Bichon Frise Dog Clippers & Grooming Kits

Bichon Frise Clippers, Grooming Kits & Haircut Blades

A Bichon Frise coat is dense, curly and cotton-like. It barely sheds, so loose hair stays trapped in the curls and turns into mats if it is left. Our Bichon clipper sets come with the three blades that coat needs, a finishing blade and two skip tooth body blades, so you can keep your dog in a teddy bear cut or a neat puppy cut between groomer visits.

Bichon Frise Haircuts: Teddy Bear Cut vs Puppy Cut

Most pet Bichons wear one of two cuts. The difference is the length you leave on the body, and each of our Bichon sets includes a blade for both.

• Teddy bear cut — a fuller, rounder body that keeps the soft, fluffy look the breed is known for. Clip the body with the #4 skip tooth blade, which leaves about 9.5mm, then round off the head and legs with scissors.
• Puppy cut — an even, shorter length all over, and the easiest style to keep mat-free between grooms. Clip with the #5 skip tooth blade, which leaves about 6.4mm.
• Longer teddy bear cut — if you want more coat than the #4 leaves, fit a metal comb guide over the #10F blade. Our single comb guides run from 16mm up to 32mm.
• Face, feet and sanitary tidy — use the #10F blade, at 1.5mm, for the paw pads and sanitary area between full clips.

The round, powder-puff head of a show-style Bichon is shaped with scissors, not clippers, so plan to finish the face by hand whichever body length you choose.

If the coat is heavily matted, clip it shorter and grow it back into shape, rather than trying to keep length over a matted coat.

Shop comb guides and A5 dog clipping blades.

Which Bichon Frise Clipper Set Should You Choose?

Every Bichon set includes the same three A5 blades:

• #10F — 1.5mm, for the face, feet and sanitary areas
• #5 skip tooth — about 6.4mm, for a puppy cut
• #4 skip tooth — about 9.5mm, for a teddy bear cut

Skip tooth blades have wider-spaced teeth that feed a thick coat into the cutter, which is why they suit a Bichon, as long as the coat has been brushed through first.

So the choice comes down to the clipper:

• Cordless MAX — quiet running and low vibration, the one to pick for a nervous or noise-sensitive Bichon. Supplied with two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, so one can charge while you use the other.
• Cordless PRO — a powerful rechargeable motor in a slim, ergonomic body that stays comfortable through a full body clip.
• Cordless — built around the Masterclip MD Roamer, which weighs 560g, runs for around two hours and recharges in around one. Its two lithium-ion batteries sit inside the handset, so there are no trailing cables.
• Mains — built around the Masterclip Pedigree twin speed clipper, which weighs just 375g, for owners who would rather not think about charging.

The PRO and MAX sets are supplied with Japanese steel blades. All four clippers take standard A5 snap-on blades, so you can add more lengths later without changing clipper.

See all our professional dog clippers, and keep your blades cutting cleanly with clipper oil and blade care.

How to Groom a Bichon Frise at Home

With a Bichon, the clipping is the quick part. The preparation is what makes it go smoothly.

1. Bath and dry completely. Clip a clean coat that is fully dry. Dirt blunts blades, and damp curls will not feed into the cutter evenly.
2. Brush right down to the skin. Work through the coat in sections with a slicker brush, then run a metal comb through. If the comb catches, there is still a tangle. Check behind the ears, under the legs and around the tail, where a Bichon mats first.
3. Clip the body. Hold the blade flat, follow the contours of the body and work with the lie of the coat in short, overlapping strokes.
4. Tidy the feet and sanitary area. Switch to the #10F blade for between the paw pads and around the back end.
5. Scissor the head, legs and tail. Use thinning scissors to blend, curved scissors to round the head and legs, and bull nose safety scissors around the eyes.
6. Trim the nails. Small nail clippers with a safety stop help you avoid cutting into the quick.

How Often Should You Groom a Bichon Frise?

Brush several times a week, and a quick daily comb-through is better still. A full clip every six to eight weeks keeps the coat at a length you can manage, and the brushing in between decides whether it stays easy to clip.

Between full clips, a five-minute tidy of the eyes, feet and sanitary area keeps your Bichon clean and comfortable.

Scissors, Brushes and Combs for a Bichon

Clippers set the length. Scissors and brushes create the rounded Bichon shape and keep the coat clear of mats.

• Bichon ESSENTIAL scissor pack — bull nose safety scissors for the eyes, muzzle and paws, plus thinning scissors to take bulk out of the legs, chest and head without leaving harsh lines. Available in two finishes.
• Bichon ESSENTIALS set of 4 scissors — thinning, curved, finishing and bull nose scissors in a storage wallet. The curved pair is the one for rounding the head and legs.
• Slicker brush — a small or medium flat head slicker suits a dog of a Bichon's size. A double-sided long pin and bristle slicker gives you two brushing surfaces in one.
• Metal comb — the check after the brush, to find the knots the slicker missed.
• Nail clippers — a small pair with a safety stop.

Shop brushes, combs and grooming accessories, right-handed scissors and left-handed scissors.

Also Suits Poodles and Other Curly-Coated Breeds

The blades in our Bichon sets are chosen for a dense, curly coat that keeps growing, so the same kit works well on:

• Poodles
• Cavapoos, Labradoodles and other Poodle crosses
• Bichon crosses such as the Bichon Poo
• Any small dog with a thick, curly or cotton-like coat

See our Poodle, Cavapoo, Labradoodle and Maltese ranges, or browse all breeds.

Bichon Frise Grooming Questions

What blade gives a Bichon a teddy bear cut?

The #4 skip tooth blade, which leaves about 9.5mm on the body. Finish the head and legs with curved scissors. For a longer teddy bear cut, use a metal comb guide over the #10F blade.

What is the difference between a teddy bear cut and a puppy cut?

Length. A teddy bear cut leaves a fuller, rounder coat, while a puppy cut is shorter and even all over. On our Bichon sets that is the #4 skip tooth blade (about 9.5mm) against the #5 skip tooth (about 6.4mm).

How often should a Bichon Frise be clipped?

Every six to eight weeks, with brushing several times a week in between.

Do Bichon Frises shed?

Very little. The loose hair gets trapped in the curly coat instead of falling out, which is why a Bichon needs regular brushing to stop mats forming.

Can I clip a matted Bichon?

Brush out what you can first, because a blade will not cut cleanly through a mat and clipping over one pulls at the skin. If the coat is badly matted, clip it shorter and let it grow back into shape.

Which clipper is best for a nervous Bichon?

The Cordless MAX, which is designed for quiet running and low vibration. Keep sessions short and have the coat brushed out beforehand so the clip is quick.

Do the Bichon clipper sets include scissors and a brush?

No. Each set includes the clipper and three A5 blades. The Bichon scissor packs, brushes and nail clippers are sold separately, so you only buy what you do not already own.