Alternative Treatments

THE WHITE BICHON

Reproduced with kind permission of Barbara Bird - Professional Groomer & Writer

The Essence of White

It is important to realize that white is not a color in itself, but the absence of color. White hair occurs when no melanin is formed in the papilla, and thus no color pigment is present in the cortex of the hair. White hair is actually translucent. Light passes through the hair shaft. This point was slammed home to me at the hair show when I sat down at a booth that had a magnifying scalp scanner and a video monitor, ostensibly so one could determine if one’s hair was thinning. At about 100X, a human scalp is a bit gross, but I was curious as to what I could see on my head. When the technician moved the scanner to my white forelock of not-colored hair, I saw through the hair shafts to the very center. Yes, folks, I saw my own MEDULLA! On the very outside of the hair shaft was a dim outline that I assume was the hair cuticle, and then a thicker area of nothing that was the cortex, and in the very center a fine line that was the medulla. The rest of my hair shafts were varying shades of red, where the red dye had been deposited on the shaft of the hair cortex. You could see where some individual hairs had taken the color better than others, but none were transparent like the white.

The Nature of White Pet Hair

White dog hair tends to be thinner than hair with color and often has fewer cuticle layers than dark hair. It also can be more porous. These two qualities magnify the challenge of maintaining white pets. Because of the more porosity, the white coat holds dirt and because of the thinner nature of the hair cuticle, staining of the cortex is more likely to occur.

Ways to Achieve Whiteness

1.   Deep Cleaning

      Once we understand that white is the absence of color, then it becomes apparent (optical pun) that cleaning the hair is the first task of whitening. The more thoroughly a product removes dirt and deposits from the hair shaft, the more whitening we will accomplish. The cleaner the hair, the more light can pass through. The cleansing action of a shampoo for white coat becomes paramount. It is not surprising, then, that whitener shampoos are often more harsh than many others. These shampoos are using higher concentrations of the more dirt lifting surfactants, such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. White show dogs are the most frequently bathed, at least weekly, to quickly remove dirt and prevent staining. As with your carpets, staining is most likely to occur when substances are allowed to “set” in the hair. Dookie, the long-haired Akita pictured above, is bathed 2-3 times a month to keep his coat at its whitest. Some whitener shampoos may contain surfactants with bleaching properties that will actually penetrate the hair shaft and decolorize stains through a process of oxidation. Chemically, an oxidizing agent is any substance that causes another substance to lose one or more electrons. This bleaching, or decolonization, is due in part by the ability of the bleaching substance to remove those electrons that are activated by visible light to produce various colors. #1 All Systems White Lightening

      Shampoo is a product that has bleaching action. Such shampoos commonly contain a warning on the label about not allowing the product to sit on colored hair. Not a good choice for a parti-colored animal. There are also whitening shampoos that utilize enzymes to break down dirt and stains into particles that can be successfully removed by more gentle surfactants. EZ Groom Crystal White is an example of this type of product. Enzymes work best in higher temperatures, partly because the hair cuticle is raised by heat so as to allow the enzymatic action to occur in the cortex, where the stain resides. Follow such treatment with a cool rinse to calm and close the hair cuticle. Conditioning is advised.

      Products using powerful surfactants and bleaching agents can dry out the coat and possibly damage the hair cuticle. It is important to rinse very well and to use restorative conditioners in conjunction with these products. Damaged coat will return dirtier and dirtier because the broken cuticle will attract and hold more dirt. A product that was especially formulated to follow colour treatments is Chris Christensen's After Bath.

      Rinse, a light conditioner that also removes any shampoo residue and mildly acidifies, tightening and firming the hair cuticle.

      Some white dogs have coats that are not true white, but have an “off-white” or cream-colored tinge. This means that there is some melanin in the hair’s cortex. While you can use products that will make this coat appear whiter, there is no way of bleaching this hair pigment without totally damaging the coat. For a temporary measure, this slightly colored coat can be coated with white powder or chalk.

2.   Bluing

      “Brightness is measured as a reflectance in the blue portion of the visible spectrum. Complete reflectance provides a white colour.”(www.chem.vt.edu/chem-dept) There you have it: Whiter whites are achieved by optical illusion! Traditionally white fabrics and white hair have been treated with bluing agents so as to deposit a slight amount of blue color to reflect the “blue portion of the visible spectrum.” Any shampoo that is blue or violet in color is using this principle. The downside of these products is that sometimes you can accidentally deposit a little too much blue, and the eye will see blue or violet instead of blue-white. This can happen by applying concentrated blue product on dry, porous coat, or from leaving the product on longer than recommended. Always follow the instructions, please! The more porous the hair, the more quickly and deeply it will take the coloring agent.

