Have you ever wondered how groomers manage to get through so many dogs in one day? They don’t have super speed; they have super tools. Professional dog groomers don’t just use any old dog brush; they use professional tools designed specifically to make the process of grooming quicker and easier.
Unless you’re fortunate enough to have a dog that simply doesn’t shed, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve got a few dog brushes stashed around the home. You may have even invested a reasonable amount of money in a deshedding tool, only to find that it still takes a whole lot of time and effort to properly remove that dead undercoat. That’s because none of these brushes are powerful enough to do the job quickly and efficiently. And if you don’t mind spending hours brushing your dog, then this system is just fine. If, however, you and your dog have better things to do than waste time on grooming, then the Deshedding Brush from Refuresh is the tool for you.
Be warned: this is no ordinary brush, and there’s a reason it has been used by professional dog groomers in Australia for years. This thing is so good at gliding through your dog’s coat and removing dead hair that you can achieve the same results in 5–10 minutes that would have taken over an hour with a regular brush. In fact, if you treat it like a regular old dog brush, you could do some damage (more on that later!).
What Is A Deshedding Tool?
A deshedding tool, as the name suggests, is designed to reduce shedding. There are lots of different styles and designs, all essentially aimed at reaching beneath the outer coat layer and removing the dead undercoat, which is where all that hair that finds its way onto your clothes, furniture, food, etc. comes from.
Whilst almost every dog needs some sort of brush, not every one requires a deshedding tool. Dogs with very short coats, like Dobermans or Staffys, will benefit from a soft-bristle brush or slicker brush, but they don’t have an undercoat that needs a specific tool. Breeds with curly coats, like Poodles and other ‘oodle’ mixes, need to be brushed, combed, and trimmed, but in most cases, a deshedding tool can damage the hair.
Dogs with a double coat (an outer layer of guard hairs, which do not frequently fall out) and a denser, fur undercoat (which certainly does fall out) often get an accumulation of dead fur that has come out of the skin but has been trapped beneath the layer of hair. Without proper grooming, this dead undercoat can become matted, trap moisture against the skin, and result in skin irritation, infection, and a smelly, uncomfortable dog. Although brushing helps remove some of this fur, most brushes aren’t the right design to get beneath the outer layer to remove the undercoat.
Deshedding tools are designed to reach and remove the dead undercoat, but many still require a lot of effort, and often damage the topcoat in the process. The trouble is that a proper deshedding tool needs to be strong enough to reach behind the undercoat, curved to pull the dead fur to the surface, and delicate enough to do this without pulling the topcoat with it.
The Deshedding Brush from Refuresh doesn’t just tick all these boxes; it adds some new ones.
Refuresh Deshedding Tool
Most leading deshedding tools have a horizontal blade design, while the deshedding brush from Refuresh has stainless steel vertical teeth that reach deep into the undercoat to pull out dead hair without damaging the topcoat. For short or medium-length coats, the teeth have a ‘double C’ shape to help pull the dead undercoat to the surface, while the tool for long coats uses an ‘L-shaped’ design. The teeth are strong but have a wide, curved edge that is comfortable against the skin.
The Refuresh Deshedding Tool also comes in small, medium, and large sizes, so no matter the size of your dog or the length of their coat, you will find a tool that’s right for you.
Refuresh has been used by Australian farmers and pet owners for years, so you know it’s tough. Professional groomers and judges love the lightweight construction, comfortable ergonomic grip, and the effective swipe disposal button. You can even alter the angle of the handle to suit different jobs, something I’ve never seen before. Plus, it’s backed by a 2-year warranty for added peace of mind. The Deshedding Tool from Refuresh is not the cheapest tool on the market; in fact, with a retail price of around $45, it may even be one of the most expensive. BUT, it might just be the last pet brush you’ll ever need to buy.
My Experience with the Refuresh Deshedding Tool
I share my home with four dogs (plus five cats) of varying sizes, shapes, and coat length, so pet hair management is a pretty high priority for me. I have all the expected items, including a super-powerful vacuum cleaner, an air purifier, premium supplements, and clothes rollers dotted around the house like fire extinguishers. Of course, I’ve tried dozens of different brushes and combs, and have the obligatory box of old, rusty grooming tools hidden in a cupboard.
I tried out the medium-sized tool in both the long length and the short/medium coat option. Look, I’m not gonna lie here; I was a tad disappointed when I found that the actual colors of the handles were blue and red, not the vibrant orange and teal featured on the outer packaging, but this was merely a fleeting moment of sorrow.
