Fixing a Bichon Frise coat after bad trimming

Trimming a Bichon yourself is one of those things that looks straightforward until it isn't — and split ends plus uneven lines tell me the scissors you used were probably either too blunt or not the right type for that dense, curly coat. Before we talk about fixing this and stopping it happening again, tell me: how long is the coat right now, how matted or tangled is it, and are you hoping to maintain the classic Bichon puff look or just keep things tidy and manageable?

Got it. The split ends are almost certainly from blunt household scissors — they crush the hair shaft instead of cutting it cleanly. The unevenness is a different problem: scissors on a curly coat are genuinely hard to control because the curl springs back unpredictably as you cut. What scissors were you using — grooming scissors or just regular ones from the kitchen drawer?

That explains everything. Fabric scissors have a micro-serrated edge designed to grip fabric threads — on dog hair they shred the tips rather than slice them, which is exactly where your split ends are coming from. For a Bichon coat you need either proper curved grooming shears or, for a more forgiving result at home, a finishing clipper with a longer comb guard. Given that you want to maintain the shape yourself going forward, I'd actually steer you away from scissors altogether for now and toward clippers — specifically the Andis ProClip AGC2 2-Speed. It's a professional-grade clipper available on Amazon UK, handles dense curly coats extremely well, and with a number 4 or 5 comb attachment you can get that rounded Bichon shape consistently without the guesswork scissors require. The blade is sharp enough to cut cleanly through the coat rather than pulling, which will also stop new split ends forming.

Fair concern. For the tangles, deal with those first before any clipping — use a metal greyhound comb and work through them section by section before you switch the clipper on. Never try to clip through a mat, it's uncomfortable for the dog and can catch the skin. As for ease: the ProClip AGC2 is actually more forgiving than scissors for someone learning, because the comb attachment sets the length and you just follow the body contour. Around the ears, switch to a smaller attachment or use a pair of proper curved grooming shears — not fabric scissors — for the detail work. Once the split ends are trimmed off with the clipper and the coat grows out cleanly over a few weeks, you'll be in a much better position.

Keep it simple. You need: the Andis ProClip AGC2 with a number 4 and number 5 comb attachment, a metal greyhound comb for detangling, and a slicker brush to fluff the coat up before you clip — that lifting action helps the clipper cut evenly. A small pair of curved grooming shears for ears and paws finishes the kit. That's genuinely everything. Don't let anyone sell you a drawer full of extras — Bichon grooming at home is a three or four tool job done well.