5 Best Hair Relaxers - Sept. 2026

BEST OF THE BEST

ORS Olive Oil

Full Application No-Lye Hair Relaxer

Ultra-Nourishing

This product contains an ultra-moisturizing blend of oils to protect hair from damage while relaxing.

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PROS

Contains a unique blend of olive, shea, and pequi oils that nourish hair to protect it from damage during relaxing.
Leaves hair feeling smooth, silky, shiny, and strong.
Effective formula with high-quality ingredients.

CONS

Most felt this product was gentle, but a few users experienced scalp irritation while using.

BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK

SoftSheen Carson

Dark and Lovely

Soft & Shiny Results

If you are looking for a tried-and-true product for a decent price, Dark and Lovely is the relaxer to choose. It has earned a loyal customer base for the reliable results it produces.

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PROS

A trusted product that's been popular for decades.
Adds shine and body.
Doesn't contain lye.
Repeat customers rave about the results, and that it doesn't cause a stinging or burning sensation on the scalp when directions are followed closely.
Works on coarse hair.

CONS

May leave hair feeling a bit dry.
Some customers received the wrong product.

Iso MAINTAMER

Two-Step Straightening System

Great for Coarse Hair

This relaxer is on the harsh side, but is worth considering if you have coarse hair. It's known to deliver nice results in spite of its somewhat offensive scent.

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PROS

Formulated with botanicals that protect hair and make it shine.
Works well on different types of curls and hair, including coarse textures.
Kit includes a wide brush that cuts down on mess and application time.
No lye.

CONS

Mixture has an odor that is strong and unpleasant, and tends to linger on hair through several washings.
Scalp burns or hair loss are possible if instructions aren't followed.

SoftSheen Carson

Optimum

Best for Touchups

While this relaxer gets high marks for treating new growth so it blends in with previously-straightened hair, the formula is somewhat harsh.

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PROS

Made with conditioners and comes with a pretreatment designed to condition and moisturize most types of hair.
Doesn't contain lye.
Works well for touching up new growth.
Made by a trusted brand.

CONS

A few users reported scalp burns and hair damage after use.
Tends to be too harsh for thin or dry hair.

Phyto Specific

PHYTORELAXER Botanical Based No-Lye Relaxer

Natural Alternative

Although this relaxer kit isn't ideal for everyone, it's worth a try for consumers who either need a product that's gentler to damaged hair, or prefer not to use harsh chemicals.

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PROS

An acceptable option for delicate, color treated, or damaged hair, as it is made with natural ingredients and doesn't contain lye, talc, parabens, silicone, or other harsh chemicals.
Made with plant extracts that moisturize and condition.

CONS

Expensive, plus the portion sizes may not be enough to cover long hair.
May not work on very coarse textures or extremely tight curls.

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First Reviewed

December 18, 2021

Models
considered

Hours
researched

Written by Jennifer Manfrin

Updated March 2023

Curls are beautiful, but if you also like to wear straight styles without daily styling, using a chemical relaxer is an option. Also sometimes called permanent straighteners, these products work similarly to hair perms for straight hair, but in reverse – they chemically alter the structure of waves, curls, and coils to straighten hair, and typically last until new hair growth appears. Although these products can be drying to hair, modern varieties are made with moisturizers and conditioners that help prevent damage. In addition, today's relaxers straighten hair without extremely harsh ingredients like lye, and leave locks smooth and shiny.

Best Hair Relaxers

Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons

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