As you can probably guess, the long coat tool is an absolute must for long-coated dogs, and it did very well with my long-haired cat as well. If I had to choose just one, I would say that the short/medium tool packs more of a punch when it comes to really getting to the undercoat, but in my household, having both lengths is essential. I would prefer to compromise by using the medium size across my cats and dogs, and have both length options. The long length tool was particularly useful when it came to brushing my grooming-averse long-haired cat, as well as powering through the thick neck hair of my Shepherd x Malinois.
The easy discard function makes it so easy to keep the hair in one place. If your dogs are tolerant of a vacuum cleaner, I find it really handy to keep mine running beside me so I can just direct the fur into the hose.
On a personal note, I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right (dominant) hand just two weeks before I tried the Refuresh Deshedding Tool, so I was fully prepared to just use my left hand for this task. However, this brush is so lightweight and requires almost no effort as it glides through the coat, that I found myself using my right hand without even noticing.
Don’t Do What I Did!
When I first tried out the deshedding tool from Refuresh I made the mistake of assuming this was just another dog grooming brush. The short/medium tool absolutely powered through the dense coat of my black Lab, Poppy, and when I got to work on Kodah, my five-year-old German Shepherd x Malinois, was delighted at the amount of fur I was removing, even though his coat is nowhere near as thick as a Labrador’s. What I didn’t realize was that the unique design of this tool meant that I had removed all the dead undercoat within the first few strokes, and was now treating him to some heavy-duty skin exfoliation. Poor Kodah never let on that there was a problem, and I felt absolutely terrible when I spotted his very sore-looking skin later that day.
This is a seriously powerful tool, and it’s obvious why professional groomers love it so much.
Now that I’ve learned my lesson, I only spend around 5 minutes each week going over his whole body with the deshedding tool, and that’s him done. It means that I can actually groom all nine of my pets in one morning without angering my dreaded carpal tunnel syndrome!
If you’re someone who loves to sweat and toil for hours brushing your dog, then this tool is not for you. Stick to a regular dog brush.
But if you and your dog would like to spend less time grooming and more time playing, then the Refuresh Deshedding Tool is worth the price. I used to send Poppy and Kodah to the groomers at the end of winter, but this tool has both their coats looking better than they ever have after a trip to the doggy salon, and the price of the deshedding tool is less than I would have spent on having both of them professionally groomed.
Just remember: this is not just any other dog brush. This is a professional-grade grooming tool. Don’t make the same mistake I did!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where can I buy it?
The Refuresh Deshedding Brush is available in selected stores across the United States, as well as Amazon.
Can I use it on my cat?
Absolutely. The deshedding tool comes in small, medium, and large sizes, and two coat lengths: short/medium and long. I used both lengths on my cats with amazing results.
You can read more about my experience using the Refuresh Deshedding Tool on my feline family HERE.
Do I need a special technique?
No special technique needed, but because this is a highly effective tool, you’ll likely need less effort and fewer strokes than you would with an ordinary brush. The Refuresh Deshedding Tool should only be used on clean, dry fur. It is designed to glide through the healthy topcoat to remove the loose undercoat, so it only needs light pressure.
Will it damage the coat or skin?
Only if you make the same mistake I did!
The unique design of the teeth on the Refuresh Deshedding Tool allows it to remove loose undercoat without affecting the topcoat. In most cases, it takes only a couple of strokes to remove the dead undercoat, and excessive brushing can lead to irritation.
Is there a warranty?
Refuresh offers a 24-month warranty that covers any defects or malfunctions of the brush that occur due to manufacturing faults or material defects. This warranty does not cover damage or issues resulting from misuse, improper handling, unauthorized repairs, or modifications.
Final Thoughts
My experience with the Refuresh Deshedding Tool has been a rollercoaster of emotions. After my initial sadness that the handle would not match my home décor, there was excitement at how easily the clumps of dead fur were being pulled from my Labrador’s dense double coat, mortification when I realized I had gone overboard on Kodah, and the appreciation that this was in fact a powerful, professional grade grooming tool, not just another dog brush.
Looking at the bin full of hair after grooming all four dogs and five cats in a single morning, it was clear I was onto a winner. In just 5–10 minutes, I can achieve a level of grooming that used to take over an hour, and my pets’ coats have never looked better.
I don’t know about you, but I have much better things to do with my time than spend hours brushing my dogs, and my dogs certainly prefer to do just about anything besides stand around while I mutter, sweat and curse. The Refuresh Deshedding Tool is most definitely a professional grade grooming instrument that makes coat maintenance a breeze, allowing you to remove dead hair from your dog’s coat quickly and easily, leaving you with more time to spend on the important things in life.
