Suited to damaged, over-processed, chemically treated, or breakage-prone hair — including color-treated hair — where the priority is gentler cleansing plus temporary protein reinforcement. Because it's sulfate-free and protein-forward, it's a good fit for anyone who has already moved away from sulfate shampoos, but people with very fine, limp hair that's prone to feeling coated or stiff from protein products should be cautious about using it as an everyday, no-exceptions shampoo. It's a retail product, not professional-only, despite Matrix positioning the broader Biolage Advanced range as salon-quality.

This is worth using instead of a standard shampoo specifically because it swaps sulfates for milder surfactants while still adding back protein and amino acids — the combination damaged or over-processed hair generally responds best to, since it cleanses without further stripping while offering temporary reinforcement rather than just softness. It's less useful if your hair isn't actually damaged, since the protein content gives little benefit to healthy hair and can occasionally feel heavy on fine strands.

Apply to wet hair, work into a lather, and rinse thoroughly. Follow with Biolage Advanced KeratinDose Conditioner to complete the routine; the brand's repair claims for this line are generally based on using the shampoo and conditioner together rather than the shampoo alone.

• Sulfate-free surfactant blend is gentler than a typical drugstore shampoo, which matters for hair that's already weakened by chemical processing.
• Real protein content (hydrolyzed wheat protein, silk protein, free amino acids) rather than just a marketing name — these can temporarily fill gaps in damaged cuticle and reduce the rough feel of over-processed hair.
• Confirmed sulfate-free against the actual ingredient list (no sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate present), matching what it's marketed as.

• Protein-heavy formulas like this can build up on fine or already protein-sensitive hair, leaving it feeling stiff or straw-like if used exclusively without a moisturizing conditioner in rotation.
• Contains a typical set of fragrance allergens (limonene, linalool, geraniol, coumarin, amyl cinnamal, hexyl cinnamal, butylphenyl methylpropional, hydroxycitronellal).
• Specific older performance stats seen in some listings couldn't be verified against a current official source — treat any such number with skepticism until confirmed on current packaging.