55 Cute Maltese Haircut Ideas – All The Different Types and Styles

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Are you the proud owner of a Maltese?

If you have one of these delightful pups as a pet, you’ll know that these dogs grow a thick cascade of beautiful body hair. If that gorgeous fur coat grows too long, your Maltese will feel uncomfortable, and you’ll need to spend a whole bunch of time grooming your pet, too. 

So, a regular trip to a good professional groomer for coat trims is in order!

Keep reading to discover 55 irresistibly cute Maltese haircuts for your beloved fluffy furry friend!

Cute Maltese Haircuts Ideas

Now, let’s take a look at our favorite cute Maltese hairstyles.

There are plenty of adorable haircuts that you can choose for your Maltese, from a fluffy Lion haircut to an 80s hair metal look. In fact, we reckon the sky’s pretty much the limit when it comes to cute Maltese hairstyles! 

In this list, we’ve included a range of haircuts, including professional haircuts that are best tackled by a trained pet groomer and an easy-to-do hairstyle that you might want to try at home.

Maltese Shih Tzu Haircut

Maltese Shih Tzu Haircut
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Image Source: puppiesclub.com

This haircut involves cutting the hair to a length of 1 to 2 inches all over and is one of the most popular hairstyles with Maltese owners. 

This simple clip is the perfect summer hairstyle, especially if you live in a hot climate, and you can even have a go at replicating the cut at home if you have a set of good-quality clippers.

Maltese Poodle (Maltipoo) Haircut

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Image Source: www.instagram.com
Maltese Poodle Haircut e1644050881340
Image Source: dress-the-dog.com

The Maltipoo haircut is a very simple “do,” where the dog’s coat is pretty much completely clipped off all over the pup’s body to a length of ½ inch of hair or less, including the ear hair. 

This hairstyle is a great option for dogs that live in a hot climate or for the summer months when the dog is in danger of overheating. You can also choose this hairdo if your dog suffers from sensitive skin since it’s much easier to treat inflammation with topical creams if necessary.

Of course, if you don’t relish the challenge of combing through all that flowing fur every day, the Maltipoo haircut is a good choice for you.

Teddy Bear Haircut

Maltese Dog Running Outdoors
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Image Source: www.instagram.com

The Teddy Bear cut is an extremely popular Maltese haircut because this clip makes the dog look even cuter!

The fur is cut to around ½ an inch in length all over the body, and the facial hair is trimmed to make the dog’s face look rounder, just like a Teddy Bear!

Layered Cuts

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Layered Cuts
Image Source: www.petmaltipoo.com

This choppy hairstyle is best attempted by professional salon groomers. This time-consuming trim creates beautiful layers through the dog’s coat and looks amazing when done properly.

Maltese’s Blunt Bob

Maltese lapdog portrait close up on a light background
Grooming Maltese dog

The Maltese’s Blunt Bob is an incredibly popular Maltese haircut because it’s very easy to care for. Most of the hair is clipped short, with long hair being left on the tail and ears.

Poodle Cut

Mohawk Maltese

If you don’t mind leaving your Maltese dog’s hair long, the Poodle cut might appeal to you. The Poodle cut involves clipping the body hair and belly hair short while leaving the hair long and of the legs and face.

Mohawk

Maltese Mohawk Cut
Mohawk Maltese inside the car
Image Source: www.pinterest.com
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Image Source: venicepets.blogspot.com

The Mohawk cut is one of the most adorable haircuts for the Maltese!

This cut involves shaving the body hair and face but leaving a crest of long head hair. Adventurous pet parents sometimes like to dye their hair with special pet-friendly hair colors to really make their Maltese stand out from the crowd. Some also like to leave the long hair extending right down the dog’s back to the tail.

Top Knot

Amazing Maltese Dogs Trio
Image Source: www.maltese-care.com
Maltese Top Knot

The Top Knot is a fun hairstyle that suits the Maltese’s pretty face and brings out the beauty of his huge puppy dog eyes.

To do this hairstyle, simply comb out the dog’s head hair and draw it back into a bunch or top knot. For an ultra-cute look, use hair bows of different colors and fabrics.

Puppy Cut

Puppy Cut scaled e1644067478946
Image Source: transgroom.com

Maltese puppies best suit short hair trims, and the Puppy cut is a short all-over clip without creating a full-blown hairstyle.

