We Think It’s Time You Met Matrix, the Affordable Pro Haircare Brand
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
TikTok’s always flooded with brands and creators claiming to have found the thing that’ll change our lives. And while most are more fluff than substance, every now and then is a gem worthy of your attention.
Like Matrix, the professional haircare brand that promises salon-quality results at a more accessible price.
I think I speak for all of us when I say this is music to my ears. In times like these, we can use all the help we can get to maintain our beauty regimes. It’s self-care, after all.
While Matrix is nowhere near new (they’ve actually been around for over 40 years), I’ll be the first to admit I’ve been sleeping on the American haircare brand. But after a late-night Matrix doomscroll (guilty), I knew I had to give it a shot.
Part of the buzz around Matrix is their focus on diversity, with ranges that cater to pretty much every hair type, colour and concern you can think of.
With that said, I’ve been road-testing their new Food For Soft range that promises to revive dry and dehydrated hair, keeping it touchably soft for up to 72 hours.
Below, you’ll find my review of the three-step routine plus a cheeky cult fave I couldn’t wait to get my hands on.
Matrix Food For Soft Hydrating Shampoo.
Fast facts:
- Hydrates really dry, dehydrated hair.
- Infused with avocado and hyaluronic acid.
- Restores radiance and shine for visibly healthier hair.
- Gentle formula suitable for all hair types, including sensitive scalps.
My Matrix Food For Soft Hydrating Shampoo review:
Hyaluronic acid is such a staple in my dry skincare regime, but funnily enough, I’d never actually tried it in my haircare.
As it turns out, it's the secret sauce to frizz-free tresses, which makes sense when you consider that the scalp’s just an extension of our skin and therefore still needs moisture to stay hydrated and balanced.
It seems so obvious, you’d think I would’ve put two and two together. Alas, here we are.
Hyaluronic acid also improves blood flow to the scalp to promote hair growth. This combined with its inclusion of salicylic acid which gently exfoliates the scalp has me excited for what’s to come as I try to grow my hair out over the coming months–watch this space.
I loved how thick and pearly the shampoo’s texture is, and found the addition of avocado and vitamin E helped to give my tresses a hit of hydration that lasted between washes.
Other highlights include softer, smoother and shinier locks that I just can’t. stop. touching.
But the real star of the show is its scent: a delicious concoction of floral and citrus notes that smell far more expensive than the shampoo’s humble $25.50 price point–a win for our hair and wallets.
Matrix Food For Soft Hydrating Conditioner.
Fast facts:
- Provides intense moisture to dry and thirsty hair types.
- Smoothes and detangles knots and tames frizz and flyaways.
- Ideal for all hair types, including straight, wavy, curly and coily hair.
- Made with avocado oil and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and replenish moisture.
My Matrix Food For Soft Hydrating Conditioner review:
Following a double shampoo, I applied a coin-sized dollop of the Food For Soft Hydrating Conditioner from mid-length to the ends of my hair.
The initial dryness I’d experienced from my shampoo quickly disappeared as I massaged the thick, creamy texture through my hair, using my fingers to detangle knots.
Like the Food For Soft Shampoo, the conditioner smells heavenly and does well to balance hydration with a decent wash, even after a more detoxifying shampoo during another wash.
Drying it off, my hair felt softer, more manageable and weightless post-blow-dry, making it a worthy choice for my fine-haired friends on the lookout for an affordable conditioner to hydrate thirsty hair.
Matrix Food For Soft Multi-Use Hair Oil.
Fast facts:
- Multi-use hair oil and serum.
- Tames frizz and flyaways for a smooth, radiant finish.
- Can be used as a leave-in treatment for very dry, brittle hair.
- Protects the hair from heat damage up to 230 degrees Celsius.
- Infused with avocado oil and hyaluronic acid to nourish the hair.
My Matrix Food For Soft Multi-Use Hair Oil Serum review:
Now, onto the real MVP of my Matrix haircare lineup: the hair oil serum.
A leave-in treatment and heat protector in one, this hard worker smooths, protects and enhances the hair with each drop, dispensing the perfect amount each time thanks to its convenient dropper design, no less.
Despite its rather thick consistency, the hair oil serum applies like nothing to the hair, absorbing fast, nourishing brittle ends and leaving no greasy residue behind.
I tried it on both damp and dry hair and found both work great to tame frizz and impart a healthy shine and luxe scent that had me flicking my hair around like I was in a ‘90s Herbal Essences commercial.
So if you too are plagued with perpetually dry ends or dullness, find other hair oils too heavy or are simply looking for a serum worthy of hair swishing, add this one to cart before the TikTokers get a hold of it–which, trust me, they will.
Matrix Total Results Miracle Creator.
Fast facts:
- All-in-one treatment that boosts shine, hydrates, tames frizz and smooths hair.
- Can be used as a hair primer, to refresh an existing style or before heat styling.
- Protects hair from breakage from heat damage and provides antioxidant protection.
My Matrix Total Results Miracle Creator review:
Last but not least, we have the Matrix Total Results Miracle Creator.
While this multi-tasking treatment spray isn’t a part of the Food For Soft range, it is one of Matrix’s best sellers, if not, *the* best seller, so I was curious to put it to the test.
Out of the laundry list of benefits the spray promises (there’s 20!), my top priorities are hydration, frizz-fighting and manageability.
Some close seconds include preventing split ends and protecting my hair against breakage from brushing–I’m definitely guilty of overdoing the latter.
Surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly as you’d expect from a name like ‘miracle creator’, the leave-in treatment delivered on all fronts.
Even my typically non-observant mum noticed how shiny and healthy my hair looked after using it, over FACETIME. Nuff said.
I also love love loveeee the scent: sorta-sweet, sorta-salty. Its inclusion of coconut and sweet almond oils has me daydreaming about a warm, summer vacation with a tropical cocktail in hand... mmm.
But considering I won’t be venturing much further than my living room this winter, I’ll take any escape I can get. And for less than $30!? It’s a no-brainer.
Final Verdict...
In a nutshell, Matrix is the perfect gateway into the world of professional haircare while also being a reliable and affordable option.
So, whether you're just starting your pro haircare journey or need to be budget-savvy, they're worth a second look.
Want more haircare tips and advice? Check out these Beauty IQ articles:
