Thinking about growing out Tink's hair

[Tink's Mom]

Tink is a mix - Yorkiepoo. A preface to my questions - She has mostly very nice thick hair except her legs are a little thin but they are growing in slowly. When she was younger, the hair on her legs was horribly thin, She still occassionally scratches out little "pieces" of hair. The vet doesn't find anything wrong with her and she doesn't scratch, so he says it's dry skin. I added some oils to her food and she seems better.

Her daddy was a poodle so her hair is a little wavy but not curly. Her head seems to be a cotton coat but the rest of her body is not. She combs out nicely and her beard is beautiful when it's a little longer. Last time they cut it all off because she got into the juniper bush (sticky). Her color is black with some auburn threaded in the beard and under her tummy. She is 20 months old.

So now, recently her hair has been laying very nicely and beginning to part down the back and lay nicely on her face too (except for that spot between her eyes). I never thought I could let her hair grow out because of the waves, but now I'm thinking maybe I could give it a try.

I had to have her cut short in them middle of December after I tried to trim her myself, because she got into the juniper bush and got sap all over her face and rear end. She hasn't been trimmed since then so she's beginning to look pretty good. Here are some pictres after her bath today where you can almost see the part down her back and get an idea of the wave.

What do you think? Does anyone have any experience with wavy hair? Is it worth the upkeep and bother to try to grow her out. Will her cottony head ever have a nice topknot - it doesn't seen to grow as quickly as the rest of her hair. I don't want to go through all this work if it's gonna look awful and i have to cut it off anyway. But maybe it doesn't take that long to grown out - I don't know. HELP!

[Tink's Mom]

So, maybe you'd like to see some pictures of her hair!

[red98vett]

Its alot of upkeep -

Chanel is cottony and when I can find a groomer I can trust she's going SHORT. We have burrs in the grass at my new apartment and I have to check every day for them - some days nothing but some days - they're embedded in her leg hair. I don't know why Cheri doesn't seem to attract them like Chanel does

I've had her long for her whole life and have never cut her top hair but with me working full time now - it's just too much to keep looking good. I braid it every day - and I've cut her down a little but she still needs to be shorter

See how you like her long - and if you find it matts then maybe shorter is the way to go - either way - I bet she's cute !

[Patti]

She sure is cute. I have always preferred the long coats but if they are cottony like my Cali they are a lot of work. Cali scratches all the time and we cannot find out why and she matts so bad. Brushing her has become a nightmare so I am thinking of cutting her down. I would grow it out and see how hard it is to keep up you can always cut it.

[FL Tink]

I miss Bella's long hair, but she stays cleaner longer and is so cute short!

[gardenyorkies]

Her hair type has a slight bend in it from the poodle in her background...As her hair gets longer and heavier it should pull a lot of that curl/bend out of her hair...Your biggest challenge will be fighting constant tangles and matting....

To try and keep some control over it I would recommend using #1 All systems conditioner and #1 All systems Lanolin mixed in water and used as a final rinse...I usually use about 2 tablespoons of conditioner and 1 tablespoon of lanolin mixed in a small pail of water...It can leave the hair oily so be careful how much lanolin you use...You will have to play with it and adjust the amounts of the lanolin...It works well and makes comb out easier...

~Laura

[KathyinCali]

Just want to say Tink is adorable

[ARCHIE]

I think Tink is adorable also. Love the fact that she's all black too. So pretty.
I can't help with the cottony coat, Buddy is silky but let it go alittle longer
and see if you think you can keep it up Susie. If she get's into burs
I think you may find it a bit difficult to keep. All you can do it try.
Good luck.

[Jenn218]

You know...I have always loved that girl! I just think she is gorgeous!!

Someone on here once told me that PetSilk was good...to smooth on hair to help it lay flat, condition it, etc. It smells good and works well.

Also, someone else said that you can use Matrix Biolage spray in conditioner...I have used it and it helps w/ tangles, etc. (since I never dry comb/brush).

I don't know if LG or Mojo have cottony hair...they don't mat, but Mojo has a wavy tush if I don't put stuff on it after a bath.

