Hi!
Please keep their bum ends /around their legs cuts short - these are the areas that tangle and matt quickly. Alsokeep their hair off the floor and if necessary cut the undercoat shorter to allow them full mobility and minimise the tangling. Judicious hair cutting goes a long way with long-haired piggies; especially with messy teenage boys!
For the summer, we recommend a radical short haircut (or two, depending on the weather and heat spikes); the hair will grow back for the winter, so no worry. But it is like wearing a skisuit on a tropical beach. You will see for yourself just how happy your boys will be without their mop! Small dog clippers work best with long-haired piggies.
For Texel grooming you will need an afro comb. Use our piggy whispering tips and a treat for afterwards (like their favourite veg) if they hate being groomed, which most long-hairs do. For the ones that really hate grooming, keeping the hair cut shorter does help a lot.
Please do not overbathe; in most cases a gentle bum bath (see our boar Care guide) is sufficient. Overbathing can dry out the skin and mess with the skin microbiome, which is an important part of the immune defence. It can cause more problems than it solves.
We generally recommend to bring any piggies indoors during weather extremes anyway. Even an insulated shed or a hutch in the shade can become a death trap in hot weather. Long-haired and even more so thick-coated piggies are at a higher risk of heat exhaustion or stroke.
You may find the information in these guides here helpful:
Help with better compliance (use a mix of love and mild dominance)
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips
Who is the Boss - Your Guinea Pig or You?
Grooming care and our VERY comprehensive hot weather guide with ALL available tips and information on how to spot the worst hot weather problems:
An Illustrated Guide to Hair Cutting
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike
I hope that this will help you?