MATRIX Food For Soft Hydrating Shampoo with Avocado Oil & Hyaluronic Acid (300ml)

If your hair feels dry and a bit snappy to the touch, this hydrating shampoo is built for that exact problem: cleansing without stripping the moisture you actually want to keep. The Matrix Food For Soft system leans into comfort and softness, and this shampoo is designed to work as the first step.

What it is and what it’s for

This Matrix hydrating shampoo is aimed at dry, brittle hair. It’s positioned as a moisturising-and-nourishing cleanser, with a formula that includes avocado oil and hyaluronic acid. On paper, the idea is simple: you still cleanse and rinse out build-up, but you avoid leaving hair feeling tight or overly dry afterwards.

A key part of the pitch is that it’s meant to moisturise while cleansing and help remove excess oil without stripping the moisture dry hair needs. That “clean, but don’t punish” angle is often where regular shampoos fall short—especially if you’ve got hair that gets dry quickly or feels rough even after you’ve conditioned.

The essentials (how it behaves in a routine)

Using it is straightforward: apply a coin-sized amount to wet hair, lather, then rinse. The routine matters a touch here, because the product description also suggests following up with the matching Food For Soft Conditioner.

A practical example: if your hair starts the day feeling flat at the roots but dry lengths mid-week, you’d typically focus on working the lather through the scalp lightly, then let the foam run through the lengths for a gentler cleanse. After rinsing, you’d condition as directed to lock the softness back in.

Where it stands out

The standout here is the combo of ingredients and the “hydrating system” framing. Avocado oil and hyaluronic acid are included to support moisture and nourishment, while the product also claims it helps lift away excess oil without leaving hair stripped.

There’s also a moisture claim stated for the wider system: a 2022 instrumental test (Food For Soft shampoo + conditioner + oil vs non-conditioning shampoo) and a consumer test suggest up to 72 hours of moisture. It’s worth reading that as a system story rather than a promise for the shampoo alone.

What to watch out for

It might not suit everyone. If your hair is only lightly dry (or you’re prone to weighing down easily), you may find you need to adjust how much you use and how you apply it—particularly if you’re fast to get greasy at the roots. Also, because the moisture claim is tied to the full Food For Soft routine, you shouldn’t expect the maximum results if you don’t use the matching conditioner step.

And one more limitation: any strong “oil + hydration” style formula can feel like overkill if your hair is naturally very fine and you regularly over-condition. It’s not that it’s bad—more that dry hair products can vary a lot by hair type and how your scalp behaves.

Who it makes sense for (and who should skip it)

It’s a solid pick if you have dry, brittle hair and you want a hydrating shampoo that cleans properly while staying focused on moisture. It also makes sense if you’re already interested in a coordinated hair routine, since the description encourages using the matching Food For Soft Conditioner afterwards.

You may want to skip it if your main issue isn’t dryness (for example, if your hair is mostly fine and gets weighed down quickly), or if you’re very sensitive to richer, nourishment-led cleansers.

Is it worth it?

Worth buying if your priority is a moisturising shampoo for dry, brittle hair, and you’re comfortable sticking to the Food For Soft system approach (shampoo plus conditioner, as directed). The inclusion of avocado oil and hyaluronic acid, plus the stated moisture testing for the system, gives it a clear purpose.

Not the best match if you’re after a very lightweight daily cleanser, or if you already find hydrating shampoos and conditioners leave your hair feeling heavy. In those cases, you might get better results by choosing something more minimalist for your specific hair weight needs.

Mini FAQ

FAQ

How should I use the shampoo? Apply a coin-sized amount to wet hair, lather, then rinse. The routine is recommended to continue with the matching Food For Soft Conditioner.

Is it only for very dry hair? The description targets dry, brittle hair, but it could work for other dryness levels too—just be mindful of whether you get weighed down.

Does it remove excess oil? The description states it helps remove excess oil without stripping the moisture dry hair needs.

Is the 72-hour moisture claim for the shampoo alone? The wording points to the Food For Soft system (shampoo + conditioner + oil) for the testing mentioned.