6 Easy Maltese Hair Cuts to Master

Stylish Maltese haircuts are all the rage – what cut should YOU go for? This depends very much on whether you are a groomer or a Maltese owner doing your own grooming at home. Either way, you will want to learn how to cut Maltese hair to showcase a number of different styles.

If you already know which of the popular Maltese haircuts you prefer, you can jump to the relevant description below. Otherwise, you could watch a few of the videos below to figure out which Maltese styles you wish to perfect. Watching a professional stylist grooming a Maltese, via a YouTube video, is a very useful practice. You can re-run the video as many times as you like.

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From super show-dog styles to cuts that are a little less formal, we’ve described 6 of the most popular Maltese hairstyles that might be required. Want to find out what they are? Read on!

Maltese Grooming Kit Ideas

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Popular Maltese Haircuts

There are a number of different Maltese haircut styles that you will see but here is a description and some videos of 6 of the more popular Maltese haircuts.

1, A Maltese Short Haircut

The following video provides a great guide on how to prepare a Maltese for clipping and how to go about it with grooming clippers, including which size clippers to use where. The tips in the video are relevant for professional salon groomers as well as anyone doing their own coat trims at home.

The groomer makes a very good point by emphasizing the need to get all of the tangles out before starting the clipping process. I’m sure you would have already experienced how easily the coat on a Maltese can become matted.

She also makes a good point with respect to client preferences. If a client asks about short Maltese haircuts, a groomer would need to clarify, beforehand, just how short the client wants this clip to go.

It’s nice to see the smooth result that the groomer easily achieves with her clippers as she follows the contours of the dog’s body. She is using a number of different sized clipper comb.

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You will notice that the groomer, in the video above, makes good use of a harness with her grooming table. This make much lighter work of your clipping job and makes for a much happier pooch as he feels nicely supported.

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2. The Show-Dog Cut for the Maltese Breed

Show cut or home trim?  Show cut
Long cut or short cut?  Long cut

Here is the one haircut that is accepted by the Maltese breed standard and one of the best Maltese hairstyles out there!

The show-dog cut evokes connotations of glamor and prestige and is the ultimate style if you want to show off your pooch in a competition.

The appropriate equipment can make a huge difference when working on these Maltese haircuts.

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• Part the hair in a straight line from the back.
• Brush it to each side (the hair should be hanging down to the feet).
• If the hair is too long and touches the floor, a quick trim might be necessary! Beware: the coat has to be long enough to hide your dog’s toes – as per competition rules.
• Here’s a nice finishing touch: keep hair out of your pet’s eyes with a bow of your choice!

3. The Maltese Scissor Cut

Show cut or home trim? Home trim
Long cut or short cut? It’s up to you!

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This is one of those Maltese haircuts that’s completely customizable!

The scissor cut is a lot more flexible than the show-dog, and it’s pretty straight-forward.

You can decide on the type of style that you want your pooch to have; cut the fur on your dog’s body to create a short, choppy style.

You only need scissors to achieve this look, which is essentially the canine equivalent of going for a trim at the hairdressers.

No hassle, no fuss – just a decent tidy-up that will leave your dog looking picture-perfect.

4. The Maltese Korean Cut

Show cut or home trim? Home trim
Long cut or short cut? Long cut

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The Korean cut has exploded in popularity in recent years, and although it’s a little more complicated than some of the others on our list (like the simple scissor cut), you can still do it at home.

You’ll need some good clippers to do this one:

• Start at the middle of the back.
• Gently shave the hair until you get to the waist.
• You’ll also want to use some thinning shears to blend the facial hair under the muzzle.

Looking for a full step-by-step guide? Check out the video below:

5. A Maltese Teddy Bear Cut

Show cut or home trim? Home trim
Long cut or short cut? Short cut

The Teddy Bear Cut is a much shorter style than the Korean cut, where the side and back hair is trimmed to a quarter-of-an-inch but everywhere else is left pretty much as it is.

You will need to learn how to groom a Maltese face to create a look that resembles a child’s teddy bear (don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds!).

This modern Teddy Bear cut for Maltese results in the hair on the top of the head being long enough to style it into a topknot if you wish. It’s also pretty easy to do at home.

Have a look at the video below to see what all the fuss is about and to get some great tips on Maltese grooming at home.

It’s easy to see why the Teddy Bear Cut Maltese style is one of my favorites.

The cute Teddy Bear Cut has been adopted for a number of breeds. For example, The Cockapoo Teddy Bear Cut is equally as adorable.

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6. Fluffy Legs and Feet on the Maltese Dog

Show cut or home trim? Show cut
Long cut or short cut? Long cut

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This is one of those Maltese haircuts that will dazzle the judges!

• Start off by brushing your dog’s hair before trimming around the feet.
• Make sure the shears are parallel to the hard surface you are using.

This style is smart, chic, and clean – have a look at the video below for full instructions.

How to Cut Maltese Hair with Scissors

Here’s an excellent video on how to achieve the perfect trim. If you are interested in learning how to manage Maltese haircuts with scissors, then this video will provide a very good guide.

Additional Tips on Maltese Haircuts

You might also like to check official breeder and kennel guidelines. Depending on your location, one of these links can help:

• The Kennel Club in the UK
• The American Kennel Club
• The Australian National Kennel Council

Maltese (Complete Pet Owner’s Manuals)

Which Maltese Haircuts Do You Prefer?

Just as cute as the Maltese breed is the Havanese breed. If you are looking to make a comparison, check out our post on How to Do the Havanese Puppy Cut.

After Seeing How to Cut Maltese Hair for 6 Styles, Which is Your Preference?

Now that we have looked at 6 different Maltese haircuts, which do you prefer? Do you also favor the Maltese Teddy Bear cut, along with so many others?

With the right grooming clippers, the correct scissors and the right table height to work on, both you and the little pooch can shine.

If you are looking for general grooming tips for your Maltese, such as brushing and how often to give him a bath, you might like to check out this post.

If you are a groomer, then make sure you have the right hair drying equipment that allows you to dry Maltese and other doggie customers as efficiently as possible after bathing.

In the meantime, have fun trying out these different Maltese Haircuts.