All about Matrix hair dyes

Matrix is ​​a fast-growing brand of professional hair coloring products in demand in the world of hairdressing. The first dyes released under this brand were enthusiastically received by ordinary women and highly appreciated by professionals due to the variety of colors and decent quality combined with an affordable price.

Today, Matrix hair cosmetics are in consistently high demand, helping not only to change hair color in the most gentle mode due to the minimum ammonia content, but also to improve their quality, making them more voluminous, smooth and shiny. Let's find out what is remarkable about Matrix paints and why hairdressers-colorists trust them.

The history of the Matrix brand began at the end of the last century. In 1980, stylist Arnie Miller came up with the idea of ​​creating his own line of professional cosmetics for the care of different types of hair from shampoos, conditioners and balms to masks, sprays and paints.

Miller, who had 20 years of experience as a hairdresser, knew almost everything about hair and strove to ensure that Matrix products were available to women from all walks of life, helping them always look spectacular and stylish. And he did it very well.

Since 2000, the brand has been part of the L'Oreal professional cosmetics division.The acquaintance of Russians with the products of this brand took place in 2003, and since then many residents of our country have joined the global community of users of Matrix hair care products.

Matrix hair dyes are professional dye products. They differ from ordinary dyes in the principle of action.

The selection, mixing and application of paints from the "Professional" series should be trusted exclusively by a stylist who has sufficient knowledge and skills in the field of coloring. On the packaging of such products, as a rule, there is no image of flowers, and this is not done by chance.

Using them each time gives a different result according to the type, texture and original hair color. To get a certain result, a hairdresser relies only on his experience and skills in the field of color. And although all cases are individual, the result of staining will always be predictable.

The advantages of special Matrix cosmetics include:

• color accuracy - with professional paints there are high chances of getting the required color;
• the ability to mix shades with each other or refresh them by adding special mixton products;
• an impressive variety of color palette with deep, rich, long-lasting shades;
• minimal damage to the hair structure, since the required concentration and volume of oxygen are selected individually for each head zone;
• the ability to eliminate an unsuccessful color with special washes;
• a guarantee of the quality of products, since they are traded by specialized departments, beauty salons and official distributors.

The manufacturer keeps the unique formula of Matrix paints secret, and the packaging contains only information about the main components of the composition.

• Ammonia or its organic artificial derivative ethanolamine (ethanolamine) as an active ingredient. In the composition of persistent paints and clarifiers, the concentration of ammonium hydroxide is minimal, and in non-ammonia paints, this substance, which aggressively affects the skin and disrupts the synthesis of melanin and tyrosine, is replaced by a safer chemical compound MEA (ethanolamine, monoethalomamine).
• Pigments - special ingredients are used for their manufacture, which have properties that are most similar to the properties of components of natural hair. When coloring pigments penetrate into the hair shaft, they are securely fixed inside, which excludes premature changes in color saturation and depth.
• Ceramide R - an organic synthetic analogue of natural ceramide, which penetrates into the scaly layer and holds the flat cuticle scales, restoring the smoothness and strength of the hair. It also eliminates brittleness, split ends and dull color. During the dyeing process, this substance protects the hair structure from the action of reagents in the dye composition.
• Natural oils (jojoba, olive, burdock). They restore the natural beauty and strength of the hair, making it stronger, and care for the scalp, reducing the risk of unwanted reactions. Under the influence of oils, hair grows faster and becomes more manageable.
• Cera-oil - an exclusive nutritional complex with a powerful antioxidant effect. It has a firming effect on the cortical layer and nourishes the strands from roots to ends. Smoothes all uneven areas on the hair, ensuring an even distribution of coloring pigments, which allows you to achieve perfect color evenness.

The wide assortment line of Matrix dyes consists of several professional series for sensitive, gray and damaged hair.

A popular line of permanent colorants with the widest palette of classic and trendy shades for any type of appearance. What are their advantages:

• the possibility of absolute control over color and a predictable staining result due to the perfect calibration of the palette tones;
• the content of the natural base in shades in combination with self-adjusting coloring pigments that interact with natural hair pigments - this is a guarantee of a beautiful and natural look of colored hair;
• staining using the "Color Grip" technology provides amazing clarity of shades;
• perfectly cope with painting over 50% of gray hair, maintaining durability, depth and color saturation for a long time;
• a caring composition with an innovative Cera-oil complex, saturated with ceramides, polymers and natural oils, takes care of the hair during and after dyeing, providing a strengthening and regenerating effect on its structure;
• easy to mix thanks to the gel + cream formula and are easy to apply, have a pleasant aroma with fruity notes;
• give hair amazing softness, smoothness and natural healthy shine.

The Dream Age line of cream colors is a fundamentally new approach to gray hair coloring.

Features and benefits of coloring agents in this series:

• perfectly camouflage gray hair even in the presence of deep 100% gray hair;
• a composition with an innovative formula and a low concentration of ammonia provides the most gentle hair coloring without damaging its structure;
• the unique "Pre Softening" technology provides complete hair care, making it incredibly soft, silky and shiny;
• a regenerating composition with the Cera-Destiny complex helps to bring damaged hair back to life thanks to the content of Camelina oil in combination with ceramide R, which nourish, smooth and moisturize it along its entire length;
• caring ingredients help to increase the elasticity and strength of the hair, as a result, they acquire a silky texture with a healthy shine.

