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The Bichon Frise is defined by its soft, powder-puff white coat — a dense double coat of curls that sheds almost nothing but mats extremely easily. The signature rounded, scissored trim takes real skill to achieve and the white coat shows every stain. This is a high-maintenance breed best suited to owners committed to daily brushing.
Coat group
Non-shedding / curly coat
Shedding
Low
Difficulty
High
Typical cost
$70–$105 full groom in SEQ
Professional grooming
Professional groom every 4–6 weeks
At-home brushing
Brush daily to the skin; the dense curls mat fast
Coat type: Soft, dense curly coat with a springy undercoat that grows continuously and sheds very little.
The Bichon coat is a plush double coat where the soft, curly outer coat sits over a dense undercoat. Shed hairs are held in the curls instead of dropping, so the coat felts quickly and close to the skin — Bichons are one of the most matt-prone breeds a groomer sees. Daily brushing with a slicker followed by combing right to the skin is non-negotiable for a healthy coat.
The breed's iconic look is the rounded 'powder puff' trim, where the coat is scissored into a soft, even sphere that follows the body's outline, fullest around the head. Achieving that clean rounded silhouette is a genuine scissoring skill, which is why a quality Bichon groom is more involved than a simple clip-down. Some owners opt for a shorter, lower-maintenance version between full grooms.
Being pure white, the Bichon shows every tear stain, food mark and grass stain. Regular bathing with brightening products, daily face wiping and a tidy sanitary trim all help keep the coat looking clean. Drying technique matters too — the coat needs to be fluff-dried and brushed out to achieve and hold that signature volume.
Powder Puff / Rounded trim
The breed's signature look — the coat scissored into a soft, even rounded shape that's fullest around the head, creating a cloud-like silhouette. Skilled scissoring required.
Short rounded / Teddy clip
A shorter version of the powder puff that keeps the rounded shape but is easier to maintain and cooler for the Queensland climate.
Kennel clip
A short, even all-over trim for very low maintenance, sacrificing the dramatic shape for practicality. Often chosen after matting or for busy households.
The dense curly double coat traps shed hair and felts from the skin outward, so by the time you feel a lump on the surface there's often a layer underneath. Brushing AND combing right to the skin every day is what prevents it — surface brushing isn't enough for this coat.
It's hand-scissored. The coat is bathed, fluff-dried and brushed out to full volume, then carefully scissored into the rounded powder-puff outline. That scissoring skill is why a proper Bichon groom takes longer and costs more than a basic clip.
Wipe the face daily, keep the eye-area hair short, use a whitening shampoo at bath time, provide clean fresh water, and keep the sanitary area trimmed. Stubborn tear staining can also have a medical cause, so mention it to your vet if it's heavy.
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🐾 Find a groomer near youThis guide is general grooming information only and is not a substitute for advice from a professional groomer or veterinarian. Coat care needs vary between individual dogs.