Matrix Hair Products NZ: Which Range Suits Your Hair?
Quick answer: If you want one Matrix range that suits the most NZ hair, start with Matrix Food For Soft Shampoo, a daily-use hydrating shampoo that Matrix describes as colour-safe. Choose Instacure Build-A-Bond if your hair is damaged, A Curl Can Dream for curls and coils, Brass Off or So Silver for toning, High Amplify for fine hair and Mega Sleek for frizz.
Matrix is a professional salon haircare brand, and the range at Zilion covers shampoos, conditioners, masks, leave-ins, oils and styling products across more than a dozen sub-ranges. That's great for choice but confusing when you're standing in front of the shelf. This guide sorts the Matrix products we stock by hair type and concern, so you can build a routine that actually fits your hair.
Why Matrix?
Matrix is built around "systems": each range has a shampoo, a conditioner and usually a mask, leave-in or styler designed to be used together. That makes it easy to build a complete routine without guessing which products play nicely with each other. The ranges are also clearly targeted, so a fine-haired person and a curly-haired person can each find a system made for them.
The honest trade-off is that the sheer number of ranges makes it easy to buy the wrong one. Toning products in particular are specific: Brass Off is positioned for lightened brunette hair, while So Silver is for blonde, grey and white hair. Pick by your hair's main concern first, and if you have two concerns (say, coloured and frizzy), choose the range for the one that bothers you most.
In-depth look at the Matrix range
The Matrix products we stock fall into four groups:
- Repair and hydration: Instacure (including the Build-A-Bond line) for damaged, brittle hair and Food For Soft for dry hair.
- Colour care and toning: Color Obsessed and Glow Mania for coloured hair, Brass Off for lightened brunettes and So Silver for blonde, grey and white hair. Keep Me Vivid adds a colour lamination spray.
- Hair type systems: A Curl Can Dream for curly and coily hair, High Amplify for fine, flat hair and Mega Sleek for frizzy, unruly hair.
- Styling: Vavoom freezing sprays, Builder Wax Spray, High Riser Powder, Volume Setter and the Refresher Dry Shampoo.
Most shampoos and conditioners come in 300ml, with several also listed in a 1000ml salon size. For a few ranges we also stock duos, trios and bundles, such as the Food For Soft Shampoo & Conditioner Duo, which are handy if you're buying a complete system or a gift.
Ingredient spotlight: what's in each Matrix range
Matrix doesn't publish full ingredient lists for every product we stock, so always check the pack. These are the key ingredients and features Matrix highlights for each range:
- Manuka honey extract: featured in A Curl Can Dream, the curl and coil system. The shampoo is described as silicone and paraben free.
- Citric acid and squalane: listed by Matrix as features of the Instacure Build-A-Bond range for damaged hair.
- Avocado oil and hyaluronic acid: listed as features of the Food For Soft hydration range.
- Glycolic acid and rosehip oil: key features of Glow Mania, a sulfate-free colour-protecting range.
- Protein: the base of High Amplify, the volume system for fine, flat hair.
- Blue-violet and violet pigments: Brass Off uses blue-violet pigments (plus vitamin oil) to counter brassiness on lightened brunettes, while So Silver uses violet pigments for yellow tones in blonde and grey hair.
Top Matrix picks at Zilion
1. Food For Soft Shampoo: best all-rounder for dry hair
A hydrating shampoo that Matrix describes as suitable for daily use and colour-safe. It's the first step of the Food For Soft system, which continues with the Food For Soft Conditioner and the Food For Soft Oil for lengths and ends.
Who it's for: dry hair, coloured hair that feels rough, and anyone who wants a gentle everyday shampoo.
Honest note: if your main problem is breakage rather than dryness, Instacure Build-A-Bond is the better fit.
2. Instacure Build-A-Bond Mask: best for damaged hair
A liquid treatment mask and the intensive step of the Build-A-Bond system. Matrix describes the range as helping hair feel stronger and smoother, and lists citric acid and squalane as key features. Pair it with the Build-A-Bond Shampoo and finish with the Billion Bond Oil.
Who it's for: weakened, over-processed, coloured or heat-styled hair.
Honest note: results depend on your hair's condition, and timing and frequency are on the pack, so follow those rather than leaving it on longer.
3. A Curl Can Dream Shampoo: best for curly and coily hair
A Manuka honey curl shampoo that, according to Matrix, deep cleanses build-up while preserving the curl pattern. It's silicone and paraben free per Matrix, and Matrix suggests using it weekly or as needed. Follow with the A Curl Can Dream Mask and define with the A Curl Can Dream Gel.
Who it's for: curly, coily and wavy hair, and anyone building a curl routine.
Honest note: it's a build-up cleanser rather than an everyday wash, so on in-between days a co-wash or conditioner-only wash is the usual approach.
Shop A Curl Can Dream Shampoo →
4. Brass Off Shampoo: best for lightened brunette hair
A blue-violet pigmented shampoo that, per Matrix, counters brassy tones on lightened brunette hair and contains vitamin oil. Matrix says you can leave it on for 2 to 3 minutes for extra toning. The Brass Off Pigmented Conditioner continues the toning.
Who it's for: highlighted or balayaged brunettes whose colour turns orange or warm between salon visits.
Honest note: wear gloves, as the pigments can stain skin, nails and light towels.
5. So Silver Shampoo: best for blonde, grey and white hair
A violet toning shampoo that Matrix says neutralises brassy warmth and yellow tones in blonde, grey and white hair. Matrix suggests using it once or twice a week in place of your regular shampoo, and you can leave the second lather on for 3 to 5 minutes for extra toning. Follow with the So Silver Pigmented Conditioner.
