As a Doodle owner, I’m sure you know all too well the risk of tangles and mats. Mats most commonly occur in places like the belly or behind the ears where a lot of friction happens. Now, there are lots of products out there that can make our lives easier when it comes to detangling and dematting our Doodles. But in this post, we’re going to walk you through how to remove matted dog hair behind ears using…cornstarch?!
Be sure to follow along by watching the video below. And if you like the video, be sure to give it a thumbs up and subscribe to the Doodle Doods Youtube channel for more Doodle video content.
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Dematting a Dog With Cornstarch
You may or may not have heard about this before, but apparently a secret trick that groomers swear by is using cornstarch to detangle mats.
Chloe had some pretty bad matting behind her ears so I wanted to see if cornstarch lives up to all the hype. This is actually the first time I’ve ever tried using cornstarch so my reactions in the video above are all real.
I’m also only going to be dematting the good old fashioned way using just a slicker brush and metal comb.
While there are special dematting tools on the market, they can actually cause damage to the coat and contribute to even worse hair matting. They are also highly dangerous as they are super sharp and can easily cut you or your dog. Moreover, professional groomers do not regularly use dematting tools and openly recommend against them.
How to Remove Matted Dog Hair Behind Ears With Cornstarch
To start, have your slicker brush and metal comb ready to rumble.
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Step #1:
Take some dry cornstarch and sprinkle or rub some in to a dry mat.
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Step #2:
Use your brush and comb to brush out the mat, starting at the ends of the hair and working your way up to the root.
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Step #3:
If the mat is especially stubborn, pinch the base of the mat tightly while you work on it to avoid excess painful pulling of your Doodle’s skin.
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Step #4:
Rub in more cornstarch when needed and just keep brushing it out until you can comb right through the hair with no snagging.
Watch the video above and you can see how easily the mats are removed!
I worked on both ears which had similar matting problems. In total, it took me about 30-40 minutes to get both ears totally dematted, but I know it would have taken much longer without the cornstarch.
Humanity Over Vanity
On that note, if your Doodle is quite matted, be mindful and choose “humanity over vanity”. According to professional groomers, spending over 15 minutes trying to save the coat is not usually worth the pain and discomfort that your Doodle will experience. At that point, shaving the dog is the best way to go.
Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever tried cornstarch to dematt your Doodle.
Also, be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Dealing With Matted Doodle Hair.
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The information on this page is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional groomer advice. Always seek the advice of your groomer, veterinarian, or other qualified animal health provider with any questions you may have.
I have been detangling my dogs for years with coconut oil. I just massage the tangle with a tiny bit of oil until it’s all soaked in, then I comb it gently starting from the end, the comb glides right through.
May 30, 2022 at 6:38 pmYes, It does leave the hair looking a little greasy, so I do it before a bath or in the summer I leave it in, it absorbs quickly, plus the smell keeps mosquitoes away!