For mats on my lhasa/JRT I usually use a personal hair trimmer (ya know the smaller clippers for beards an stuff) I have yet to hurt anybody an im kinda clumsy hahaha
I've also been known to do the scissor cut!

"Blessed are the flexible for they shall not get bent out of shape"
"You can discipline and Discourage or you can Discipline and Encourage"
"Gentle in what you do , But firm in how you do it"