Inspired By Nature
We, as consumers, are taking more time to consider what foods we put into our bodies and what products we apply to our skin and hair. From shampoos and conditioners to skincare and make-up, humans are now more conscious of the ingredients in cosmetics, and we are seeing more people with allergies to some of these ingredients, such as those which create a fragrance, or those added to preserve.
As well as considering how cosmetics affect us, we are also more aware of the impact the products we buy have on the environment with a shift towards plastic-free packaging, ethically sourced ingredients and shopping with companies who are doing their best to reduce the negative impact of their business.
As your clients educate themselves, you may find they are keen to know more about the products you are using in your salon on their furbabies, and what ingredients they contain.
Firstly, we should be clear, none of the products listed on our website or in our catalogue contains anything harmful for you or the pets that visit your salon (unless the dog has an allergy, which is information you should get from every owner before using any products on their dog). None of the products has been tested on animals and all the ingredients are safe for use and are either functional (deep cleaning, moisturising, deodorising, conditioning etc), preservative (so the product doesn’t lose its functionality over time) or add fragrance (we know you and your customers love our scents).
Ingredients and Acronyms
Many natural shampoos are free from SLS and you’ll probably have seen that acronym on products you use on yourself as well. Sodium Laurel Sulphate is the ingredient which cleanses the coat. SLS can be irritating and drying for sensitive skin so some groomers chose to use products without SLS. These products contain different cleansers that are less likely to cause irritation to sensitive skin. SLS is also an effective foaming agent, alongside SELS. We know groomers are divided on the perfect amount of lather and foam, and some believe that the coat will only be clean if there is lather. Shampoos which are free from SLS and SELS will still clean the dog effectively but just with less lather. Some people think a good lathering shampoo works deeper into the coat to help break down dirt more easily but this is not the case and SLS and SLES free shampoos will do as good a job at cleaning the coat, but we’d recommend that you make sure the coat if fully soaked before you add the product and add more water not more product to get a truly deep clean of the coat.
Often fragrance is where synthetic chemicals can be added, and many of our favourite human perfumes and aftershaves will contain these. If your customers are keen to avoid these, or you find that they are drying the dog’s coat, you can look at products with natural fragrances created using essential oils. These can be harsh on skin in high concentrations so be wary of using them on dogs with very sensitive skin. Ingredients such as Limonene which is found naturally in citrus fruits is flagged as a potential allergen showing that just because something is natural does not mean it will not cause irritation.
The important thing when choosing products for your salon is that they are safe and effective, so if you are interested in products which have excellent functionality but use ingredients sourced from nature, then we have a fantastic range of brands and products which you can choose from.
Groom Professional Fresh
We are delighted to introduce a fantastic NEW range of shampoos inspired by nature as part of the Groom Professional brand. This range incorporates everything our customers love about GP - great value for money, fantastic scents, and great cleaning, but with Fresh we have explored a more natural ingredient list. Our product development team have used 100% natural fragrances combining essential oils to create a range of exotic and earthy scents. These products are free from SLS so will be less drying, and they are infused with antioxidant-rich ingredients to revitalise the coat and soothe the skin. They are also free from SLES, a lathering agent, which can leave the coat brittle and frizzy. The scents of these shampoos are something else - your customers will absolutely love them!
Our top selling scents are Blueberry Bloom and Dragon Fruit. The Groom Professional Fresh Shampoos are fantastic all-rounders and have a dilution rate of 24:1 so they are economical for use in the salon but they still retain their incredible smell when diluted!
Wildwash
Wildwash was born when professional groomer Jane Cooper was concerned about the chemicals in products she was using in the grooming salon while pregnant. Alongside her husband they developed a range of products free from parabens, phthalates, phosphates, petrochemicals, sulphates, palm oils, and PEGs. There is time and passion put into the development of each product from Wildwash. Their products are never tested on animals and they use 100% pure essential oils. Their products lather well and are excellent at getting rid of not only dirt on the coat but also odours, leaving a cleansed and fresh smelling coat. Our best seller is the Wild Wash Shampoo for Deep Cleaning and Deodorising,which has a fantastic dilution rate at 32:1 so it’s very economical. It will not only cleanse the coat removing dirt, odours, toxins, and bacteria, but it contains soothing aloe vera and neem which is a natural flea and tick deterrent which is also anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiviral.
Tropiclean
Tropiclean is one of America’s best-selling grooming shampoos – made from 100% natural ingredients (70% of which are organic). These products are gentle on pets as well as being great for the environment. All Tropiclean products contain Neem Oil so will have an element of prevention from fleas and ticks.
Tropiclean use super foods such as coconut, papaya, pomegranate, mango and aloe vera which are natural deep cleaners, cleansing the skin and leaving a wonderful shine.
They have a fantastically broad range of products, from targeted shampoos and conditioners, to coat care products, and oral care products and wipes. They have just released a new range called PerfectFur. This is a range of products is perfect to retail in your salon. The products are specially formulated to enhance a dog’s unique coat type and tackle common issues.
Our Best seller is the Tropiclean Blueberry Facial Scrub, which is a must-have product for white and light coated dogs such as bichons and poodles. Its gentle formula is safe for use around eyes and ears, and it is great for tear staining and keeping paws clean and bright.
Earthbath
Earthbath have been producing gentle and effective formulas for pet grooming since 1995. The products are designed in America using natural and organic ingredients and no artificial colours.
The company keeps the ingredient list small, and formulates products with a more neutral pH. Their cruelty-free products are top quality, non-toxic, paraben & sulphate free. They never use soap in their shampoos, which can be drying and may remove natural skin oils.
Earthbath’s comprehensive line of products includes shampoos, grooming wipes, and spritzes. These products not only have a heavenly scent but provide targeted solutions for the unique needs of pets. This includes products for everyday cleansing and coat conditioning, relief from itching or hot spots, combating fleas and ticks, sensitive skin or allergies, odour relief, and more.
Their botanical fragrances inspired by nature will have your customers’ furry friends smelling better than ever while naturally improving their skin and coat.
Espree
.png)
Espree launched in 1989 with a passion to develop gentle and effective grooming products for pet professionals. Their expansive range is created with soothing organically grown aloe vera as a key ingredient. Espree proudly formulate products with human grade ingredients from renewable and sustainable sources. Their natural grooming products contain 95% natural ingredients and more than 50% of these are organic.
Our Espree best seller is the Simple Shed shampoo, which with frequent use will reduce both seasonal and non-seasonal shedding. It’s got a dilution rate of 16:1 and a gorgeous plum fragrance. This works to help loosen the dead undercoat while cleansing the coat, so it makes it easier for the groomer to remove.
Their Silky Show conditioner is another favourite. With natural Safflower Oil and Silk Protein this product conditions and provides amazing shine to the coat. It makes combing and brushing an absolute breeze – plus is has a gorgeous fresh scent.
In conclusion more natural grooming products will have less chance of irritation but please remember that even natural ingredients can be allergens. Their natural ingredients may also have additional advantages, for example lavender is useful for more than just adding scent, it also doubles as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. If you are interested in some more nature-inspired products, chat to our sales team today who can help you select the best products for your salon.