This style is also excellent for giving your puppy the experience of being groomed without him having to sit still for too long.

Maltese Hairstyle Ideas

Here are a few more cute Maltese hairstyles that you might fancy trying. Most of these “dos” can be done at home without the need for a visit to the groomer.

White Maltese Haircut

Maltese Puppy in the Yard

Your gorgeous snow-white fluffball will look even more adorable with this simple hairstyle!

Leave your pet’s fur curly to show off your Maltese puppy’s good looks. Leave the hair around the feet and eyes quite long too.

Female Maltese Hairstyle

Female Maltese Hairstyle e1644072347135
Image Source: www.instagram.com

If you have a female Maltese dog, you might like to gather the fur on top of your little girl’s head into a natural ponytail and wrap it in a satin ribbon. Leave the body hair long and trim the chest and belly hair a little shorter as a contrast.

Show Maltese Cut

A small Maltese dog with a beautiful decoration on its neck

Maltese dogs feature heavily at dog shows. In fact, one of these beautiful white pups actually won his group the prestigious Crufts Dog Show back in 2010, as shown in this excellent video.

A Show cut is usually an all-over-long hairstyle that shows off the dog’s long silky coat. This hairstyle takes a lot of time and effort to achieve.

Messy Hairstyle

Maltese dog in a training of obedience scaled e1644110779569
Messy Hairstyle
Maltese dog

A messy hairstyle usually happens by accident!

Usually, the Maltese dog’s fur gets messy if grooming is neglected when the coat is left longer. If you want to avoid the dreaded messy hairstyle, ask a professional groomer for advice on the most suitable, manageable style for you and your pet.

Medium Cut

Maltese Lapdog Shows off Breed Specific Haircut on Grey Background

If you think a long Show hairstyle might be too much for you to take on, a Medium cut could suit you better. Simply trim the hair to a medium length, leaving the hair long on the top of the dog’s head so that you can make two gorgeous girly ponytails.

Hair Clip

Combing Maltese dog e1644116076795

If you leave your Maltese dog’s hair long on top, you might want to use a hair clip to fasten the fur back to show off your pup’s pretty face.

Pigtail

Maltese 7 Years Old

A pretty Maltese can look even cuter with her hair in pigtails! To achieve this look, simply leave the ear hair long and gather it up in ribbons below the ear flap.

Face Styles

The right choice of face style can really show off your Maltese’s pretty face. So, choose your dog’s face style carefully before you start work with the clippers!

Mustache

Maltese dog throat grooming scaled e1644117497826

Every Maltese looks gorgeous with a little mustache, regardless of whether your pooch is a boy or a girl.

Clean Face

Clean Face 1 e1644117691932
Image Source: www.instagram.com
Maltese Clean Face

The Clean Face style is ideal for a Maltese that tends to get food trapped in his beard and mustache! Simply shave off the facial hair and scissor-blend it into the body fur. 

Short Cut

Here are a few examples of short, shaved haircuts that suit the Maltese.

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Maltese Dog Wearing Santa Christmas Outfit
body shaved maltese
Image Source: www.petmaltese.com

Long Hair Cuts

Of course, if you have plenty of time to brush your Maltese, you can leave the hair longer. Here are some gorgeous long haircuts that look great on this breed.

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Image Source: www.instagram.com
French Braid
Image Source: www.boredpanda.com
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Image Source: www.instagram.com
Tied Up Top Knot
Image Source: grandestylepetgroomingtampa.com

Wavy Haircuts

Wavy haircuts can be achieved by layering the coat. Here are a few examples that you might like to try.

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Image Source: www.flickr.com

Curly Haircuts

Some Maltese dogs have very curly hair, and you can make the most of that with these cute hairstyle ideas.

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Image Source: www.photos-public-domain.com

Funny And Cute Maltese Cuts

For a look that’s a little bit different, you might want to try using hair ornaments, ribbons, and clips. Many owners also like to add a quirky touch, for example on Halloween and Christmas, by using pet-safe hair dye to color their Maltese dog’s fur.

Here’s a whole selection of cute and hilarious Maltese styles that you might like to try.

