rooms and one in my purse, just so I can always put my hands on one.   

 Tail Combs 7" Coarse Comb - As much as I love the butter comb above, this one is my go-to for faces, parting and pony tails/top knots.  The tail has a smooth tip which glides easily through the Lhasa coat and the weight of the comb feels great in hand. 

Chris Christensen Ice Slip 20mm Pin Brush - This pin brush has shorter pins and a wooden base that feels great when using.  I often run this through my own hair daily as we're heading out for morning walk.  It's perfect for puppies also when their coat isn't as long.  This has rounded tips on the pins so that it doesn't hurt.  The shorter pins are great for detangling and dematting also. 

 Chris Christensen Andreas Brush - Small - Just a nice finishing brush and good for the show ring due to size.  It has a lightweight black beechwood handle and is perfect for a finishing shine

#1 All Systems Ultimate Pin Brush 27mm - Small - A really good pin brush with a plastic handle and great for everyday use.  The price is great and the pins are rounded tip with good length for deeper coats.  

 Chris Christensen Wood Pin Brush 22mm - Large Oval - If your dog has allergies, sensitive skin or if you just want to be extra gentle these wooden pin brushes are the way to go.  If used during hair drying, the wooden pins don't get hot.  This feels good on your own hair too; like a massage, it's so nice! 

Slicker Brushes 
Chris Christensen Slicker Brush- Mark V Triangle Slicker;- I love this slicker because of the rounded point.  It's easy to use under arms and in hard to reach areas.  The wire bristles are short and grounded round on the ends to ensure you do not scratch your dog.   

Chris Christensen Slicker Brush - Mark X Tiny Slicker - At only 6" long and a 1 ½" head I probably use this slicker the most.  This is my go-to for legs and feet.  The wire bristles are short and grounded round on the ends to ensure you do not scratch your dog.   

Chris Christensen Big G Slicker  - For dematting a coat you can't find a better slicker.  The pins have the correct amount of strength and give, to help work through those tough spots.  The longer pins penetrate the layers of fur and rounded ends prevent scratching the skin.  When the puppy coat is shedding (about 8-9 mo. of age), this makes the maintenance so much easier!

 Chris Christensen Oval Breezy 22m - Medium - The new pad design in this lightweight beechwood brush is perfect for working on mats.  It's a brush but I've put it in the slicker or mats area on purpose as it's exceptional for this use.  The medium firm pad has just enough give to be great for matting without breakage.  Always ensure you're combing or brushing damp hair; especially when working on mats.

Nails & Paws

H&H Pets Claw Treatment Dog & Cat Nail Clippers - Super inexpensive and comfortable to hold with a nice visible cut line.  The small scissors are quiet and super efficient for puppies and small dogs.  The cutting edge is stainless steel and the rubbery soft grip feels good.  I'm sure there's plenty of brands of these out there; just use something similar at first since grinders and cutters that are angled are not needed for puppies. 

Millers Forge Pet Nail Clipper - Great for small and medium sized adult dogs and with a built in guard these nail clippers are excellent quality at a great price point.

Espana Silk Natural Protein Waterless Shampoo - Another fantastic waterless shampoo which is perfect for spot jobs or travel clean up of your pet.  It's called waterless but of course the product has water in it.  These type quick clean products are called waterless because they do not require rinsing off from the coat.  Simply spray, rub it in, allow to dry and comb out for a nice refreshing scent and good clean coat.  It contains Aloe Vera Gel, extra Silk Proteins, Coconut Surfactant, and conditioners so it won't dry out or irritate skin or coats.

Chris Christensen Show Off No Rinse Shampoo - This is perfect for when you're in a hurry or just cleaning paws and faces after a walk.  The formula is a no-rinse cleanser which you spray on, suds up and then towel it off afterwards.  Also great for cleaning pets who can't get wet due to surgeries, accidents while traveling or a quick freshen up of those soiled places.  No bleaching effect.

Nature's Butter - We make our own blend of sweet almond oil, beeswax and cocoa butter which we use on our dogs pads to keep them supple and gripping well.  We do package commercially but have not been selling this for many years.  We recommend any similar paw butter which you can find in most pet stores or online.

Eyes

Bausch + Lomb Re-nu soft contact lens cleaning solution - A gentle solution which is perfect for breaking up the mineral deposits caused by tearing or stains from drinking/eating.  When it comes to cleaning those gunky eyes or stained fur this is a great, low cost way of handling the issue fast.  It's safe to get in the eye (while you don't generally want to) and does a remarkable job of cleaning the fur.  Soak a cotton makeup round and use to gently wipe away your dogs stains. 

Always Bright Eyes - It's important to note that this product is for white faces only!  This is a very thorough cleansing solution and powder combination which effectively removed tear stains on white coats with a slight bleaching effect which is not harmful to eyes.  You'll want to ensure you're not getting it in your dog's eyes however it's not an emergency vet visit if you do.  Simply rinse the eye with water or saline solution to clear the product.  This is a two-part cleansing program which we love.

Miracle Eyes Chicken Formula - A tiny amount of this (1/4 tsp.) added to your dogs meal daily will help to prevent tear stains.  Tear stains can be a sign of other issues but are most often caused by one of two things.  Either iron deposits on the fur or yeast from bacteria growth.  Brown staining from yeast infections should be treated with an antibiotic.  Many popular tear staining products contain antibodies to combat the bacteria caused staining.  However, you should not give your dog antibiotics daily for any length of time and only when you know the reason is bacteria or yeast related.  This is why I do not recommend Angel Eyes, which is an antibiotic formula.  I do use Miracle Eyes, which has no antibodies and merely combats the depositing of minerals onto the fur.  If you notice staining in other parts of your dog (other than it's mouth and eyes), it's usually because of excessive licking and still originates from the saliva the same as it does with tears and urine.  Miracle eyes combats all of this by reducing the stain causing ability of your dog's saliva and tears

For an in depth article on this topic see our page about tear stains.

Ears

PPP Ear Powder 80 gram - Excellent drying assist after bath and for pulling ear hairs.  A gentle, snowy white ear grooming powder that assists in maintaining good ear hygiene. It is guaranteed not to stain or discolor. Has excellent gripping qualities for either finger or instrument hair pulling. 

You may also dust your fingers with corn starch for pulling ear hair but do not use it inside the dog's ear to assist with drying. 

First Aid

Equipment

Bands & Bows