Our 10 Best Relaxers For Black Hair In 2024

Updated on February 7, 2024

Do you want to make your hair look longer, straighter, and shinier more easily? Using the best relaxers for black hair is the best way to accomplish this. Black hair is one of the natural curliest hair using relaxers to straighten it, give it body and make it glossier. Hair relaxers are cream or lotion-based formulas that alter the structure of the hair chemically by breaking down the bonds of the hair leaving straight hair that is more manageable for 6-8 weeks. Considering the cost, the maintenance, and the time and effort involved, hair relaxers are a better alternative to in-salon keratin treatments.

Hair relaxers are super powerful and when used incorrectly or using the wrong products can lead to breakage or burning of your hair. Using the right hair relaxer will prevent long-run damage to your hair. Here is a list of the best hair relaxers for black hair.

Editor’s Choices

Top 10 Relaxers For Black Hair

1. SoftSheen Carson Optimum Care No-lye Relaxer (Best Supreme)

SoftSheen Carson Optimum Care is a hair relaxer that will make your hair straight, smooth, and healthy-looking. This no-lye relaxer is infused with coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, and avocado oil to give moisture, shine, strength, softness, and volume to hair.

Recommended for normal hair texture, this home relaxer will not break your hair. It has a patented formula that has ceramide or proven to reduce hair breakage by 90%. The relaxer comes in both regular strength and super strength to give you a glamourous style.

Key Features:

• Gives straight, sleek shinier hair
• Easy to apply at home
• Infused with natural ingredients to lock in moisture
• Prevents hair breakage

2. Avlon Affirm Sensitive Scalp Conditioning Relaxer (Best Hair Looks)

Avlon Affirm Sensitive Scalp Conditioning Relaxer offers maximum scalp comfort while beautifying, and relaxing your hair. It reduces irritation and dryness on your scalp. The relaxer straightens your hair completely while retaining 76% of fiber elasticity.

It is the best relaxer for African American hair as it gives the most natural-looking and smooth results. This gentle formula on your scalp does not have an intense chemical smell and it rinses out easily from hair without leaving any oily residues. The relaxer works on all hair types, even color-treated hair.

Key Features:

• Gives hair elasticity   and improves on its body
• Gentle for your scalp
• Suitable for all hair types even color-treated hair
• Rinses out easily from hair
• Reduce irritation and dryness on the scalp

3. ORS Olive Oil Build-In No-Lye Hair Relaxer (Best Extra Strength)

This is a hair relaxer that will protect your hair from damage during the relaxing process. It is rich in essential fatty acids like olive oil and lanolin that impart moisture directly to your scalp and hair shaft and acts as a protective barrier to lock in the moisture.

This relaxer is best suitable for coarse, kinky hair types. It straightens hair within a short time after application which reduces the chances of burns. Apart from straightening your hair, it moisturizes and conditions it leaving it softer, silkier, and shiner.

Key Features:

• It moisturizes and conditions hair and scalp
• Straightens hair within a few minutes
• Protects hair from damage
• Has aloe vera to protect skin and scalp

4. Syntonics Botanical Conditioning Creme Relaxer (Best Personal Care)

If you experience scalp irritation after using a hair relaxer, Syntonic Botanical Conditioning Creme Relaxer should be your-to-go hair relaxer. It has no irritating artificial colors or parabens. Instead, it is rich in botanicals that your hair and scalp need.

It has soothing ingredients like aloe vera, calendula, and green tea that reduce irritation and soothes your scalp. Additionally, it has honey, shea butter, and cocoa butter that lock in moisture to keep your hair hydrated. The result is smooth free-flowing hair and a healthy scalp.

Key Features:

• Suitable for sensitive skin
• Lye-free
• Has soothing ingredients
• Moisturizing benefits

5. Motions Classic Formula Hair Relaxer Mild (Best Shiny)

This is a mild formula that works great for fine and color-treated hair. The relaxer contains cationic conditioners that lock onto each hair to protect and hydrate it throughout the relaxing process. This leaves the hair looking smooth, silkier, and luxurious.

Its active ingredients include argan oil which helps in hair elasticity and adding shine. Shea butter moisturizes, strengthens, and protects your hair, and coconut oil which hydrates and repairs natural hair.

Key Features:

• Takes effect quickly within a few minutes
• Gentle to the scalp and does not dry out hair
• Leaves hair straight, shiny, ad smooth
• Best for fine and color-treated hair

6. TCB No Base Creme Hair Relaxer (Best With Protein)

Having straight hair is one thing. But having straight hair that is easily manageable is a win for everyone. This is what TCB No Base Creme Hair Relaxer offers. This relaxer contains natural oils, proteins, and DNA to strengthen and to protect your hair while relaxing it.