OH...I almost forgot...a good friend said she uses Pantene Always Smooth on her girls (ever now and then)...and it helps control their hair...and boy, they have gorgeous hair!

[Tink's Mom]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the great advice and encouragement. I just got home from work and thought I might have gotten 1 or 2 replies. But there are 9!

I had asked one of the groomers at PetSmart where I take Tink, 'cause she was grooming a beautiful little Yorkie and she smirked at me and said, "You can't grow out a mutt's hair. They aren't meant to have pretty hair". I didn't have Tink with me, so she didn't see her pretty black hair. But that made me so mad I swore I would grow her hair out if it killed me. Then I thought maybe I'd better get some expert advice from people who would probably be gracious with their replies even if I was way out in left field.

I know Tink is a "mutt" (I prefer "mix" it sounds nicer). But she didn't have to be so sassy about it. Sniff sniff.

So, I think the consensus it to give it a try and see what it looks like when it gets a little longer. It grew quite a lot in 3 months so maybe by the end of summer I'll be able to tell.

Thanks for the advice everyone. And thanks for all the compliments on my little Tinkerbelle (aka Tinkerbrat).

[YorkichonBella]

As they say "consider the source". I'm sorry she said that to you. Tink is gorgeous and his hair will grow out. He resembles my daughter's Yorkie Bichon alot (my granpuppy Cole). His hair is gorgeous.....so unbelievably soft!

http://www.yorkietalk.com/gallery/sh...g&ppuser=25515

[TootiesMom]

Originally Posted by Tink's Mom

Wow! Thanks everyone for the great advice and encouragement. I just got home from work and thought I might have gotten 1 or 2 replies. But there are 9!

I had asked one of the groomers at PetSmart where I take Tink, 'cause she was grooming a beautiful little Yorkie and she smirked at me and said, "You can't grow out a mutt's hair. They aren't meant to have pretty hair". I didn't have Tink with me, so she didn't see her pretty black hair. But that made me so mad I swore I would grow her hair out if it killed me. Then I thought maybe I'd better get some expert advice from people who would probably be gracious with their replies even if I was way out in left field.

I know Tink is a "mutt" (I prefer "mix" it sounds nicer). But she didn't have to be so sassy about it. Sniff sniff.

So, I think the consensus it to give it a try and see what it looks like when it gets a little longer. It grew quite a lot in 3 months so maybe by the end of summer I'll be able to tell.

Thanks for the advice everyone. And thanks for all the compliments on my little Tinkerbelle (aka Tinkerbrat).

AWWWWW, your Tink is just too beautiful! My Tink is a beautiful MIX too...
I like her hair, just like it is... she is pretty....
d

[YorkichonBella]

Originally Posted by YorkichonBella

As they say "consider the source". I'm sorry she said that to you. Tink is gorgeous and his hair will grow out. He resembles my daughter's Yorkie Bichon alot (my granpuppy Cole). His hair is gorgeous.....so unbelievably soft!

http://www.yorkietalk.com/gallery/sh...g&ppuser=25515

pssssst......I meant "her" hair will grow out.

[Tink's Mom]

Originally Posted by YorkichonBella

pssssst......I meant "her" hair will grow out.

LOL, I smiled when I saw that. Not to worry - it's OK.

[omega]

Originally Posted by red98vett

Its alot of upkeep -

Chanel is cottony and when I can find a groomer I can trust she's going SHORT. We have burrs in the grass at my new apartment and I have to check every day for them - some days nothing but some days - they're embedded in her leg hair. I don't know why Cheri doesn't seem to attract them like Chanel does

I've had her long for her whole life and have never cut her top hair but with me working full time now - it's just too much to keep looking good. I braid it every day - and I've cut her down a little but she still needs to be shorter

See how you like her long - and if you find it matts then maybe shorter is the way to go - either way - I bet she's cute !

You're having her hair cut??? I never thought you would do it!!! I always wondered how you kept her so nice looking with that type hair. My cotton gal is always kept short... way too high on the hassle factor. Can't wait to see pics with her hair short.