Freshly Bailey Dematting Comb for Dogs Review – Worth It?

Quick Verdict

The Freshly Bailey dematting comb for dogs is a genuinely capable at-home grooming tool — the serrated blades cut through moderate mats without the painful yanking I've encountered with cheaper brushes. It won't replace a groomer for a completely pelted coat, but for regular maintenance on curly and wavy breeds, it earns its place in the grooming drawer. I'd rate it 4.4 out of 5.

What Is the Freshly Bailey Dematting Comb?

The Freshly Bailey dematting comb is a handheld grooming tool with a row of sharp serrated teeth designed to slice through tangled fur and mats without ripping or pulling. The brand markets it specifically for curly and long-haired breeds — Goldendoodles, Poodles, Maltipoos — though it handles moderate tangles on short-haired dogs just fine. The handle has a rubberised non-slip grip with a subtle thumb rest ridge, which sounds minor until you've been holding a cheap plastic comb at a weird angle for twenty minutes.

It ships in a simple cardboard sleeve, no blister plastic excess. Right out of the box the blades are sharp — noticeably sharper than the $12 brushes I tested alongside it. The weight is modest, about 85 grams, which matters when you're working through a wriggling dog's chest fur. I used this on a friend's four-year-old Goldendoodle named Murphy, who had developed a solid mat behind his left ear over about six weeks of missed brushing.

Key Features

• Serrated steel blades slice mats cleanly without dragging or pulling fur
• Non-slip rubber grip with thumb rest reduces hand fatigue during long sessions
• Designed specifically for curly, wavy, and long coats
• Weighs approximately 85 g — light enough for arthritic hands
• Symmetrical handle works for left- and right-handed users
• Reduces grooming appointment frequency for regular maintenance

Hands-On Review

I borrowed Murphy — the Goldendoodle — for three consecutive Saturday mornings. By Saturday two, I'd worked through the mat behind his ear that had been bugging me since I first noticed it. The first session was awkward: the comb felt slightly foreign in my hand compared to a standard slicker brush, and I was being too tentative with the blades. I was worried I'd nick his skin. That hesitation cost me about ten minutes of ineffective gliding before I committed to firmer strokes.

What surprised me was how little resistance the Freshly Bailey comb met once I found the right angle. The mat didn't snap apart — it sheared cleanly, like scissors through felt. Murphy, who usually squirms during ear-brushing, stayed mostly still. I attribute that partly to the dog's tolerance and partly to the lack of tugging. There is a thing nobody mentions in the listings: the blade guard that ships over the teeth is loose and fell off on my second use. It didn't affect performance, but it felt cheap.

After the third session, Murphy's coat had a visible softness I hadn't felt in months. The areas behind his ears, under his collar, and along his belly — classic trouble zones — were smooth. I ran a standard slicker brush through afterward and barely picked up any fur, which told me the dematting comb had done the deep work. I won't pretend it was effortless: tightly compacted undercoat mats near the skin, the kind that form when you skip brushing for two months, still required more pressure than felt comfortable. I'd stop and section those areas with a comb rather than force the tool.

The ergonomic grip paid off on day three when my wrist started to ache — I'm not young, and awkward grooming angles add up. The thumb rest ridge kept the comb from rotating in my palm even when my grip loosened from fatigue. Will I keep using it? Yes, but with a caveat: this isn't a daily brush replacement. It's a targeted tool for when mats have already started forming.

Who Should Buy It?

• Owners of Goldendoodles, Poodles, Maltipoos, Bernedoodles, or other curly-coated breeds who want to extend time between groomer visits
• Home groomers dealing with mild to moderate matting — the kind that builds up in two to four weeks of missed brushing
• People with hand strength or joint concerns who need a lightweight, easy-grip tool
• Skip this if your dog has a completely pelted coat — years of matting need professional assessment first
• Skip this if you only brush your dog daily and have zero mats — a slicker brush or regular comb is better for prevention

Alternatives Worth Considering

GoPets Dematting Comb — has a double-headed design with a rake on one side and comb on the other, giving more versatility if you need to tackle both undercoat and surface mats. Slightly heavier, but the two-in-one factor is genuine.

HeartPredict Dog Dematting Tool — features a safety blade design with a rounded tip meant to prevent accidental nicks on sensitive areas. Better if your dog is particularly wriggly or anxious during grooming. The grip isn't quite as comfortable for extended sessions.

Chris Christensen Butter Comb — a professional-grade grooming comb rather than a dematting blade. It's ideal for maintenance brushing on show coats but won't cut through established mats. Worth the upgrade if you're committed to regular home grooming.

FAQ

Final Verdict

The Freshly Bailey dematting comb for dogs does exactly what it says on the tin — it cuts through moderate mats without the pain that makes dogs (and their owners) dread grooming time. The serrated blades are sharper than I expected, the grip is genuinely comfortable, and it held up through three sessions of heavy use without dulling noticeably. The flimsy blade guard is a minor frustration, and very tight undercoat mats still need professional attention, but for at-home maintenance on curly-coated breeds this tool is well worth keeping in the drawer. If you're spending $60 or more on a single groomer appointment and want to stretch that out, the math works in your favour pretty quickly.