For dry, brittle or chemically/heat-damaged hair that breaks or snaps during combing and brushing, rather than for fine or already-healthy hair that doesn't need protein reinforcement.

Works as the first step of a three-piece system; using only the shampoo without the conditioner and porosity spray will deliver less of the porosity-filling benefit than the full routine is designed to provide.

The real differentiator is that this shampoo doesn't just cleanse: it's dosed with liquid hydrolyzed proteins specifically meant to fill in porosity along damaged sections of the hair shaft as it cleanses, which is why Matrix frames it around reducing breakage from everyday combing and brushing rather than around shine or color-fade the way a typical everyday shampoo is.

• Wet hair thoroughly.
• Apply a quarter-size amount of Instacure Anti-Breakage Shampoo, lather and rinse.
• Follow with Anti-Breakage Conditioner, then Anti-Breakage Porosity Spray for the complete system.
• If the product contacts eyes, rinse immediately.

Pros:

• Hydrolyzed wheat, corn and soy proteins target porosity directly, which is specifically useful for hair that breaks during detangling rather than hair that's just dry on the surface.
• Designed as a system with a matching conditioner and porosity spray, so all three products are formulated to build on each other.

Cons:

• Uses sodium laureth sulfate as its primary cleanser, so it isn't an option for anyone specifically avoiding sulfates.
• Used alone, without the conditioner and porosity spray, it delivers less of the porosity-repair effect the Instacure line is built around.
• Contains multiple fragrance allergens (linalool, limonene, geraniol, citronellol, hexyl cinnamal), worth checking for anyone with fragrance sensitivities.