Freshly groomed Shih Tzu with perfectly parted silk coat, one paw slightly forward, dark eyes catching window light against a creamy studio backdrop
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Vintage grooming shears laid out on folded linen beside a copper faucet, warm afternoon light, studio still life
Our Story

Learned in Taipei.
Practiced on Saturdays.

Lin Wei spent three years apprenticing under a Taiwanese show handler who believed the Shih Tzu topknot was a form of calligraphy — each wrap deliberate, each bow a punctuation mark.

She opened Fluff in 2019, tucked between the florist and the bakery, because she wanted grooming to feel like a neighborhood ritual rather than a transaction. The copper faucet came from a salvage yard in Hudson. The appointment board was hand-lettered by her neighbor.

Two Shih Tzus walking side by side on a garden path, coats freshly trimmed and gleaming in soft morning light
The Craft

High-velocity dryers.
Low and patient.

Most groomers blast on high. Lin runs her dryers on the lowest setting and takes twice as long. The coat dries straighter, the dog stays calmer, and Tuesday regulars — Margaret with Biscuit, and the Nakamura family with little Mochi — have never once had a post-groom anxiety spiral.

Every appointment ends with a rice-paper bow, hand-tied in the color the owner chose at booking. It is a small thing. It is the whole thing.

The Menu

Every dog,
every coat.

Four services, each designed around the Shih Tzu's double coat and the particular personality of your dog on a given Saturday.

First-timers

Puppy Intro

45 min · $55

A gentle first visit for coats under 6 months. No scissors, just touch, warm water, and trust-building.

  • Warm oatmeal bath
  • Blow-dry on low
  • Nail file
  • Bow in your color

Bath & Tidy

90 min · $85

Chamomile rinse, full brush-out, and a light scissor tidy around eyes, paws, and sanitary areas.

  • Chamomile rinse
  • Full brush-out
  • Eye & paw trim
  • Bow + bandana
Most popular

Full Breed Cut

2.5 hrs · $140

The classic Shih Tzu silhouette — rounded head, level back, floor-length skirt or puppy-length. Hand-scissored throughout.

  • Full hand-scissor cut
  • Topknot wrap
  • Cologne mist
  • Take-home bow set
Handlers

Show Prep

3.5 hrs · $220

AKC standard breed cut with chalk-line parting, oil treatment, and competition wrapping. Booked 2 weeks out.

  • AKC standard cut
  • Chalk parting
  • Coat oil treatment
  • Competition wrap
Saturday regulars

Fresh off the table.

Shih Tzu with freshly trimmed coat and rust-colored bow, looking directly at camera
Biscuit · After
Fluffy Shih Tzu with long white coat on grooming table, just bathed
Mochi · After
Two small dogs with freshly groomed coats walking outdoors
Daisy & Chai · After
Small dog with silky coat and topknot bow sitting on a white surface
Noodle · After
Golden-coated small dog sitting on a grooming table looking content
Wonton · After
Shih Tzu with perfectly parted coat and ribbon in hair
Pearl · After
Shih Tzu with freshly trimmed coat and rust-colored bow, looking directly at camera
Biscuit · After
Fluffy Shih Tzu with long white coat on grooming table, just bathed
Mochi · After
Two small dogs with freshly groomed coats walking outdoors
Daisy & Chai · After
Small dog with silky coat and topknot bow sitting on a white surface
Noodle · After
Golden-coated small dog sitting on a grooming table looking content
Wonton · After
Shih Tzu with perfectly parted coat and ribbon in hair
Pearl · After
Their words

Dogs don't lie.
Their owners barely do.

Biscuit the Shih Tzu with freshly scissored coat and rust bow, sitting alertly on white surface

"Biscuit has been coming every other Tuesday for three years. He literally trembles with excitement in the tote bag on the way there. Lin knows his coat better than I do."

Margaret & Biscuit

Park Slope

Full Breed Cut
Mochi the Shih Tzu with long flowing white coat posed on a grooming table

"We treat Mochi like our firstborn, which means we are extremely particular. Fluff is the only place we trust for show prep. The topknot wrapping alone is worth the trip."

Kenji & Yuki & Mochi

Cobble Hill

Show Prep
Noodle the Shih Tzu with silky parted coat and small bow, relaxed expression

"I sent a photo first because Noodle is extremely anxious. Lin texted back within an hour with a whole plan. That was two years ago. He now falls asleep on the table."

Priya & Noodle

Carroll Gardens

Bath & Tidy
Ready when you are

Saturdays fill fast.

Fourteen slots a week. Regulars rebook before they leave. If you're reading this, there's probably still one open.