You might have seen the word "chelating" thrown around but aren't super familiar with the term, especially in the context of beauty. Don't worry, you're not the only one who is struggling to understand what hair chelating is and what it can do for you. If you're ever wondering why your hair is lacking luster, chelating can help.

Here's everything you need to know about hair chelating, including why you should do it and how to do it. 

What is hair chelating?

Hair chelating is a method to detox your hair and scalp by washing away any kind of product residue and mineral buildup, according to Living Proof. It's more than just a typical shampoo and scalp cleanse. A chelating product basically attaches itself to all that buildup that remains in your hair post-shampoo, traps it, and gets rid of it. 

What causes the buildup that hair chelating removes? 

To our surprise, there are a ton of causes of buildup that affect your hair. One of the main reasons is hard water minerals. However, even if you love your showerhead, the water coming from it likely had a slew of different minerals in it, such as lead, copper, iron, calcium, and more, which could leave your hair looking dull, discolored, and brittle. 

Another potential cause of the buildup could be hair product residue from all your styling products. A typical shampoo might not be strong enough to remove all this. 

Swimming pool chemicals are also another potential cause of buildup. Living Proof reported that even when you try to wash out chlorine, it can stay in your hair and cause more damage. 

Not all shampoos can remove the accumulation of dust, dirt, and greasiness you might have from everyday life, but chelating can help. 

What are the benefits of hair chelating?

Hair chelating has a lot of benefits, but one of the main ones is that it makes sure your hair is truly clean. It can help remove the buildup that your typical haircare routine might miss. It can also return your mane to the shine and luster you've been missing. 

How do you do it?

You can get this done professionally, or you can do it at home. It may seem complicated, but it's not. All you need to do is pick up a chelating shampoo, use it in place of your typical shampoo, and follow it up with your favorite conditioner. It's that easy!  

This is not something that should be done every time you wash your hair. It can be done once a week but not more.