Does honey have chelating properties??

[cutenappygrl]

I ask b/c I want to use all natural products and I heard molases has chelating properties - so does anyone know if honey does as well??

[ktani]

Honey has been/is used in chelation therapies as a carrier - it is not a chelator on its own.

[ktani]

I was wrong about honey having no chelating abilities.

Honey contains gluconic acid, which is a chelator.

However, I found no references that referred to honey as being a chelating agent.

See "Description" for gluconic acid
http://www.foodbs.org/foodb/additives/show/824

See "Occurance and uses"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluconic_acid

Like molasses, honey can leave a residue.

It was recommended by a food chemist, quoted in a post in an old thread, that molasses be followed by a vinegar rinse when it is used on hair, to remove its residue.

In the Honey thread, shampoo or a vinegar rinse has been reported to work well to remove honey residue.

[ktani]

The gluconic acid content of honey varies.

This source says that honey has a gluconic acid amount of ".3%"
http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200209/000020020902A0230313.php (http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200209/000020020902A0230313.php)

This source says that the D-gluconic acid range varies from "3.91 to 11.71 g/kg" in selected honeys.
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgiGluconic /jafcau/1997/45/i09/abs/jf970012c.html (http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jafcau/1997/45/i09/abs/jf970012c.html)

[cutenappygrl]

I was wrong about honey having no chelating abilities.

Honey contains gluconic acid, which is a chelator.

However, I found no references that referred to honey as being a chelating agent.

See "Description" for gluconic acid
http://www.foodbs.org/foodb/additives/show/824

See "Occurance and uses"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluconic_acid

Like molasses, honey can leave a residue.

It was recommended by a food chemist, quoted in a post in an old thread, that molasses be followed by a vinegar rinse when it is used on hair, to remove its residue.

In the Honey thread, shampoo or a vinegar rinse has been reported to work well to remove honey residue.

Thanx - now that i see honey can leave its own residue - then it probably wouldn't work at removing other buildup from the hair.

[ktani]

cutenappygryl

The way I understand it, chelators can help remove metals and salts from the hair, not product build-up.

Even though chelators are often included in clarifying shampoos and treatments, it is the cleansers in these shampoos and treatments that remove the product residues.

[cutenappygrl]

Well lately i've been exeperiencing dandruff- while i am satisfied w/my dandruff shampoo - it strips my hair. So i end up adding a lot of moisturizers and oils to overcompensate for the dryness. And then i get product buildup - so it's time for an acv rinse. But acv dries my hair out too. And then i read that acv helps w/dandruff so i am thinking about just using that. So i was considering adding honey to it so that it wouldn't be so drying but still be effective if honey can remove residue. But after using honey this past weekend in a conditioner - i am never going to put it in my hair again - b/c it is unbelievably stiff right now. So i'm just going to scrap this idea altogether. Especially since chelating doesn't mean removing product build up. Thank you for providing the info.

[ktani]

cutenappygrl

I completely understand how you feel - frustrated. I do not clarify because I no longer use products that can build-up.
However, I have been there - I just let used to let them wash out though. It takes much much longer that way but that is what I used to do.

The only things I know of to remove product build-up are clarifying shampoos and treatments.

Aloe Rid is a popular shampoo on the boards and is reported to be mild. Neutrogena has an anti-residue shampoo too.

Here is the Aloe Rid information, including ingredient list.
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp151723_333181_sespider/nexxus/aloe_rid_gentle_clarifying_shampoo.htm

makeupally.com reviews for Aloe Rid
http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=3094/Aloe_Rid_Shampoo/Nexxus/Shampoo

Neutrogena Anti-Residue shampoo ingredients
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=169582&catid=28988

The Neutrogena shampoo has better reviews at makeupalley.com and may be easier to find.
http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=3931/Anti-Residue_Shampoo/Neutrogena/Shampoo

Aveda Detoxifier shampoo has got even better reviews and the ingredients are listed here. The shampoo looks more natural and milder than the other 2, to me.
http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=41571/Detoxifier/Aveda/Shampoo

Some people here use baking soda to remove product build-up but it needs to be very diluted or it can be harsh - there are those who swear by it. It is usually followed by a vinegar rinse. Baking soda has a pH of 8.

The honey residue will wash out.

Avc or white vinegar cannot remove product build-up but they can remove molasses and honey residues.

[cutenappygrl]

I always thought acv could remove buildup. Maybe i will go back to baking soda/acv.