A method for surface treating a titanium-containing metal, comprising the steps of: (a) treating at least a portion of a surface of the titanium-containing metal with an anodic activation in an electrolyte bath; and (b) strike plating at least a portion of the surface of the treated titanium-containing metal with a metallic coating in the same electrolyte bath as in step (a), wherein the titanium-containing metal remains submerged in the electrolyte bath during steps (a) and (b). The invention also provides for a method for plating a titanium-containing metal, comprising the steps of: (a) surface treating the titanium-containing metal with the method disclosed herein; (b) strike plating at least a portion of the first struck titanium-containing metal with a second metallic coating in a second electrolyte bath; and (c) non-oxidatively heat treating the second struck titanium-containing metal for a period of time sufficient to cause diffusion bonding between the first metallic coating and the titanium-containing metal. The invention also provides parts made in accordance with the methods disclosed herein.