Short answer: Chris Christensen Systems is an American brand of professional grooming cosmetics with more than 20 standalone lines, each created for a specific coat type or problem – from Ice on Ice for matted coats, through Spectrum One for wiry terrier coats, to Thick N Thicker for volume. Most shampoos are diluted 4:1 with water, the SmartWash 50 super-concentrates 50:1, while the colour-enhancing and some specialist shampoos are used at full strength.
Who Chris Christensen is
Chris Christensen Systems makes professional cosmetics for grooming salons and show preparation for dogs and cats in the USA. Instead of one all-purpose shampoo, the brand offers separate “systems” – a shampoo, a conditioner, and often an additional spray or mask – each aimed at a specific coat type or a specific problem. That's why the choice usually starts from the name of the line rather than the general “shampoo” category. In our catalogue the brand is represented by nearly 90 products – more than 20 standalone lines plus shampoo-and-conditioner sets for the most sought-after of them.
Chris Christensen in brief: history and manufacturing
The brand was founded by, and is still owned by, Chris and Lisa Christensen. Its story begins in 1996 with the White on White shampoo, developed by Chris Christensen himself, and the business started as a one-car garage operation in Dallas, Texas. Both are still directly involved in product development, and according to the brand an average of 5 new products are in development at any time.
Today Chris Christensen Systems works from its own 30,000-square-foot facility (about 2,800 m²) in Fairfield, Texas, where more than 80% of the brand's liquid products are made. The maker's product pages, for example for Day to Day, state “Made in the USA”. According to the brand, every product is tested on humans before it is used on an animal. Liquid products are best before 36 months after the manufacture date, and once opened the maker recommends using them within 3 months.
The brand's roots are in the show ring. White on White quickly caught on with handlers and groomers, the Pro-Gro conditioner is a refinement of a formula professional handlers have used for more than 50 years, and Self-Rinse Plus is made to a formula in use since 1976 and, according to the maker, is used extensively at dog shows. Chris Christensen also partners with Leading Edge Grooming Academy and Leading Edge Dog Show Academy on free webinars and courses for groomers, handlers and breeders.
Lines by coat type
Ice on Ice — for dry and matted coats
The Ice on Ice shampoo is packed with Moroccan argan oil and turns dry, damaged strands into a soft, silky-smooth coat, making brushing easier. The conditioner from the same line completes the care, and the Ice on Ice spray is handy for upkeep between baths. The shampoo-and-conditioner set is a cost-effective way to try the whole system.
Day to Day — for everyday hydration
Day to Day is a gentler, everyday formula with Vitamin E and colloidal oatmeal – it balances cleansing and hydration without weighing the coat down, and is a good choice for more frequent bathing.
Spectrum One, Five and Ten — by hair structure
The Spectrum line is split by hair thickness. Spectrum One is for wiry, coarse coats – it cleans deeply without softening the hair, and suits the West Highland White Terrier and other wire-haired breeds. Spectrum Five is for smooth coats and dry, flaky skin. Spectrum Ten, by contrast, is for silky, straight or slightly wavy coats and gives smoothness and shine from the very first use.
The Diamond range: Miracle Moisture and Miracle Repair
For very dry coats, Miracle Moisture hydrates deeply, while Miracle Repair targets coats damaged by grooming or environmental factors – both come with a matching conditioner from the same range to complete the care.
Thick N Thicker — for thin coats and volume
For thin, lifeless coats, Thick N Thicker is a protein formula that gives a sense of thickness from root to tip. The line also includes a leave-in spray treatment and a thickening protein foam for final volume before trimming or a show. For the most sought-after lines – Ice on Ice, Day to Day, Spectrum One, Spectrum Ten, Miracle Moisture, Miracle Repair and Thick N Thicker – the catalogue also has ready-made shampoo-and-conditioner sets in various sizes, good value when you're ordering from that system for the first time.
SmartWash 50 and Smart Rinse — the super-concentrates
SmartWash 50 is a family of shampoos with an exceptionally high dilution ratio (typically around 50:1), which makes it especially economical for frequent bathing. It comes in variants for different needs – SmartWash 50 Hypoallergenic for sensitive skin, a variant against heavy shedding (Deshed), and several scented versions for a heavily soiled coat. SmartWash 50 is usually paired with a conditioner from the Smart Rinse line in the matching variant – for example hypoallergenic Smart Rinse or Smart Rinse De-Shed for a coat that sheds heavily.
