Hairstyles for Shih Tzu Dogs

Shih Tzus have a regal history as one of the holy dogs of Tibet that were also kept by Chinese rulers, according to the American Shih Tzu Club. People continue to enjoy the breed for its pleasant temperament and striking good looks, the club added. Although Shih Tzus may be gorgeous enough on their own, you can gussy them up more with some creative hairstyles.

  1. Top Knots

    • Top knots are one of the more popular Shih Tzu hairstyles, according to the American Shih Tzu Club. The club notes two types of top knots: the maintenance top knot for daily wear and the show top knot for shows and other special occasions. The look features one or more sections of hair secured atop the dog's head with a small latex band. Add a bow and curl the ponytail hairs with a curling iron for a polished show look.

    Braids

    • If Shih Tzu hair is long enough, braids are another hairstyle option. Add braids to the top knot hair, securing all sections into single braid or braiding each section individually. Another option is to braid portions of the hair in front of the ears so the braids hang down the sides of the dog's face in a Pippi Longstocking look.

    Pigtails

    • Long ear hair makes for ideal pigtails. Comb the ear hair downward, secure with a latex band and add a bow to the top of each ear.

    Mohawk

    • A cutting edge Shih Tzu style is the Mohawk. This look works best with Shih Tzus that have a longer section of top hair surrounded by shorter hair, often when they are growing it out for an eventual top knot. Comb the longer section of hair straight up and hold it in place with gel hair or hair paste.

    Fu Manchu

    • The Fu Manchu look, also called the lion cut, works with Shih Tzus that have very short body hair and very long hair on the ears and beard, according to the Sweet and Cuddly Pups website. The longer the ear and beard hair, the more striking the look will be. The look also works best when the ear and beard hair are the same length. Comb the ears and beard straight down and trim the bottom so it's even across the bottom of the dog's face.

    Pageboy

    • Like the Fu Manchu, the pageboy look works with both the ear and beard hair. Rather than keeping the hair long, however, the page boy is much shorter. Comb ear and beard hair straight down and trim the beard just below the chin. Keep ear hair longer than the beard, but trim it straight across to create a bowl cut or bob look. Keep all edges even for the most striking look.