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Image Source: www.instagram.com
Maltese Poodle
Image Source: www.pinterest.com
trimming maltese
Image Source: www.instagram.com
Cute maltese with flower in the head
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Image Source: www.instagram.com
maltese with pink dress
Image Source: www.petmaltese.com
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Image Source: www.instagram.com
funny maltese dog with colored strands walk e1644130796801
Image Source: www.freepik.com
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Image Source: www.instagram.com

Maltese Haircuts Before And After Pictures

You can get a good idea of how your Maltese dog’s new hairstyle will turn out by taking a look at these before and after pictures. Always discuss your haircut ideas with a professional groomer first to be sure that the cut you choose will be the best option for you and your pet.

cute maltese haircut e1644131070882
Image Source: www.instagram.com
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Image Source: www.instagram.com
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Image Source: www.flickr.com
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Image Source: www.instagram.com

How To Brush Your Maltese’s Coat

No matter what potential hairstyle you choose for your pet, that glorious cascade of hair needs brushing regularly to keep it looking good and prevent matting.

Here’s how to properly brush your Maltese’s coat:

First of all, you need to gather together everything you’ll need. The old maxim, “buy cheap, buy twice” certainly applies when it comes to dog grooming tools. So, always buy the best quality grooming tools that your budget will stretch too. Well-made brushes always last longer and perform better than cheap ones, so it makes sense to buy the best.

What you will need:

  • Metal comb
  • Pin brush
  • Slicker brush
  • Leave-in conditioner

Step 1

Begin by brushing your dog’s belly hair, feet, and rear end.

The Maltese generally doesn’t enjoy having those areas brushed, so it’s best to do those parts first. That way, the remainder of the grooming experience is more enjoyable for your pet.

Spray the coat over the dog’s buttocks with a leave-in conditioning spray, and use an open-spaced pin brush to remove any tangles from the coat. Hold the base of the fur close to the dog’s skin, and use the pins of the brush to gently work through the hair and remove tangles. Work from the ends of the hair toward the skin until the hair is smooth. 

Now, repeat that exercise for your pet’s feet and belly.

Step 2

Next, brush the Maltese’s tail. 

Work from the tail’s base at the point it meets the body. Use a leave-in conditioning spray to carefully tease out tangles.

Spray the rest of the tail with the conditioner. Hold the tail fur firmly, and use your pin brush to work through the hair from the ends to the skin.

Step 3

Maltese dog grooming hands with comb brushing dog

Now, you can move on to combing the dog’s head hair. 

Start by using a damp cotton ball to remove any crust from around your pet’s eyes. With the comb angled downward away from your dog’s eyes, very gently comb the hair ends, working toward the Maltese’s skin. 

Next, comb the dog’s head and muzzle with a metal comb.

Divide the dog’s ear hair into layers. Spray the underlayer with conditioner, and use a pin brush to remove any tangles and mats. Next, brush the upper layer of hair, using the same technique.

Step 4

Remove your dog’s collar and brush your pet’s body fur.

Divide the hair into sections, working through each one individually. Lift the top layer of fur, and spray the undercoat with a conditioner. Now, brush the underfur with a pin brush until any tangles and mats are gone. 

Using the same method, work your way through every section of the upper hair. 

Step 5

Finally, brush your Maltese all over. Start by spraying the whole dog with a leave-in conditioner, and brush the coat with a slicker brush.

When you’ve finished, remember to reward your good doggy with a treat! 

Of course, if you opt for a tightly-shorn hairstyle, brushing your dog will be a much less time-consuming task than if you leave the hair long. However, you still need to brush your Maltese every day or two to make sure that matting doesn’t start. Pay particular attention to the areas behind the dog’s ears, under the collar, the armpits, and around the base of the 

In Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed our guide to all the different types and styles of cute Maltese haircut ideas.

We’re sure you’ll agree that there are plenty of fabulous looks to choose from. However, if you’re still not sure what Maltese hairstyle would be best for you and your pet, always have a chat with an experienced groomer for advice.

What’s your favorite Maltese haircut? Tell us about your favorite “do” in the comments box below, and please share the article if you loved it!

Meet our writer

Alison Page was brought up with dogs and various other pets! For a few years, Alison worked as a Practice Manager in a small animal veterinary clinic. Alison is now a full-time writer, specializing in creating articles on the care and training of dogs, cats, and fish.

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