When it comes to not using haircare formulated for color-treated hair, I am guilty as charged.  But this dye-job around, I’ve vowed to be vigilant about protecting my Perfect 10 ‘do, and I’ve been using Matrix Color.Smart Protective Luminating Shampoo and Conditioner.

The first thing you’ll notice right of the bat with this line is the sent-from-heaven fragrance.  (Folks, it’s right up there with my beloved Sebastian–it’s that good.)

The other thing is that these products are very lightweight.  They leave hair soft and bouncy, without any build-up or residue, and works great on hair that is in normal condition.  But, if you’re hair is dry or damaged from coloring, this combo likely won’t be rich enough to repair your hair.

The shampoo contains a citrus revitalizer (though there’s no citrus scent), which is supposed to get rid of dulling residue to help reveal brighter color and shine.   The conditioner contains positively charged conditioning agents to repair porous areas prone to color loss.  Both the shampoo and conditioner contain UV protection to help fight fading.  So far, my color has stayed pretty rich and resisted fading, but I was expecting a higher shine factor.

Even if you have normal hair, it’s still a good idea to deep condition about once a week to  keep hair looking lush and vibrant.  I like the deep-conditioning masks from Pantene.