Specialist formulas
Besides the main coat-type lines, the range also includes products for specific situations. Peace & Kindness is a shampoo with colloidal silver for acute and chronic skin irritation, which doesn't strip the coat's natural oils. Clean Start is a deep-cleansing shampoo that removes build-up from styling products, oils and product residue before a show or before switching to a new cosmetics line. Silk Spirits is a liquid silk protein – a few drops remove static and frizz without weighing the hair down. Happy Eyes is a tearless 2-in-1 shampoo-conditioner for the most sensitive pets, puppies and kittens, while Fresh Faced Tearless Facial Wash is a specialist formula just for the muzzle area, suitable for dogs that find washing around the eyes difficult.
Colour correction and stain removal
Chris Christensen also offers colour-correcting shampoos that bring out the coat's natural colour without harsh chemicals – Red on Red for red, mahogany and chestnut tones, Gold on Gold for golden and beige tones, Black on Black for deep black, and White on White against yellowing of a white coat. For stains from urine, saliva and food, Saving Grace is suitable – a deodorising shampoo that breaks down the protein soiling at the base of the stain. You'll find general tips for removing urine smell at home in the article how to remove urine stains and smell.
No-bath and ear care
For quick upkeep between baths, Mystic Ear cleans the ear canal and neutralises odours without leaving it greasy, while the Just Divine detangling spray and the waterless OC Magic Foam cleansing foam help freshen the coat between baths – handy while travelling, at shows, or during recovery. The Self-Rinse Plus no-rinse shampoo serves the same purpose when both water and dry foam are impractical, and for a final scent after a bath the brand also offers standalone colognes such as Signature Scents Sweet & Sassy and Smart Scents Cherry & Oats.
Concentrate or ready to use
According to Chris Christensen's dilution guide, the main shampoos – Day to Day, Ice on Ice, Spectrum One, Spectrum Ten, Miracle Moisture and Thick N Thicker – are diluted 4:1 (4 parts water to 1 part shampoo), all SmartWash 50 shampoos 50:1 and most conditioners 8:1. Fair Advantage, Happy Eyes, Miracle Repair, Peace & Kindness and the colour-enhancing shampoos (Black on Black, Gold on Gold, Red on Red, White on White) are used at full strength – the colour shampoos after a prewash with Clean Start. You dilute the product with water in a separate bottle according to the label. Products that are ready for direct use – the detangling sprays, cleansing foams and ear lotions – are clearly marked as such in their description and are not diluted.
Suitable products
You'll find the whole line in the Chris Christensen collection, and by type in the shampoo and conditioner-and-mask sub-collections.
Read more: the guide to the Groom Professional line and how to choose a dog shampoo by coat type.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start if I'm not sure which line to choose?
Start from your dog's coat type – wiry, silky, thick with undercoat, or thin – rather than from a specific condition. If the skin is sensitive or irritated, that takes priority over coat preference: choose a hypoallergenic formula such as SmartWash 50 Hypoallergenic or Peace & Kindness.
Can I combine a shampoo from one line with a conditioner from another?
Yes, but for the best result the manufacturer recommends the full system – a shampoo and conditioner from the same line, since they're formulated to work together.
What's the difference between SmartWash 50 and the brand's other shampoos?
SmartWash 50 is a family of super-concentrates diluted 50:1, while most other Chris Christensen shampoos are diluted 4:1, and the colour-enhancing and some specialist formulas are used at full strength. That's why SmartWash 50 works out more economical per bath.
Are Chris Christensen products suitable for cats?
Some of the products, such as Mystic Ear and a few of the hypoallergenic formulas, are also intended for cats. Check the description of each product before using it on a cat.
Is it worth buying a set instead of a shampoo and conditioner separately?
For a line you've already chosen by coat type, a set is usually better value than buying the two products separately, and it guarantees the shampoo and conditioner are from the same system.
How often can I bathe my dog with a Chris Christensen concentrate?
It depends on the line you choose and the coat type – gentler formulas like Day to Day suit more frequent bathing, while therapeutic and colour-correcting shampoos are usually recommended as needed rather than regularly. If you're not sure about overall bathing frequency, see also the guide how often to bathe your dog.
