HandsOn Gloves Review: Pet Grooming Gloves for Cat and Dog Shedding

Aug 09, 2023

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As a golden retriever mom for the last 24 years, I've had to learn how to deal with hair — and lots of it. To say I've tried numerous grooming tools is an understatement, and although I do love a good old-fashioned dog brush, I started using the HandsOn Gloves with my 13-year-old golden, Jessie, about two years ago.

The gloves are now my favorite grooming tool to use on her and two other animals in my house not only because they work but also because they allow a unique bonding experience. Jessie looks relaxed as I groom her, and after just one session, her fur feels silkier and softer than any other grooming tools I've used.

The HandsOn Grooming Gloves, which are made of nylon fabric, have numerous rubber nodules on the fingers and palm. The nodules on the gloves catch the hair, and when the gloves get too full, I just shake my hands, and the massive collection of hair falls off.

I wasn't sure how Jessie would like the gloves at first. I worried she might not respond well to the texture, but she proved me wrong. She loves the gloves, largely because while I'm stroking her and catching massive amounts of hair, she's getting a massage, and when she's lying down to get her sides brushed, her eyes flutter closed as mine do when I'm on a massage table.

I've also used HandsOn Gloves with a paralyzed pittie mix named Macy whom I'm fostering and my long-haired cat Toby who usually bites when being brushed. They enjoy the touch, too, and while Toby doesn't tolerate the brushing as long as Jessie and Macy do, he does better with the gloves than a brush. Bonus? The gloves protect my hands when he does start biting, which is my cue to stop.

The gloves are easy to slip on and off, and they stay secure, thanks to a Velcro strap near the wrist. And they're so much more comfortable than using a brush, not to mention better on the body. When I use a brush on Jessie, I'm only using my dominant arm, which can get a little tired after a while. Yet with the gloves, the work is divided between both hands, and the movements are more natural, lessening the fatigue.

Unlike brushes or combs that remain rigid as you brush, the HandsOn Gloves are flexible, meaning that they bend and flex with the movement of your hands. That allows me to carry things (like a leash or shampoo bottle) easily when I have the gloves on. They can even be used when they're wet; some people use them when bathing their pet, which is made easier with the scrubbing nodules on the fingers. But what I love most about the gloves is their ability to contour to the shape of the animal's body.

Take, for instance, when I groom Jessie. I stroke her body in a rhythmic fashion, my hands either moving together or one after another. I can even target parts of her body that she doesn't tolerate as well with a brush like in her "arm pits," behind her ears, and around her face.

Of course, my main mission is to keep Jessie groomed, but the act of stroking her like this gives me another opportunity to bond with her outside of walking and playing. I've even used the HandsOn Gloves to get dried dirt, leaves, and other things out of everybody's fur.

When I need to clean the gloves, I just give them a good rinse in the sink and let them air dry. Even better? I've been using the same pair and haven't noticed any signs of wear and tear.

If you have other family members who want to share this experience with your companion animals, you may need to buy additional gloves to get the right fit for everybody. The downside with that? Additional cost.

Grooming Jessie (and everybody else) is no longer a chore with the HandsOn Gloves, but rather, a pleasant experience for both of us. As a result, I'm now grooming her more frequently — she gets excited when the gloves come out — and her coat has never looked or felt better.

Pros: Available in three colors and five different sizes from junior to extra large; easy to clean; can be used on other animals like horses, pigs, and cows

Cons: You may need more than one pair to accommodate different hand sizes in your family; price might deter some; doesn't catch short hair as well as long hair

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