Grab a glass and pull up a chair! In this episode, Sarah and Leah mix up a refreshing Salty Dog (vodka + grapefruit juice, yes please!) and get real about the high-wire act of balancing business stress with family life.

Once the drinks are poured, it’s all hands on deck for a deep dive into the grooming tools they actually swear by. From ergonomic brush battles to game-changing show-coat tricks, this episode is packed with practical wisdom for sore hands and busy shops:

• The Great Brush Debate: Miracle Coat vs. Chris Christensen—plus ergonomic picks to save your wrists and hands from burnout.
• Combs That Do the Heavy Lifting: A tour of de-shedding, dematting, fluffing, and scissoring essentials (including Tsume combs).
• Banding & Bow Breakthroughs: Why The Coat by Verity Hardcastle beats traditional rubber bands, how to handle top knot drama, and the surprising reason Elmer’s school glue is a Toy Poodle’s best friend.
• Shears We Love: Leah highlights the Foxy Roxy Creamsicle chunkers for effortless bulk thinning, while Sarah breaks down Toro extreme curves and curved Magic Erasers for seamless finishing touches.
• Maintenance & Trust: Why a reliable sharpener (shoutout to Chris’ Sharpening in San Antonio!) is vital, and why understanding your equipment makes you a better groomer.

Stick around to the end for some honest industry rants and a preview of next week’s topic: dog bites and grooming hazards. ✂️🍹✨

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Pillows & Banter
• 00:52 – Salty Dog Drink Intro
• 01:52 – Stress, Business & Family Life
• 03:56 – Today’s Theme: Favorite Tools
• 04:34 – Brush Debate & Wrist Ergonomics
• 09:24 – Must-Have Combs & Rakes
• 11:36 – Show Poodle Coat Care Basics
• 13:30 – Banding Recommendations (The Coat)
• 16:52 – Bow Trauma & Bandana Debates
• 17:58 – Gluing Bows (Yes, Really!)
• 20:13 – Ear Issues in Grooming
• 20:26 – Creative Grooming Debate
• 21:27 – Favorite Chunkers & Blenders
• 24:24 – The Reality of Carpal Tunnel
• 29:02 – Extreme Curves & Finishing Shears
• 31:29 – Sharpening, Care & Tool Maintenance
• 33:53 – Respecting Old Tools & The Craft
• 36:12 – Industry Rants & Training
• 38:52 – Wrap Up & Next Episode Tease

Grab a drink and welcome back to the absolute chaos of Leah and Sarah's world! 🍹

In this unedited, off-the-wall episode of Hair of the Dog, we are completely ditching the script and trading topics for tequila. Whether you are a veteran pet stylist trying to survive a crazy week in the salon, an aspiring shop owner navigating the nightmares of construction and shipping delays, or just a dog lover who appreciates some good old-fashioned kitchen-table bullsh*tting—this one is for you.

We are breaking down everything from Sarah's legendary Hill Country Fair "Bakarita" recipe to the cold hard realities of emergency first aid for dog bites. Plus, we dive deep into body mechanics behind the table, why we love (and sometimes hate) grooming chairs, and drop some massive announcements about upcoming legendary guest seminars in San Antonio! 🐾

⏱️ Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome to Episode 6: Ditching the script and catching up.
• 01:14 – The Official "Bakarita" Recipe: Hill Country Fair Limeade, Corona, and a whole lot of heart.
• 04:08 – Salon Ownership Realities: The nightmare of opening a new shop in San Antonio and damaged freight delivery.
• 06:15 – Automated Customer Service Rants & Language Barriers.
• 08:32 – The Country Accent Breakdown: Iowa, Mississippi, and South Texas identity.
• 12:14 – Learning Whiteboard Spanish in the Grooming Salon.
• 13:32 – Facing the Deep Stuff: Gastric surgery, extreme weight loss, and rewriting relationships with food.
• 17:16 – Ergonomics Behind the Table: Why sitting down to groom will save your body in the long run.
• 19:25 – The Mechanics Chair Hack: The best alternative to traditional, uncomfortable saddle stools.
• 23:15 – Serious Salon Safety: First aid steps for dog bites and understanding fascia injuries.
• 31:20 – Big Announcement: Blake Hernandez is coming to San Antonio this August!
• 33:20 – The Awkwardness of Recording Reels vs. Unfiltered Podcast Lifelines.
• 36:25 – Outro: San Antonio groomer networking... and planning a very unexpected adult party?!

Welcome back to another chaotic episode of the Hair of the Dog Podcast! Today, we are catching up after a busy week and breaking down the absolute madness of opening up a brand-new shop. From unexpected construction hurdles (seriously, why is there a giant pile of dirt inside?!) to the ultimate realization that absolutely nobody in the industry actually knows what they’re doing—we are exposing it all. 🥂

To help us survive the construction panic, we’re mixing up today's signature adult beverage: The Summer Shave down! It’s a tropical, summer-inspired blend featuring creamy coconut Dr. Pepper, a splash of amaretto, a hint of caramel, and—of course—our go-to Tito's Vodka. Pull up a chair, grab your favorite drinky-drink, and laugh through the chaos with us!