Disclaimer: This may not be the way YOU do it, nor the way you were taught, and maybe it's not even THE way to do it. Sorry about that. This is the way I do it.
Step 1:Holding shears horizontally, scissor along the clipper line from back corner of eye to base of ear. Lay your shears against the face but angled in such a way that the cutting edge touches the head but the outside of your shear is away from the head. You are cutting straight across, but not straight up and down. Kapeesh?
Step 2: Comb the ear down naturally and continue your scissor line across the top of the ear.
Step 3: Holding your shears vertically, shape a nice curve from the back of the ear to the back of the head. Curved shears can make this whole topknot job much easier. This particular miniature poodle topknot was done with an Arius-Eickert Proline 6.5" curved shear.
Step 4: Comb the whole over the side you are working on. Being right handed, I always start on my right (dog's left).
Step 5: Now scissor the side of the topknot. Remember that you are not scissoring straight up. You want the topknot to graduate out at an angle. If you scissor the sides straight, you will have a pinhead result.
Step 6: Other side. Make a nice clean line from corner of eye to base of ear, carefully cut a clean line across ear. Shift shears to up and down position and curve from back of ear to back of head. You should meet up with what you did behind the other ear.
Step 7: Comb the whole thing to the side over the ear, just as you did with the first side. Scissor the side, angling slightly away from the head as you go up. On this side, I'm working with the curved scissors turned around. I am holding them horizontally, and moving them in a smooth motion from the bottom toward the top.
Notice, please, that I have NOT scissored over the top yet. Just up both sides. But combing it from one side to the other helps to bevel it and create the shape I want.
Then I have this:
See how the shape of the top is already happening? Now I can shape the very top to whatever length I want for the individual dog.
Some of the extra length on the top of the crown will come off as I blend the crown into the back of the head.
Last, I do the very front, making a slight ledge that extends over the eyes.
Here are some shots of the finished topknot:
I hope this is of some value. When I can get someone else to take pictures over my shoulder, I will get some shots to show how the shears are held. Think of this as a start.
wow!!!bee u t ful! thanks bbird!
ReplyDeleteThe desciption for shaping a top know is fairly good but the pictures are poor. Pics are poor because they don't show scissor placement which is crucial to understanding phrases such as..."I'm working with the curved scissors turned around.." What does "turned around" mean if we don't know original scissor orientation? Additionally, the poodle depicted has a good top knot line that is only somewhat grown out. The basic shape is well established and this is the easiest fix. Most beginners are faced with establishing a good line and so this description is a far from what a beginner needs to know.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. Sorry that you don't like the article. This was done back in 2005 and I was working alone at the time. Your criticism about scissor placement is valid. I tried to show scissor placement with my right hand and take pictures with my left, but it really did not work.
ReplyDeleteWhat did work was the coloring of the Poodle, his cooperativeness, and his great coat. "Paco" was a very attractive pooch and I wished to feature him.
Almost all of my Poodles are on a 4-6 week grooming schedule. The basic shaping is created the same way as the monthly "fix". What should be in the groomer's mind's eye is the shape of the result that you want...what you are going for. This is the same regardless of how much growth is present.
The purpose of the article was to show the shape of the Poodle topknot as I "see" it, and the steps I use to get to that result. Scissor placement is missing.
I'll put this subject on my list of videos to produce for YouTube. Thanks for the advice.
Bbird,
ReplyDeleteI found your descriptions very helpful, and with concentration I could understand how you were holding the scissors. I am a novice, and groom my own standard poodle (4 years now). We have had her top knot grown out and up in a pony tail for the last year, and I am considering grooming it back to normal, into a dome. I love the Kalstead book, but what it lacks is what you explained.
I appreciate all that you offered. If you were to make improvements I would only suggest a photo with scissor placement. Otherwise, this is great. Honestly I have not heard anyone else describe the landmarks where the ear ends and the topknot begins. You captured this with succinct description and photos fantastically.
I recently posted a video of scissoring the Poodle topknot on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7I5Wn7NohU
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments and encouragement.
The tip about angling the shears outward to avoid the "pinhead" effect was wonderful information. I've ruined a few poodles that way and didn't know how i was doing it--even when the groomshop owner was watching! I'm currently taking an online grooming course and was searching around for the answer to one of the essay questions when i ran across your blog. Thanks so much!
ReplyDelete