Matrix Sleek Look Shampoo and Conditioner

The last two pieces of the Matrix Sleek Look collection that I bought are the shampoo and the conditioner, I have finished up with all the styling creams from this line and now I am about two weeks into using the matching shampoo and conditioning products.  I originally used this shampoo and condition right after I graduated from college, when it was newer on the market.  I found that the shampoo and conditioner are best used for someone that smoothes and straightens their hair every single day, this is not for someone who wants to play around with different hair textures every single day. 

This set of products will not straighten hair by themselves, at least one additional styling product will be needed to fully style and achieve the perfect straight hair look.  That being said, these products help to deposit the needed ingredients on the hair so that less styling products are needed and styling time is reduced.  The Sleek Look line uses the following two ingrediens in every product in the line to aid in the straightening and smoothing process, shea butter and ceramide.  Shea butter is used to hydrate and aid in moisture retention, if the hair cuticle is hydrated to begin with than the moisture from the air cannot seep in and it will help to easily prevent frizz.  Ceramide helps to smooth hair and keep the cuticle closed, allowing the styling products to easily coat the hair and help the ironing process.
This line is made to help with the appearance of frizzy, dry ends and helps to repair and smooth the hair for up to 24 hours.  Most people (myself included) who straighten their hair do not wash and restyle it every single day and need a product that will stand up to the weather and elements.  The styling process is usually long enough when I am blowing out my thick, curly hair that I cannot do it every single day anymore. 

Since shampoo is usually the first part of the hair regime, I am going to start with this product.  The information is from the Matrix website, but this product line can be found at almost every single salon that I have ever gone to.  "Cleanses and moisturizes.  Smoothes and controls frizz.  Delivers all day humidity protection."  This product helps to clean off the hair cuticle with a thick, rich foam.  It doesn't strip the hair's cuticle however it is not hydrating enough when used alone, the matching conditioner is needed with this product.  This shampoo formula does contain silicones, so another shampoo is needed to alternate with this one.  The first time that I used this product, it was the only shampoo that I owned and I found that after using it for five or more days in a row, the ingredients build up and caused my ahir cuticle to have a bit of a sticky feel.  I currently alternate this shampoo with Fekkai Glossing line up to help avoid build up.

The matching conditioner is one of the vital parts of the straightening process, it helps to hydrate and smooth the cuticel before I even get out of the shower in the morning.  "Moisturizes, detangles, and de-frizzes.  Helps repair damage.  Delivers all day humidity protection."  This conditioner is very slippery to the touch and absorbs quickly into the hair.  After rinsing, the hair is slippery to the touch and feels more hydrated than before.  It contains the silicones just like the shampoo, so the same rules about switching this line up with another shampoo and conditioner holds true.  This conditioner actually caused the build-up faster than the shampoo did, I needed to use a clarifying shampoo at least once a week when using this product duo.

I recommend this shampoo and conditioner to someone who has issues with dry, frizzy hair and needs help to straighten and smooth it while styling.  However, I really believe that a second duo of product is needed to alternate with this line to help avoid the build up that this rich shampoo and conditioner can leave behind.  In addition to alternating with another duo, I strongly suggest that you use a line with lighter conditioning agents or a more natural-based line.  One of the best aspects about the whole Matrix line is that is works very well with little to medium effort on the part of the user and the line is available at so many salons, you will have no problem finding this line.  This line of products is made only to help straighten and smooth, if you are going after only hydration benefits, this is not the blend for you.  The ceramide is made to smooth and could cause excess build up if you are solely looking for moisture benefits.

One last caveat - this line is made to use together and will need to be used that way at least every other time you straighten your hair.  This product line is a commitment and the shampoo and conditioner should be used together in order to really aid in the styling and smoothing process.

photo courtesy of Matrix