Chelate Your Hair Before You Add Any Color or Chemical for Best Results

How can you achieve the best hair color? Before you even attempt to apply an all over hair dye or highlights do yourself a favor and chelate. Got your attention huh? Right now your thinking "What on earth is chelating?" To me this shampooing process is almost similar to clarifying your hair except with Chelating you are removing minerals, chemicals or other harsh purities such as chlorine. This is very common for those people who have hard water and even well water. A great way to make your hair and scalp feel fresh, and get rid of that nasty slimy scaly film feeling in your head.

How To Shampoo

First you need to find the right product. Look for a shampoo that contains EDTA, as one of the main ingredients. Great example is Joico Chelating Shampoo, Kenra (which works as both chelating and clarifying), and one of my old time favorites which some people might remember years ago Quantum. Quantum Clarifying Shampoo does not say chelating on it, but trust me it is. It's very powerful and will help get rid of any unwanted minerals, or chlorine in a flash.

Wet your hair throughly. Apply a decent amount of the shampoo all over the head. Make sure you concentrate mostly on the scalp and ends. This is where most of the minerals and chemicals build up. Rinse with cold water and repeat.

This time leave the shampoo on for 10-15 minutes. Then rinse again with cold water. Do this once a week in the beginning, and then slowly slow the process down by only placing the shampoo on your head every two-three weeks as a deep cleansing and once before you apply any chemical service on your head.

If your hair isn't too bad, then just go with one good application 2-3 days before coloring your hair. Always make sure to condition the hair as well, even if you feel your hair doesn't need it. ALL hair needs conditioning and as much moisture as possible.

Just remember if you are aiming for a certain hair color such as red or blonde please make sure it's in tip top shape, because these two shades have a hard time grabbing if the hair is porous or chemically processed too much from coloring, highlighting, perming, or even straightening.

If you can not find a chelating shampoo in your area of town, then opt for a good clarifying shampoo such as Nexxus Aloe Rid, John Frieda, VO5 Herbal Escapes Kiwi Lime, Suave Professionals, and even Tresemme. All of these products can be found at a very reasonable price. I am NOT one of those hairstylists that try and pass the most expensive products on people, I don't believe in that. And trust me, most beauticians do push for one reason only and that's to make commission in the salon. I can care less about that. I rather have customers and great quality rather than the most volume. Being honest is the most important, not making money on something that might not even work on the head, just because you can.

Sources: Professional Beautician