Temperature, Water and Drying: The Invisible Mistakes That Damage the Skin

Why drying without heat should become the norm in professional grooming

By Nathalie Doaré-Ariey-Jouglard

Drying is one of the most trivialised steps in grooming. Often treated as a purely technical phase, it is rarely questioned in terms of its real physiological impact. In many salons, the use of heat has become the default, associated with speed, efficiency and a certain idea of professionalism. Yet this habit is rooted more in tradition and productivity than in a true understanding of skin and coat biology.

Today, advances in skin science combined with careful observation in the field require the profession to reconsider this standard. When used repeatedly and systematically, hot drying is not neutral. It can alter skin balance, weaken the coat and quietly contribute to the development of issues that are later attributed to completely different causes.

The skin is a living, dynamic organ governed by finely regulated mechanisms. Its integrity depends on a precise balance between hydration, surface lipids, the microbiome and cellular cohesion. Repeated exposure to excessive heat accelerates water evaporation from the stratum corneum and disrupts the lipid barrier. This alteration makes the skin more permeable, more reactive and more vulnerable to external stressors. Contrary to a still widespread belief, these imbalances can develop even in animals with initially healthy skin, without any pre-existing dermatological condition.

It is therefore important to state this clearly: excessive heat during drying does not merely worsen existing problems, it can also create them. Over time, groomers may observe skin becoming progressively reactive, coats losing shine and mechanical strength, increased breakage, and the appearance of itching with no obvious cause. These signs are often wrongly attributed to age, breed, diet or an assumed natural skin fragility, when they may in fact result from repeated, invisible and cumulative grooming practices.

Another deeply rooted myth within the profession is the belief that a dog will “catch a cold” if it is not dried with heat. A wet dog does not become ill by default. Risk only arises under specific conditions: an excessively cold working environment, prolonged drafts, a sick or immunocompromised animal, a very young puppy or a very old dog. The issue is therefore not the absence of heat, but the absence of an overall drying strategy and environmental management.

Drying without heat is often misunderstood. It does not mean leaving the animal wet, extending the session unnecessarily, or compromising comfort. On the contrary, it is an active, controlled and deliberate approach based on efficient water removal, appropriate air circulation and intelligent time management. Drying becomes a true technical skill rather than a passive stage compensated by temperature.

Contrary to another widespread belief, drying at ambient temperature is not inherently slower than hot drying. The actual drying time depends primarily on the quality of the work performed upstream: water management during the bath, thorough rinsing, mechanical removal of excess moisture, coat conditioning and organisation of the drying process. Heat accelerates surface evaporation but does not necessarily remove water trapped deep within the coat. It can even create an illusion of speed, often followed by additional touch-ups and repeated drying passes that cancel out the perceived time savings. When done correctly, ambient-temperature drying is frequently equivalent in duration, and sometimes more efficient over the entire session.

The bath itself plays a central role in this process. Respectful drying always begins with a well-managed bath. Appropriate water temperature, precise rinsing and proper coat conditioning naturally facilitate moisture evacuation. The better the bath is performed, the less aggressive, lengthy or stressful the drying stage becomes. This logic restores grooming as a coherent technical continuum in which each step directly influences the next.

Rejecting systematic heat use does not mean banning heat entirely. Heat may have a place, but only when used occasionally, briefly and in a controlled manner, with a clear purpose. Certain specific situations may justify it, such as a sick or severely weakened animal, or an exceptionally cold working environment that cannot be corrected. In these cases, heat becomes a reasoned, almost therapeutic tool, not an automatic routine applied indiscriminately to every animal.

The sensory impact of drying must also be considered. Heat is often combined with noise and air pressure, creating a significant sensory overload for the animal. This accumulation can lead to agitation, mental fatigue, avoidance behaviours and reduced cooperation. Conversely, gentler drying methods without excessive heat promote calmness, trust and a higher overall quality of the grooming session, benefiting both the animal and the professional.

Changing habits does not require completely restructuring a salon or investing in increasingly powerful equipment. It primarily involves rethinking protocols, refining observation skills, developing touch and timing, and prioritising competence over force. This gradual evolution improves work quality without sacrificing time, profitability or groomer comfort.

Modern grooming no longer seeks to be faster at any cost. It aims to be more intelligent, more respectful and more sustainable. Abandoning systematic hot drying is not a step backwards, but a logical progression toward a more scientific, conscious and professional practice. The future of grooming is not hotter, it is more precise, more thoughtful and better informed.