3.   Optical Brighteners

      Many contemporary whiteners utilize the reflectance principle and increase the appearance of whiteness by making the coat shine and sparkle, literally reflecting more light. Awapuhi, or Hawaiian White Ginger Root, is a botanical substance that has makes hair shiny and white hair appear whiter. There are other, less natural, substances that also create this effect, including silicones. The absolutely whitest white coat will come from effective cleaning plus some optical brightener. The original pet whitener shampoos all consisted of strong detergents plus blue coloring. Some of the most contemporary products are formulated with bleaching surfactants or enzymatic cleaners and ingredients that maximize shine and light reflection. Either way, you will get a whiter coat. Conditioners containing silicones not only leave a coat shiny and bright, but also protect the hair shaft from collecting dirt. Some silicone products, however, tend to yellow white coat if they are allowed to build up. Whoops! To prevent build-up problems, use quality products and occasionally treat with a clarifying shampoo to remove old product.

What is Staining?

Putting myself on the spot, so to speak, :-), I am going to create this definition: Staining occurs when pigmentation from a substance penetrates the hair cuticle and is deposited within the cortex of the hair shaft(s). Since the detergent surfactant in a shampoo works on the surface of the hair cuticle, the stain is not removed by shampooing. The hair has in fact been dyed. Urine, coal tar from pavement, ground in grasses, food coloring, and dyes from toys are among the substances that can cause staining. The chemistry of some dog’s saliva can cause staining, especially if they lick themselves. Reddish brown tear stains are particularly bothersome and permanent.

Dealing with staining is a challenge, often requiring trying various techniques? Prevention is the most effective approach, but does not always work. Daily removal of offending substances such as tears, saliva or urine is recommended. Sometimes changing the diet or the water can help control staining from saliva or tear stains. It is helpful to have realistic expectations. Stain removal is rarely accomplished in a single effort, such as a visit to the groomer. Bleaching is best done in stages, gradually lifting the offending color from the hair shaft. Attempting to bleach out stains in one sitting can result in permanent hair damage. The trick for many pet owners becomes to lift out staining faster than it is being redeposited.

Secrets from the Dog Show

Those grooming dogs for the show ring have to get serious about staining that is perceived as a blemish to the presentation of a show dog. One home-made formula for bleaching stains is equal parts twenty volume hydrogen peroxide and Milk of Magnesia. To this is added enough cornstarch to make a paste. Let it dry on the hair and then wash off and follow with a good conditioner. Beware! The hydrogen peroxide is an emetic and will make a dog vomit if licked off and ingested. Another home remedy for staining is to cover the stain with baking soda made into a paste and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. A variation to this is to add baking soda to the shampoo. Baking soda has a very alkaline pH which lifts the hair cuticle and helps to remove dirt that has impeded deep in the hair, causing staining. Either use of baking soda should be followed by an acidifying treatment, as simple as a vinegar rinse, to close the cuticle again and prevent further staining or hair breakage.

A Warning

With few exceptions, almost all whitening products can cause damage if they get in a dog’s eyes. Harsh detergents, bleaches, enzymes, dyes, and optical brighteners can hurt the tender tissues of the eyes. Some of these ingredients actually attack protein. Always exercise additional care with these products around your pet’s eyes. If you even think you might have accidentally allowed whitening product of any kind to get in the eye, flush the eyes with tepid water. Flushing immediately can save costly veterinary bills. Don’t freak, just flush!

Allergic Reactions

Some white dogs have sensitive skin and/or can be allergic to some of the ingredients in whitener shampoos. It is important that the groomer be aware of this possibility and takes it seriously if a client reports itching or discomfort in a pet that has been treated with a whitener shampoo. Discontinue use of the offending product, and if possible re-bathe the pet in a mild, hypoallergenic shampoo followed by a cool rinse. If a dog has a history of allergy problems, it is probably best to not risk a reaction with a colorant product.

Summary

Maintaining white pets requires more aggressive cleaning than colored coats. This means more frequent bathing or using stronger detergents, with added conditioning and care in attempting to remove stains and discoloration. White hair is somewhat more fragile than colored hair and can be easily damaged or broken. Damaged hair will tangle more easily. Using heat can help remove dirt and stains, but heat itself can cause hair to lose elasticity and break. Maintaining optimum whiteness in pet coats requires finding the balance between cleaning and overworking the coat. It is also important to recognize that white dogs often have sensitive skin or allergy problems, and can have post-grooming irritation from the harsher detergents or allergic reaction to the colorants.

Copyright 2006, Barbara Bird aka BBird, Birdzeye Press, Tucson, AZ. All copyright applies.

For permission to use or reprint ANY part or whole of this article, please contact the author

by email at petpals@dakotacom.net or phone (520)795-5743.

More information can be found from Barbara's fabulous website http://groomblog.blogspot.com/