Here it is worth saying a few words about how to choose the right professional dye for gray hair. When gray hair appears, it is recommended to opt for warm shades, for example, chestnut or mocha with a soft golden tint, so as not to visually add to your age.

Color solutions with the presence of an ashy shade look sophisticated, noble and very elegant. The content of natural pigment will provide the highest coating density.

Refusal to use persistent dyes is often dictated by an elementary fear of harming hair due to the content of aggressive ammonia. With mild ammonia-free dyes of the Color Sync series, you don't have to worry about the beauty and health of your hair.

They not only provide perfect color evenness with amazing shine, but also gently care for your hair, making it soft and smooth.

To understand what are the advantages of dyes without ammonia, it is enough to know how they work. Conventional dyes with ammonia in the composition have a simple principle of action. Ammonium hydroxide lifts the scaly layer, opening access to the coloring pigments. They penetrate deep into the hair structure and replace natural pigments, as a result of which the curls acquire a completely different color.

The ammonia-free Color Sync paints with a special formula work differently. Coloring pigment envelops the top of the hair, creating an ultra-durable lamination-like finish, where the mixture for shine, volume and smoothness settles and adheres to the cuticle.Moreover, the duration of the effect of ammonia-free staining and the standard procedure using persistent paints is the same.

But the main advantage of the "Color Sync" series of tinting cream colors is the versatility of application. With their help you can:

• create new shades on natural bases and those that have already been painted, but without discoloration;
• restore color after persistent staining - "revive" the existing shade;
• correct color - "gently" correct unwanted tone;
• synchronize color - combine the tone along the length of the hair with regrown roots, or connect dissimilar shades along the length of the hair;
• exaggerate a bright shade - enhance the selected tone by means of a booster;
• dilute color - using a transparent nuance provides a lighter tone of the selected shade;
• perform various types of toning: shade gray hair, making light, gentle or absolute intense toning and lightened / discolored bases with the creation of persistent shades; they are also used for toning the existing shade level or darker tone, pastel toning - creating hair color designs and various highlighting options.

A series of toning ammonia-free cream colors of a new generation for highlighting and creating ultrablond shades. Advantages of the Extra Blond dyes:

• lightening in one approach without injury to the hair and the need to pre-bleach the hair;
• a composition with the innovative Out-Lift Blonde technology, which is able to neutralize and lighten hair in one application, block unwanted tones with an admixture of red or yellow pigments and simulate clean, radiant, cool blonde shades;
• a guarantee of obtaining a uniform saturated color thanks to the Color Grip technology;
• the possibility of maximum lightening up to 5 or 7 tones and high-quality painting of 100% gray hair;
• indispensable for masking overgrown roots and aligning color along the length of the hair;
• the composition with the improved creamy consistency "Stay Put Application" provides an ideal result when highlighting natural hair, followed by multidimensional lightening without the use of powdered clarifier;
• Easy to mix due to its thick texture and easy to apply for maximum staining efficiency.

Dyes are used for full dyeing, toning hair in certain areas, masking gray hair and synchronizing shades. A rich palette with a variety of blonde options from shimmery cold to sandy and beige will appeal to those who prefer airy, feminine looks.

A series of universal boosters designed to be mixed with Socolor and Color Sync dyes to enhance color or add additional nuance to a shade. Mixing Soboost shades and a basic color palette opens up endless possibilities for creating unique color combinations and helps in solving any color challenge, from soft color correction to extremely bright tinting.

Let's list their main advantages:

• convenient to use, since each of the four boosters is suitable for working with all series of dyes;
• multifunctionality of application and expanded possibilities of coloring due to the creation of a huge number of new tones;
• the possibility of original coloring of light bases using creative trend techniques. For example, strobing - creating color accents on the hair in the immediate vicinity of the part of the face that is planned to be emphasized, and watercolor painting - adding bright or pastel accents to the existing color.

What barbers colorists use boosters for:

• with the help of a red booster, they enhance the saturation of the tones of the red or purple scale;
• the addition of copper gives additional copper-red nuances to amber, golden shades of blond with different color temperatures;
• the use of a blue booster solves two main coloristic tasks - it neutralizes the unwanted background of discoloration when working with blondes and the selection of cold nuances on bases painted in dark tones;
• with the help of yellow, they add intensity to blondes or muffle shades of the red scale.

The professional palette includes a huge number of color solutions for blondes, brown-haired women, redheads and brunettes. For the convenience of working with the palette, the manufacturer has developed a system of alphanumeric shades:

• A - ashy;
• B - brown;
• C - copper;
• G - gold;
• M - mocha;
• N - neutral;
• P - pearls;
• R - red;
• S - silver;
• UL - ultra-light;
• V - purple
• W - warm.

