I use those safety-tip scissors to cut around Tibbe's penis, anus and entire perianal area, the underside of his little tail, his belly, under his arms/hips, foot hair and anywhere around the eyes, cleaning the scissors in between areas, of course, just to keep from germs spreading, etc. I start with his head and work down. I use the safety scissors on the top 1/3 of his ears and keep that hair short. I use regular thin scissors for cutting the rest of his coat.
I use a little drop of mineral oil in each eye before a bath to prevent irritation, after initially testing him for allergic reaction to it with a tip of it on his eyelid and another day a tad in the edge of the eye, when I first used it on him. I use his ear cleaner and when done with that, he gets his bath. Unless it is very cold, he dries naturally wrapped in a towel in my lap, then wallows on towels on the floor and runs all around the house and, if warm enough, which in Texas is most of the time, outside in the sun. That's why I only bathe him on sunny, warmer days. He's got a cottony coat but it doesn't really mat and maybe part of it is that I rarely use the hairdryer on it.
I do his toenails on a separate day from his bath so he's not over-stressed or anything. His teeth are brushed almost daily, sometimes twice a day if he's had many moist things or sticky things.
If you cut too short, it will grow and you will learn from it so don't stress out. Honey will likely be a lot happier and safer being groomed by you at home. Good luck!
