How long do you leave a top knot in?

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by Shellygirlky

If anyone has a Family Dollar store in their area they have the non latex bands. You can get 1000 in a package for $1. They also have the little plastic barrettes with 60 in a package for $1. Daisy has very fine hair and these bands stay in all day. They are easier to stretch than the latex bands. Forgot to add that one pack contains clear and black bands and another with bright colors that match the plastic barrettes. At this price I don't feel guilty about cutting the old band out every evening.

Thanks i'll have to check those out.

[mommyofsophie]

Originally Posted by ellaYORKIE

I have wondered about this too. Ella doesn't mind her hair being up at all, but i feel like if i leave it in for too long her head will get sore. I know mine does if i leave my pony tail in too long. It could be totally different though.

LOL, I think the same thing! MY hair gets sore if it's in a ponytail all day and night, so I take Sophie's top knot out at bedtime and give her a little massage. She absolutely loves it! Having to put the top knot back up in the morning is also my reminder to brush her teeth: I keep her toothbrush and paste with her hair supplies.

[Cherlyn]

I just wanted to add my 2 cents. I was having a hard time with topknot on Cooper. the bands were too large and I had to wrap it too many times.

anyway''' what I found when cleaning some drawers I found the tiny elastics that my son used for his braces. Tooth braces. they are very tiny and easy to manage.

I have shared this before and it is a good way to use all those bags of tiny rubberbands. and they are so lightweight they don't pull the siding off the house.

[Elle]

It's important to use a light band made for topknots. I would suggest one like this for daily wear Dog Bows: Yorkie Bows, Maltese and Shih Tzu Show Dog Bows & Show Leads. This also shows a band cutter. Although it's okay for some, I don't suggest not changing it for a week.

[Roxy_Mom]

We do a topknot at night before bed everyday. If she pulls it out while I am at work I do put it back before bed. She rarely gets it all the way out though. The bands we use are from a store that sells "hair" we call it the hair store around here. They sell hair products mostly for African Americans. I love the little silicone bands that they sell there. You get like 500 or so in a bag for less than a dollar. They also sell ribbon there (which I like too). I don't know if they have these kinds of stores in your area, but if they do they are great! My groomer actually told me to go there for her bands.

[Islandcanine]

I never leave my Yorkies Top Knot in at night. Instead I just take her lock and tie it up for bed time.
I find that if I leave her top knot in for too long, the hairs matt around the band. I cut the band but still, the hairs are knotted, thus loosing precious hairs.
My Yorkie is not a show dog. She is an rugged country pup. She is well cared for but she loves to be outside. The Spring and Summer her favorite is to roll in the grass which also causes problems to her top knot.
I have little tiny clips that I use on occasion which gives her relief from the bands but if she rolls in the grass, she often looses them. We deal with it by taking an extra pair on outtings.
The top knot bands that I use are top knot bands that I got from the divadogbowtique online. I don't use anything else.
What I did start doing was using a piece of perming tissue and wrapped her hair first before applying the first band. For the bow, I eliminated the second band wrap and just put both bow bands around the first band, over the wrap. This helps, a lot, even though it is not traditionally correct.

What do experienced Yorkie Groomers think of this idea?

Are there any other suggestions as to how I can put top knots in without it matting around the band after four to five hours?
I cut the band (without a wrap) after taking the bow out but I still loose hair.
How do I avoid this? Please.

Also, if the bands are ever too tight or a piece of hair is pulling, anywhere, she will naturally rub her head on the floor. A sure sign the knot is uncomfortable. What I do is use the tail of the comb to losen the whole top knot before letting her off the grooming table. The result is no more rubbing.

I noticed too, that when she is wearing a top knot, she will still rub her head (like she does even without a top knot) when she is making her bed before she settles in for one of her several naps she goes for per day or when she rolls in the grass, that this must be breaking her hair because after several months I notice that she has less hair and short ones above, between her ears and eyes. I think the rolling and rubbing is causing breakage.

Since she is a dog and rolls in the grass and likes to rub her face on her blanky before settling down for a nap or a nice long belly rub, she is going to do it and I son't feel it is fair to stop her because she seems to enjoy it.

This past winter, I just cut her hair above her eyes so she has bangs.
She obviously approved of it as she suddenly seemed much happier.

I have since been growing it out, getting ready for summertime which is her time for photo shoots etc.

I use flax seed gel to keep her hair back out of her eyes as it grows out. Soon it is going to be long enough again to start tying it back.
Thus asking for suggestions here if anyone has ideas.

Reading this thread, I am amazed at how some can keep the top knot in for a whole week! Do no hairs ever break? Are there absolutely no hairs lost? Even after a whole day?

There must be some other way to secure our babies hairs at night for their bed time. I know my girl prefers to wear her hair out during sleep but it gets way too long and don't want it falling into her mouth so is why I ties it up at night, loosely.

It seems so much easier to just let her have bangs. Thus continue to have a full head of hair rather than breakage that seems to get worse over time. Roxy is so cute with her bows and top knots.