To determine the intensity of the tones, it is necessary to find the numerical designation of the shade on the package. All colors are assigned numbers from 1 to 10:

• 1 - bluish black;
• 2 - black;
• 3 - dark chestnut;
• 4 - chestnut;
• 5 - light chestnut;
• 6 - dark blond;
• 7 - blond;
• 8 - light blond;
• 9 - super light blond;
• 10 - ultrablond.

Mistakes in choosing a shade on your own cause disappointment from the dissonance of expectations and reality. Rather than risk it, it is better to immediately resort to the help of a colorist hairdresser, who will select the appropriate shade, taking into account the color of the eyes and skin, the color type and individual characteristics of the appearance.

The Matrix color catalog consists of several lines.

• Color range of natural tones includes various options for blond and chestnut in both light and dark versions with / without ash and pearlescent pigment or pearl tint, natural black shade and bluish-black version.
• Warm color range Contains a variety of natural, dark, light chestnut and blond with / without mocha, double mocha, gold or copper-gold.
• Collection of brown tones (red and copper) - these are expressive shades of light / dark blonde and chestnut with / without the presence of brown, red or copper pigments, both individually and in combinations. There are also several options for a very light blonde with a touch of gold.
• Mocha color scheme It is presented in several variants of chestnut and blond in dark and light versions with red or ash pigments.
• A collection of intense deep tones Includes light / dark variations of blond and chestnut with deep red and / or copper tones or the presence of silver and pearl pigments. There is a very unusual coloristic solution - a dark blond with red pigment and a pearlescent tint.
• Collection of color solutions for gray hair contains various variants of natural and light chestnut and blond with / without brown and red or copper pigments, with the addition of mocha or ash. There are several options for blond of varying saturation with a golden sheen.

An updated version of the ultrablond color scheme:

• UL-IA intense ash;
• UL-A + ash +;
• UL-P pearls;
• UL-V + mother of pearl +;
• UL-NV + natural mother-of-pearl +;
• UL-N + natural natural +;
• UL-VV deep mother-of-pearl;
• UL-N natural;
• UL-M mocha.

Although Matrix products are designed for professional coloring in beauty salons, they are also used for self-coloring at home. To get the desired result at home, you need to thoroughly read the instructions, paying special attention to the paragraph on contraindications to the use of persistent dyes with ammonia.

The presence of an allergy to ammonium hydroxide or a predisposition to it is a reason for refusing to use Matrix paints.

Conducting a sensitivity test will help to ensure that there are no undesirable manifestations. To do this, a drop of the composition is applied to the wrist from the inside, elbow or behind the ear and left for half an hour. If, after 24 hours, the skin remains clean, without suspicious redness or rashes, then this is a good sign.

For those who have bleached, dyed or brittle, dry hair, it is also recommended to test the dye on a small strand in advance. If you are satisfied with the result of her coloring, then you can proceed to coloring the entire head.

How to dilute the mixture:

• take dishes made of glass or ceramics;
• combine the dye with a suitable concentration of oxygen in equal proportions;
• mix the components well until a uniform consistency of the same color is obtained.

Toners without ammonium hydroxide must be mixed with an activator.

How to apply the dye mixture correctly.

• In the primary coloring, the coloring composition is first applied to the roots, and then to the length. The exposure time depends on the required color saturation and ranges from half an hour to 45 minutes, and it is detected, starting from the moment when the mixture has been fully developed.
• When re-staining with the composition, the root zone is covered, left for 20-30 minutes, and then distributed along the length of the hair. Comb them, stand for another 15 minutes and wash off.
• When tinting or glazing hair (lamination), it is necessary to keep the composition for about 10-15 minutes.

Finally, the hair is washed under running water without using shampoo. They are treated with a care balm, leaving it for 2-3 minutes, rinse it off and dry the hair. Hairdressers recommend using salon hair care products after dyeing.

Matrix paints are often the subject of discussion on forums for hairdressers. After analyzing the opinions of colorists who have worked with the products of this brand, we can conclude that in the overwhelming majority of cases, beauty industry experts are satisfied with the quality and capabilities of Matrix dyes.

Of the advantages of professional cosmetics of this brand, the following are most often noted.

• Good coverage and a comfortable gel-like consistency for good penetration of color pigments on wide strands. It is important that you can work with the gel at a high pace without losing the quality of the coating.
• The richness of shades of the palette, especially mocha, cold blond, chestnut with red pigment. No harsh, harsh colors, which is important when working in halftones.
• Softer composition in comparison with analogues of other brands, which excludes "burning through" the hair.
• Impressive durability and high quality of “Color Sync” blondes, hair lightens, but does not wash out for several months. After tinting 4-5 shades darker, they look lively and shine beautifully.
• The colors are washed off gradually, but the curls remain shiny and silky, without creating the effect of unkempt hair between colors.

If we talk about the minuses, then some masters do not think the color palette is wide enough, especially few expressive copper shades. Their opponents believe that in this regard, Matrix is ​​more than fine, there would be a desire to look for various solutions by combining shades and imposing color on color. Some people complain that Matrix can't paint over gray hair the first time.

Master class on painting gray hair using Matrix SoColor Beauty Dream.Age see below