Protein provides structural support thus protecting each strand of hair and preventing damage. The relaxer has mineral oil and petroleum jelly that cats as a protective barrier to prevent scalp irritation during the process. The relaxer also has natural oils to moisturize and condition your hair.

Key features:

• Has protein and DNA
• Relaxes hair quickly
• Works on all hair types even damaged hair
• Conditions and moisturizes hair

7. Dr. Miracle’s New Growth No-lye Relaxer (Best For For Silky)

For silky, soft, and healthy straight hair, Dr. Miracle’s New Growth No-lye Relaxer is the product to use. It detangles and helps to straighten naturally occurring curls and conditions hair to make it smoother and shinier.

The relaxer is made with natural ingredients like soy, aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, and vitamins C, E, and B3. These ingredients maximize hair follicles and scalp health. It is also infused with sweet almond oil that prevents hair breakage, split ends, and an itchy scalp its emollient properties will leave your hair soft and smooth.

Key features:

• Moisturizes hair from root to tip
• Prevents hair breakage
• Does not irritate your scalp
• Works on hair regrowth

8. Linange Alter Ego Shea Butter Cream Relaxer (Best Shea Butter)

This is a hair relaxer that won’t strip off your hair its natural oils as it relaxes your hair while retaining its moisture. The relaxer is enriched with shea butter which gives it a rich creamy consistency. Shea butter protects your hair from damage and brittleness and hydrates your scalp without clogging your pores.

This relaxer is also versatile because apart from relaxing your hair, it can be used to re-texturize and soften curls without completely straightening the out. Thus, your hair will still end up soft and smooth.

Key Features:

• Suitable for all hair types
• Lasts for 12 weeks
• Moisturizes hair and adds volume
• Protects hair from damage and brittleness

9. Hawaiian Silky no base relaxer (Best Formula)

Formulated with essential oils and lithium hydroxide, Hawaiian Silky no base relaxer will strengthen your hair and prevent any messy buildup. It has jojoba oil, a natural straightening agent rich in vitamins and minerals and also prevents hair loss.

The relaxer is available in mild, regular, and super to offer a variety of hair texture depending on your preference. It is also infused with olive oil for moisturizing, preventing damage, and nourishing and conditioning your hair. This relaxer will take care of your scalp health and improve the shine on your hair.

Key Features:

• Moisturizes hair
• Gentle to your scalp
• Takes effect quickly
• Has natural oils that aid in hair growth

10. ORS Olive Oil Professional Creme Relaxer (Best Natural)

Designed for normal to fine hair textures, this relaxer provides beautiful straight hair that is silky and incredibly manageable. It is enriched with olive oil and lanolin that conditions and moisturizes your hair as it relaxes it. Olive oil is a natural elixir that moisturizes hair and leaves it soft, silky, and manageable.

Key features:

• A strong relaxer that takes effect quickly
• Retains hair moisture
• Easy to use
• Moisturizes and conditions hair

How To Pick The Right Relaxer For Black Hair?

Look for a no-lye relaxer

A lye relaxer is corrosive. When left for long on your head, it will hurt, irritate, damage your skin, or lead to burns. Always look for a no-lye hair relaxer. This one is mild and the best for sensitive scalp. It has a low PH that balances the PH between your scalp and your hair.

Ingredients

Looking at the ingredients used in a relaxer can help you pick the most suitable hair relaxer. Don’t concentrate on the actual ingredients that relax your hair but look for ingredients that offer added benefits to your hair too.

This includes ingredients like olive oil, argan oil, coconut oil, shea butter oil, and honey. A good relaxer should have a blend of natural oils. They offer moisturizing benefits to your hair, prevent hair breakage, stimulate hair growth and improve shine, and nourish the scalp.

Know your hair type

Knowing your hair type will help you choose the right relaxer for your hair. Consider the color of your hair, curls. Is your hair strong or prone to breakage? Some relaxers are formulated for fine soft hair, other normal hair, and others for dry brittle coarse hair.

Knowing your hair type will also help you choose the intensity of the relaxer. For example, coarse hair needs a super formula while fine, soft hair needs a mild formula. Hair that is in between fine and thick will require a medium formula.

Consider the relaxer kit

A complete relaxer kit should contain a suitable neutralizer shampoo, an activator, and a conditioner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Using the best relaxers for black hair is the simplest way to attain straight hair that is soft, lustrous, and has volume. With many brands of relaxers hair out there in the market, selecting the right formula can be challenging. This list will help you settle on a relaxer that will not damage your hair.

These relaxers conditions, moisturizes, strengthens, protects, and straightens the hair. When used correctly, you will not experience any skin burns or hair breakage. Our top pick is the Soft Sheen Carson Optimum Care No-lye Relaxer.

We like it because it is a no-lye relaxer infused with coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, and avocado oil to give moisture, shine, strength, softness, and volume hair. It is easy to apply at home and gives straight, sleek shinier hair.

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