Who it's for: blonde, platinum, silver and white hair that turns yellow.
Honest note: it's a once- or twice-weekly product, not a daily shampoo, and you'll need gloves as violet pigments can stain.
6. High Amplify Shampoo: best for fine, flat hair
A protein volumising shampoo designed to add body and lift to hair that falls flat. It's the first step of the High Amplify system, which also includes the High Amplify Conditioner and the Wonder Boost Root Lifter.
Who it's for: fine, limp or flat hair, and anyone wanting more body.
Honest note: if your hair is also very dry, use the conditioner on mid-lengths and ends only so you keep the lift at the roots.
7. Mega Sleek Shampoo: best for frizzy, unruly hair
A smoothing shampoo that, per Matrix, helps tame frizz and leaves hair sleeker. It pairs with the Mega Sleek Conditioner and the Mega Sleek Iron Smoother, a heat-protection spray for blow-drying and straightening. Handy for humid NZ summers.
Who it's for: frizzy, unruly or hard-to-style hair, especially if you blow-dry or straighten.
Honest note: Matrix positions it for frizzy, unruly hair; if your bigger issue is flat, fine hair, High Amplify is the better starting point.
8. Glow Mania Shampoo: best for dull or coloured hair
A sulfate-free, colour-protecting shampoo with glycolic acid and rosehip oil, per Matrix. It's designed to boost shine and colour vibrancy, and pairs with the Glow Mania Conditioner and Glow Mania Mask.
Who it's for: coloured hair that looks flat or dull, and anyone wanting a sulfate-free option.
9. Vavoom Freezing Spray Extra Hold: best finishing spray
A fast-drying, extra-firm finishing spray that Matrix says locks in volume, texture and lift. A good pick for updos, big blow-outs and event styles that need to last. If you want a spray that focuses on full volume with satin shine, the Vavoom Extra Full is the alternative.
Who it's for: all hair types, per Matrix, and especially formal or long-lasting styles.
Honest note: freezing sprays set firm, so finish styling before you spray; you may need two washes to remove it.
Which Matrix range suits your hair?
| Your hair or concern | Our pick |
|---|---|
| Dry or rough | Food For Soft Shampoo |
| Damaged, brittle or over-processed | Instacure Build-A-Bond Mask |
| Curly, coily or wavy | A Curl Can Dream Shampoo |
| Lightened brunette turning brassy | Brass Off Shampoo |
| Blonde, grey or white turning yellow | So Silver Shampoo |
| Fine or flat | High Amplify Shampoo |
| Frizzy or unruly | Mega Sleek Shampoo |
| Coloured and dull | Glow Mania Shampoo |
| Styles that need to hold | Vavoom Freezing Spray Extra Hold |
Routine guide: using Matrix products together
- Shampoo for your main concern. Use the shampoo from the range you chose above. If you use a toning shampoo (Brass Off or So Silver), swap it in for your regular shampoo once or twice a week rather than every wash.
- Condition or mask. Follow with the matching conditioner. On treatment days, use the mask instead, such as the Build-A-Bond Mask on towel-dried hair for the time stated on the pack.
- Add a leave-in. Dry hair suits the Food For Soft Oil on lengths and ends; damaged hair suits the Billion Bond Oil; fine hair suits the Wonder Boost Root Lifter at the roots.
- Protect before heat. If you blow-dry or straighten, use a heat protectant such as the Mega Sleek Iron Smoother. Browse more in our heat protection collection and read how to protect hair from heat damage.
- Style and finish. Define curls with A Curl Can Dream Gel, or lock in a finished style with a light mist of Vavoom.
Toning brassy colour at home? Our guide on how to tone brassy hair at home walks through how often to use a pigmented shampoo.
Key features to look for
- The right system for your hair type: curl, volume and smoothing systems are designed for different textures, so match the range to your hair first.
- Pigment colour: blue-violet (Brass Off) for orange brassiness on brunettes, violet (So Silver) for yellow tones on blonde and grey hair.
- Sulfate free or silicone free: Glow Mania is sulfate free and A Curl Can Dream Shampoo is silicone and paraben free, per Matrix. For other products, check the pack. See our guide to sulfate-free shampoo for colour-treated hair.
- Size: 300ml is ideal to try a range; several shampoos are also listed in 1000ml if you already know you love it.
- Duos and bundles: a good way to buy a complete system at once, and an easy Christmas gift.
Our strategy for choosing the right Matrix range
Start with your hair's single biggest concern, then buy that range's shampoo and conditioner together, as they're designed to work as a pair. Add one extra step (a mask, oil or leave-in) only once you know how your hair responds. If you colour your hair and it also has a texture concern, use a toning or colour-care shampoo on some washes and your texture system on the rest. And if you're buying a gift and aren't sure of the person's hair type, Food For Soft is the safest all-round choice.
FAQs
Is Matrix a professional salon brand?
Yes. Matrix is a professional salon haircare brand, and Zilion sells 100% authentic Matrix products online with delivery across New Zealand.
What's the difference between Brass Off and So Silver?
Brass Off uses blue-violet pigments and is positioned for lightened brunette hair that turns orange or warm. So Silver uses violet pigments and is made for blonde, grey and white hair that turns yellow.
Which Matrix range is best for damaged hair?
Instacure Build-A-Bond is the range Matrix designs for damaged, weakened hair. Start with the shampoo and the liquid mask, and add the Billion Bond Oil as a leave-in.
How often should I use A Curl Can Dream Shampoo?
Matrix suggests using it weekly or as needed to clear build-up, then following with your conditioner, co-wash or mask.
Shop Matrix at Zilion
See every shampoo, treatment and styler in our Matrix collection, or compare more colour-care options in our coloured hair shampoo collection.