Tightness I do not believe is the issue. When I first started, I think it was and learned quickly simply by reading my dogs disapproval and made her knots a bit looser so she would be happier when I let her down, after grooming.

Any and all feedback is hugely appreciated. Thanking in advance!

[Islandcanine]

Originally Posted by mommyofsophie

LOL, I think the same thing! MY hair gets sore if it's in a ponytail all day and night, so I take Sophie's top knot out at bedtime and give her a little massage. She absolutely loves it! Having to put the top knot back up in the morning is also my reminder to brush her teeth: I keep her toothbrush and paste with her hair supplies.

I brush Roxy's teeth daily too. No dental for 2010 as a result. The vet was wowed to say the least. Sure make a huge difference. Funny because she comes to expect it now. Lol.

We use a (human) baby toothbrush because it is much smaller than the dog toothbrushes I have been able to find. This way I can get into the sides of her mouth, to the back with ease.

About the top knot, when you take it out at night, what do you do with her hair? My Yorkie's hair gets so long. Sometimes I just leave it out (with a massage) but it gets in her mouth.
I have posted our top knot troubles below. If you have any suggestions, we would appreciate it!

[graymatter]

My Gidget is more "wildthing" than girly but I love a bow sometimes. What kind of bands, scrunchies, etc & where do I get them. She gets a bow at the groomers but that isn't very often. I love YT, only found it yesterday & it is the greatest for new Yorkie parents.

[graymatter]

Hey, another little "yard dog". Our Gidget LOVES to romp & roll outside & dive under the covers in the house, it is her personality & we adore her. I too would like to put a bow in or give just put it up out of her eyes, but it is a struggle. Nice to know I am not the only owner of a Yorkie "dog" LOL.

[connie777]

What's a band cutter? I just pick a little bit into the band and snip it with the tip of a sharp small scissors. Do people actually buy a tool to remove a rubber band from a pony tail?

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by connie777

What's a band cutter? I just pick a little bit into the band and snip it with the tip of a sharp small scissors. Do people actually buy a tool to remove a rubber band from a pony tail?

YT member Mimimomo sells the band cutters: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...onverters.html

Scissors and other utensils work fine, but I prefer the band cutters. For me, they are safer and less likely to cut hair.

[Islandcanine]

Roxy's top knot bands are 1/4" and X Heavy. Use for a traditional top knot or just a pony, put on and double once. They wont come out!
I get mine from Dog Bows 1500+ | Hip | Stylish | Colorful | Handmade Dog Bows from - The Diva-Dog Bowtique - - The Diva-Dog Bowtique
$1.90 for 100 Pack
$6.20 for 500 Pack
I see that she is only carrying the multi colored ones in 1/4" at the moment..
One can email her though and ask when she may be getting in the amber colored ones again. Been awhile since I ordered because we still have a supply.
Also when I put Roxy's hair up, I use tissue to wrap her pony before applying the band. This way it stops the hair from getting tangled in the band.
One can get traditional top knot wraps but I use tissue for wrapping hair in perm rods. I just cut them in half. A box cost me $2 and will likely last a life time. Roxy's hair is put up daily. Although sometimes we just put in barrettes instead of bands to give her a break. Also I take her pony out at night.

Originally Posted by Cares4Dogs

I get my bands from Ebay--get like 2000 of them for less than 5 bucks and they are TINY. They are so tiny that I have a hard time stretching to get them in, but my dogs fur is so silky and soft that after they shake their heads a few times, it comes out.

Anyone have any idea what the best size bands are for topknots?

[Breezeaway]

I don't think I would use a slicker on mines head, doesn't it pull the hair out esp when left in a week? I have a cotton coated , I have found that no matter how bad a knot the hair gets even the top knot, the Tangle Teezer will get the knots out without pulling the hair. I love this brush.

[nana911]

Originally Posted by Islandcanine

Roxy's top knot bands are 1/4" and X Heavy. Use for a traditional top knot or just a pony, put on and double once. They wont come out!
I get mine from Dog Bows 1500+ | Hip | Stylish | Colorful | Handmade Dog Bows from - The Diva-Dog Bowtique - - The Diva-Dog Bowtique
$1.90 for 100 Pack
$6.20 for 500 Pack
I see that she is only carrying the multi colored ones in 1/4" at the moment..
One can email her though and ask when she may be getting in the amber colored ones again. Been awhile since I ordered because we still have a supply.
Also when I put Roxy's hair up, I use tissue to wrap her pony before applying the band. This way it stops the hair from getting tangled in the band.
One can get traditional top knot wraps but I use tissue for wrapping hair in perm rods. I just cut them in half. A box cost me $2 and will likely last a life time. Roxy's hair is put up daily. Although sometimes we just put in barrettes instead of bands to give her a break. Also I take her pony out at night.

she has updated her site and they are back in stock

[JDS]

Originally Posted by Breezeaway

I don't think I would use a slicker on mines head, doesn't it pull the hair out esp when left in a week? I have a cotton coated , I have found that no matter how bad a knot the hair gets even the top knot, the Tangle Teezer will get the knots out without pulling the hair. I love this brush.

Do you have a link to this brush? TY!